Quips run their way to finals
BELLEFONTE Aliquippa sophomore running backs Tiqwai Hayes and John Tracy combined for three touchdowns and more than 200 rushing yards as the Quips rolled to a 31-10 victory against Allentown Central Catholic in a PIAA Class 4A semifinal matchup Friday night.
“I think they complement one another well,” Aliquippa coach Michael Warfield said of Hayes and Tracy. “Tiqwai, he’s more of a power, downhill, will put his foot in the ground and hit it. John, he has great vision, a little bit smaller, but he’s tough as nails, man.”
Hayes, who rushed for more than 100 yards in the first half alone, was helped off the field with a lowerbody injury. He did not return, which prompted Tracy to take over the bulk of the carries in the second half. Warfield said Hayes will be examined and that he hopes the star running back will be ready for the Quips’ next playoff game.
The Vikings drew first blood on Friday night, using tempo to their advantage on the game’s opening drive. Aliquippa’s defense tightened on its side of the field, forcing Central Catholic kicker Luke Myers to successfully convert a 37-yard field goal, which simultaneously put Warfield at ease.
“As long as we stopped them and held them to three, I knew the kids would keep grinding,” Warfield said.
The Quips dominated from there, with Hayes kicking —kicking off the scoring for Aliquippa with a 56-yard run up the sideline. Two series later, in the second quarter, Tracy matched Hayes by catching a screen pass from quarterback Quentin Goode on third-and-long and going the distance for a 66-yard touchdown that made it 12-3 in favor of the Quips.
Vikings quarterback Tamlin Ferguson threw his first of two interceptions on back-to-back series shortly after Tracy’s touchdown. Aliquippa’s Donovan Walker stepped in front of a Ferguson pass, which presented the Quips’ offense with another opportunity to put points on the board.
Aliquippa leaned heavily on its run game on a nineplay, 66-yard drive that was capped off by Tracy plunging into the end zone for a 6yard rushing touchdown.
Ferguson threw another interception on his next throw, this time into the arms of the Quips’ Brandon Banks. Immediately after Banks caught an interception, he caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Goode to push Aliquippa’s lead to 24-3, which would be the margin at halftime.
“I’m happy to see how he played,” Warfield said of Banks. “He was a little nicked up, but he played great tonight.’
The Vikings threatened after halftime with their longest drive of the night, but Aliquippa’s defense tightened deep in its own territory. With Central Catholic looking for its first touchdown, the Quips’ defense overcame an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty to keep the Vikings out of the end zone with four straight stops to turn possession over on downs.
Tracy had another big chunk play on Aliquippa’s next drive, rushing for 50 yards to flip the field. A few plays later, Goode threw another for a score via a screen pass, this time connecting with running back Cameron Lindsey for a 35-yard touchdown toward the end of the third quarter that brought the count to 31-3.
Just before the end of the third quarter, the Vikings finally got their first touchdown when defensive back Nasir Mclean intercepted a Goode pass and returned it 30 yards for a pick six. But it was too little, too late, as Aliquippa’s win earned it a rematch with Bishop McDevitt in the PIAA 4A Championship game.
The Quips and Crusaders played an even game last year, with Aliquippa coming out on top 34-27 to secure a state title. The two sides will face off once more on at 7 p.m. Dec. 8 at Cumberland Valley High School.
“I know they’re gonna try to make up for what happened last year, and we’re gonna match it,” Warfield said.