Linemen a huge success for Quips
It’s hard not to notice Solvauhn Moreland, Tarquinn Greene and Elijah Mike on Aliquippa’s defensive line. How do you not notice a trio of 300-pound guys lining up next to each other on a high school team? They are the refrigerator, freezer and oven side by side by side.
But during Aliquippa’s terrific season, Moreland, Greene and Mike haven’t gotten much pub. The Quips’ multitude of skill-position players and defenders who make splash plays have been in the spotlight, and rightly so when you consider their talents and success.
But Aliquippa’s defensive front has been huge, and not just physically. Moreland, Greene and Mike have been gigantic in Aliquippa’s defensive success, even if you haven’t heard much about the trio. Only four of 14 opponents have scored more than a touchdown against Aliquippa.
“Those guys sometimes don’t get credit but they are a big part of why we win,” said Aliquippa coach Mike Warfield. “A school our size, to have three big guys who can play, we’re fortunate.”
Just call Moreland, Greene and Mike the M.G.M. Grand. Heck, they’re as wide as a building. Moreland, who has made a verbal commitment to Ball State, is a 6foot-3, 305-pound senior tackle. Greene is a 6-2, 305-pound junior nose guard. Mike is a 6-1, 305pound sophomore tackle.
Come Saturday at noon, those three could play big roles in the PIAA Class 3A championship game between Aliquippa (13-1) and Middletown at Hersheypark Stadium. Middletown (14-1), the District 3 champion located near Hershey, likes to run the football and
has a running back with more than 2,000 yards rushing, and another with more than 1,000. Aliquippa likes to stuff running games — with the M.G.M. Grand playing a lead role.
“I would say it’s rare to have three linemen like that at the 3A level,” said Middletown coach Brett Myers. “Those three are an interesting dynamic. I don’t read any Pittsburgh papers or listen to Pittsburgh radio. But what I know is a couple guys from Aliquippa get a lot of attention. But a lot of guys from Aliquippa should be getting a lot of attention, like those three linemen and those linebackers. In the end, everyone talks about their skill guys catching the ball, intercepting the ball and making punt returns. But it’s a lot of other guys.”
Moreland, Greene and Mike are definite run-stoppers. But they also have been excellent at rushing the quarterback. And they regularly occupy opposing offensive linemen, allowing Aliquippa linebackers to roam and make plays. And the big guys are more than big. They can move.
“They can play,” said Warfield. “Solvauhn is 300 pounds, but he runs like a tight end. Tarquinn is my great nephew. I’m proud of him, just seeing him progress during the year and getting stronger. And Elijah has just been dominant.”
Aliquippa’s run defense against Middletown’s run game might just be the key matchup in the title game. Middletown’s Jose Lopez, a 5-10, 180-pound junior, has rushed for 2,221 yards on 263 attempts. He has been hot in the postseason, rushing for 208, 210, 216 and 221 yards in the past four games.
But Middletown also has Richie Sykes, who has rushed for 1,224 yards on 132 carries.
Middletown quarterback Scott Ash has completed 87 of 160 for 1,514 yards.
“We know we’re going to have our hands full,” said Warfield.
Middletown has had its hands full with WPIAL teams the past two seasons. This is the third consecutive year that the Blue Raiders have made it to the PIAA 3A final and met a WPIAL team. Two years ago, Middletown was defeated by Beaver Falls, 3013. In 2017, Middletown lost to Quaker Valley, 41-24.
“We’re going to try and play good defense because we haven’t played our best defense in the state title games,” said Myers. “We’re going to try and run the ball effectively because we haven’t done that in the state title games the past two years. We’ll line up two backs and try to run. Everything has worked pretty well except the last game of the season the past two years.”
Aliquippa has been successful running — and passing — this season. But it’s questionable who will frequently run the football in the title game against the Quips.
Senior Avante McKenzie is the Quips’ leading rusher and has more than 4,000 yards in his career. But McKenzie did not dress for the semifinal game last Saturday against Sharon because he was suspended from school. As of early this week, it was not determined if McKenzie would play in the championship.
But Aliquippa didn’t skip a beat without McKenzie. Xavier Harvey got the start at running back and ran for 141 yards on 14 carries. He had carried only 13 times all season before the game. And receiver M.J. Devonshire played running back for the first time in his life, and responded with 119 yards on 12 carries.
Aliquippa also has quarterback Eli Kosanovich, who has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, and big-play receiver Will Gipson.
“In the end, the last two years we turned the ball over too much in these games,” said Myers. “We just have to do a better job.”
And block that M.G.M. Grand.