Allentown Central Catholic is the sole survivor

Vikings travel again to Bald Eagle Area High School to face Aliquippa in the 4A final four

One thing about the PIAA playoffs that fans still have trouble grasping even years after the change was made is the fact that the state tournaments are no longer an even East-West split.

It’s based on proportion of schools rather than location of schools.

If there are more schools in a certain classification in one part of the state, that area will get more teams.

That’s why, for example, Pittsburgh-based District 7, also known as the WPIAL, just completed its district tournament this weekend, because they have a bunch of Class 4A schools. By comparison, District 11 has just a handful of schools in 4A and wrapped its tournament two weeks ago.

So, Allentown Central Catholic, the District 11 4A champ, already played two PIAA tournament

games while Aliquippa will play its first when they meet in the state semifinals.

In the old days, the teams would stay in the Eastern and Western halves of the bracket until the state finals. When ACCHS made it to the state championship games in 1993, ’98 and 2010, they played teams from the East in the semifinals — Berwick in 1993, Strath-Haven in 1998 and Archbishop Wood in 2020.

Now Allentown Central Catholic is preparing to face one of the most legendary names in PIAA football, Aliquippa, on Friday night.

After spending the past two Fridays with at least 2 ½-hour bus trips westbound on Route 80 to Williamsport and Centre County, the Vikings will hit the road again to take on Aliquippa.

But they should feel quite comfortable since they are returning to Boggs Township in Centre County and Bald Eagle Area High School at 7 p.m. Friday.

Because he spent several seasons as a college assistant at first Moravian and then Lehigh, ACCHS coach Tim McGorry has a good idea how to handle lengthy bus trips.

He gets his team out of school early and then go to a location near the game site, stretch their legs, get a chance for a little final walk-through, eat and then go to the game site.

The trips to Williamsport and Bellefonte were successful, with an overtime win over Jersey Shore and a rout of Meadville.

But now the road to the state finals figures to get bumpier because the next opponent is the mighty Quips, who have have made it to the final game eight times and won four state titles (1991, 2003, ‘18, ‘21; they lost in ‘88, ‘00, ‘12, ‘15). In last year’s 4A semis, they thrashed Jersey Shore 41-16, the same team that eliminated ACCHS.

This is a PIAA football blueblood and a legendary program that has produced the likes of Tony Dorsett, Mike Ditka, Ty Law, Darrelle Revis and many wellknown football names.

Aliquippa (12-0) easily won its 20th WPIAL title Friday night with a 34-7 rout of Central Valley in a meeting of defending state champs at Acrisure Stadium, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sophomore running back Tikey Hayes,, already fielding major Division I offers, ran for 123 yards on 26 carries and scored three TDs. John Tracy, another sophomore, added 111 yards on 22 carries.

Aliquippa, which had to travel to other schools to play its home games and practice this year, added a TD pass on a 34-yard toss from Quentin Goode to Jayace Williams.

According to Mike White of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aliquippa’s defense was just as impressive.

The Quips were allowing just 20.7 yards per game rushing. They held Central Valley’s star back Bret FitzSimmons, who entered Friday’s game with 1,605 yards, to 12 yards on 10 carries.

Obviously, it will be a formidable challenge for the Vikings, who feel they are prepared for anyone after coming out of the rugged EPC South.

“We come out of a physical, well-coached league with great athletes,” McGorry said. “Think about some of the kids we’ve played whether it’s [Mason] Kuehner or [Nolan] Lobb from Nazareth or Freedom’s tailback [Jalen Fletcher] or [Trey] Tremba from Parkland. Becahi’s got great receivers and Emmaus had [Dylan] Darville and [Tylik] Jarvis. Every week we’re facing kids like Khalon Simmons [the Meadville star running back]. It’s a grind and it takes its toll on you. We went through a rash of injuries, but it certainly prepares you for this time of year.”

‘Best team I’ve ever played’

Parkland senior Nakhi Bullock didn’t hesitate when asked if St. Joe’s Prep was the best team he’s ever played in his Trojans career.

Bullock had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and caught eight passes for 126 yards, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Hawks scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions in a 52-21 rout of Parkland.

“By far, they were the best team I’ve played in my four years here ... easily,” Bullock said. “They’re big, fast, strong ... they were very good. But a credit to our guys in that we didn’t give up.”

In fact, the Trojans outscored St. Joe’s Prep 15-3 in the second half after trailing 49-6 at halftime.

“We had to tackle better on defense and offensively we moved the ball but we couldn’t punch it in for touchdowns in the first half,” Bullock said. “If we were able to get touchdowns instead of field goals, it might have been a different story. But it is what it is and we can’t change it. We went out giving it our all.”

At this point in every season when private and charter schools seem to dominant, the public school fans express their desire for separate tournaments and note the disparity in how the rosters are built.

Parkland coach Tim Moncman, who has now been a part of five Trojans coaching staffs that have ended their seasons end with losses to St. Joe’s Prep, wasn’t going to join the chorus of those who want separate tournaments. He knows this has been issue for years and the PIAA has shown no inclination to change things.

But he does wish the district brackets could be reshuffled and the District 11 champ wouldn’t have to face the District 12 champ, usually St. Joe’s Prep, right away in the state tournament.

“We just come and play, and you have to play whoever they put in front of you,” Moncman said. “I wish they would look at something and shuffle the districts around a little bit because we are coming off our District 11 championship game every year and then have to turn around and see these guys right away. That’s tough.”

Moncman has a program with lots of key returners and could be in the same situation next year because St. Joe’s Prep also has lots of quality juniors who will be back.

Bullock, one of 11 seniors who played his final game at Parkland on Saturday, said he was proud to wear the uniform.

“I will be rooting for all the guys who are coming back and if they put in the work, they can go get another [district title],” he said. “I am excited to see what they do. Hopefully, they can keep it going and we can get back to our Parkland ways of winning districts. I just know I wouldn’t have changed anything for the world. I wouldn’t have wanted to play for any other team, any other coaches, any other teammates. I love all these guys. If I had a chance to play another game with them, I would strap on that Parkland jersey one more time and give it a go.”