PIAA Class AA  Playoff Bracket

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By Chris Rossetti

KARNS CITY – Fresh off its second PIAA playoff win in school history, Karns City’s task gets infinite times harder this week when the Gremlins meet WPIAL champion Aliquippa at 7 p.m. Friday at Central Valley High School in Monaca.

The Quips (13-0) steamrolled Washington 34-7 last week in the WPIAL Championship game completely shutting down 2,600-yard rusher Shai McKenzie holding him to 33 yards on 18 carries. McKenzie entered the game with a WPIAL-leading 2,656 yards and 42 touchdowns.

But shutting down an opposing offense is nothing new for Aliquippa, which has allowed 49 points all season –and not all of that on defense (Washington’s lone score was a fumble return for a TD last week) – while shutting out six opponents, allowing three points in another game and having only one team – Lincoln (12 points) score in double digits on it this season.

That will present a challenge to a Karns City offense that is averaging 28.5 points per game on the year while scoring 30 or more points in five straight games, all Gremlin wins. The last time Karns City (10-3) was held to fewer than 30 was in a 33-21 loss to Oil City Oct. 19, the Gremlins last defeat. In fact, Karns City has scored in double figures in 31 straight games since it was shutout by Punxsutawney, 31-0, Oct. 1, 2010.

But Karns City struggled offensively last week in a 35-29 win over Chestnut Ridge getting two non-offensive second-half touchdowns to pull out the come-from-behind win. The Gremlins had only 286 yards in the game and possessed the football for roughly half the plays of the Lions.

The offensive struggles were evident in the fact that leading rusher Wyatt Everetts (686 yards, 8 TDs) had only two carries for six yards.

But in a lot of ways that is just Karns City’s offense by committee.

The Gremlins don’t have any superstars but do have seven different ball carriers with at least 40 carries and 200 yards.

Quarterback Tyler Kepple by virtue of his position has the most combined yards going 81 of 160 passing for 1,184 yards and 11 touchdowns against just six picks while also ranking second on the team with 512 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

Zach Moore, who doubles as the Gremlins placekicker, is third with 464 yards rushing and seven touchdowns and hit a field goal last week, while Tristan Rhoades, who also scored last week, has 427 yards rushing and five touchdowns while averaging 9.9 yards per carry. But Rhoades suffered a concussion in the Chestnut Ridge game, and his status for Friday night is unknown.

Two other backs who scored a week ago (Dakota Mohney and Adam Whited) also carry the mail for Karns City with Mohney rushing for 435 yards and seven scores and Whited, a tough-nosed fullback, adding 364 yards and two scores.

Matt Conto, the nephew of head coach Ed Conto, who won his 150^th career game last week, is the leading receiver with 24 catches for 309 yards and a score. He returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown a week ago and also had another long kickoff return that set up a score, while Everetts adds 16 grabs for 301 yards and a touchdown, Rhoades eight for 181 yards and three scores and Mohney 14 for 135 yards and three touchdowns including a touchdown catch with 12 second left in the District 9 title game two weeks ago to beat Kane.

While Karns City’s offense will try to solve the puzzle that is Aliquippa’s defense, the Gremlins defense will have to find a way to contain a Quips offense that no one has slowed down all season.

Aliquippa is averaging 50.6 points per game with the 34 points in the WPIAL title game being the fewest put up by the Quips this season.

Most of Aliquippa’s damage comes on the ground where a pair of juniors – both ranked in Rivals 250 juniors in the United States list – lead the way.

Dravon Henry has a team-leading 1,439 yards and 24 total touchdowns, while Terry Swanson adds 1,234 yards and 19 total scores.

Both backs went over 100 yards in the WPIAL title game with Swanson rushing for 206 yards and a touchdown and Henry 123 and a score against Washington.

Quarterback Malik Shegog gave Aliquippa three 100-yard rushers in the championship title rushing nine times for 100 yards and two touchdowns while also completing 2 of 5 passes for 38 yards and a score.

On the season, Shegog is 30 of 58 passing for 564 yards and eight touchdowns while throwing just one pick while also rushing for 481 yards and 10 scores.

Part of the reason for Aliquippa’s success rushing the football is hulking lineman Jaleel Fields, No. 70 for those going to the game, who goes 6-foot-3, 280 pounds.

NOTES – Aliquippa beat Moniteau 32-7 in the quarterfinals last year at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium as Henry ran for 105 yards and three touchdowns and Swanson 98 yards and one score … Aliquippa and Karns City have met once in the PIAA playoffs with the Quips getting a 42-14 win in 2008 … Karns City is 0-2 vs. WPIAL teams in the PIAA playoffs also falling the Jeannette 35-6 in 2007 … District 9 has not fared well against the WPIAL in postseason playing going 2-13 all-time vs. WPIAL teams in the PIAA playoffs including 0-9 in Class AA with the lone wins coming in Class A (1989 – Keystone 15, Clairton 14 and 1992 – Smethport 6, Rochester 0) ... The winner meets the winner of the Hickory-Richland game in the semifinals next week.