Prolific QBs match skills in semifinal
Jenkins, Brickner trying to cap stellar careers with title trophy
The two quarterbacks in the Beaver Falls vs. StoRox WPIAL playoff game Friday are both left-handers. That’s downright unusual.
But the statistics of Jaren Brickner and Josh Jenkins make this Class 2A semifinal unlike any other in WPIAL postseason history.
Both Brickner and Jenkins have thrown for more than 5,000 career yards. It is the first time a WPIAL playoff game has ever had two quarterbacks face off with both having more than 5,000 passing yards.
Obviously, this contest isn’t a one-on-one game. But this Jaren-Josh showdownis something unique. Beaver Falls meets StoRox Friday at Ambridge.
“It should be interesting,” Sto- Rox coach Marvin Mills said.
Bricknerhas thrown for 5,629 yards while Jenkins has thrown for 5,502.
Beaver Falls coach Nick Nardone said, “It hadn’t even crossed my mind that both have those stats of more than 5,000 yards. That’s pretty crazy.”
Both Brickner and Jenkins have been crazy good this year. Brickner, a 6foot-2, 180-pound senior, has completed 64 of 134 for 1,620 yards and also rushed for 653 yards. Jenkins, a 6foot-3, 185-pound senior, has completed 124 of 199 for 2,272 yards and also rushed for 198.
“When you say Jaren runs the ball, he’s more of a run inside-the-tackles type of runner,” Nardone said. “Josh is able to break containment and run outside more. In terms of throwing, obviously both can throw very effectively. But there are a lot of similarities there.”
Added Mills: “Looking at film, you see their guy [Brickner] throw a lot of home run strikes, like our guy does. Theirs is a little more athletic, but I still like our QB a little better.”
Brickner and Jenkins are two of the main reasons that this Beaver Falls (10-1) vs. Sto-Rox (9-2) clash is one of the best semifinals Friday in any classification. Jenkins and Brickner actually faced each other once before in the postseason. It came in the 2020 WPIAL championship, won by Beaver Falls, 43-30. Brickner completed only 3 of 5 for 89 yards in that game, but ran for one touchdown. Jenkins was 7 of 13 for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
Beaver Falls’ team in 2020 was built around a strong running game with Josh Hough and Shileak Livingston, who both finished the season with more than 1,000 yards rushing. Beaver Falls doesn’t have a running back like Hough or Livingston this year, but the Tigers have plenty of bigplay ability. Brickner averages 20 yards per completion and receiver Trey Singleton has 29 receptions and averages 34.3 yards per catch.
But Sto-Rox is similar in the big-play department.
“There are a lot of similarities, I agree,” said Nardone, whose team is trying to earn a third consecutive trip to the title game. “They seem to score in all different kinds of ways. It’s not like they’re riding one guy. They have a multitude of guys who make plays — and we’re the same.”
For Sto-Rox, Zay Davis, Jaymont Green-Miller and Drevon Miller-Ross all have between 23 and 36 receptions, and they average 20 yards per catch between them.
“I think Beaver Falls has to make big plays to win the game,” Mills said. “For us, what we’ve tried to teach — and now they’re learning and grasping — is that you don’t have to have a big play on every single play. Just have positive plays.”
With Brickner and Jenkins, the positive plays have been many this season.
Other semifinal
While Brickner and Jenkins provide a unique matchup, the other Class 2A semifinal also features two standout quarterbacks.
Steel Valley’s Cruce Brookins has rushed for 1,381 yards and averages a whopping 15.2 yards a carry. He also has thrown for 625 yards. Brookins (6-2, 185) has been on a tear the past two games, running for 333 and 308 yards. He also is an excellent defensive back.
Neshannock features Johnny Huff (6-1, 180), a senior who has nearly 3,000 yards of offense. Huff has rushed for 1,826 yards (10.3 average) and also thrown for 1,099. Steel Valley (10-0) takes on Neshannock (11-1) Friday at Montour.
“It seems like some great athletes at the quarterback positions in these [semifinal] games,” said Neshannock coach Fred Mozzocio. “The two in our game are outstanding rushers who can throw the ball, as well. At the other end in the other game are two guys who can really sling it. It makes for some interesting matchups.
“We knew Johnny was going to be a really good player this year. We felt, realistically, that he could be a 1,000 and 1,000 player. But the way he’s exploded on the ground this season has been phenomenal. He’s definitely exceeded all expectations.”
Steel Valley has to be considered the favorite. The Ironmen are the WPIAL’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs and they have defeated every opponent this season by 28 points or more. Only two teams (StoRox and McGuffey) have scored more than seven points on Steel Valley.
Neshannock is the No. 4 seed whose only loss was to Beaver Falls, 22-0. Neshannock is trying to make the title game for only the second time in school history. The other was in 2016 when the Lancers lost, coincidentally, to Steel Valley.
Steel Valley is trying to make the title game for the fourth time in seven years.
“Steel Valley is tremendous, both offensively and defensively. But we are, as well,” Mozzocio said. “We played a very tough schedule and we feel we’re prepared for every type of challenge. We respect our opponent but fear nobody. ... We’re not coming down there to just participate. We’re coming down there to win.”