DORMONT, Pa. — Entering the night, many people speculated that No. 7 Keystone Oaks would roll past No. 10 Beaver Falls in round one of the WPIAL Class-2A playoffs. That belief quickly went astray as the Tigers ran all over the Golden Eagles and pulled off the opening-round upset, 20-7.
After a Golden Eagles’ opening drive fumble, the Tigers started on the plus-34-yard line and scored in just three plays. Da’Talian Beauford took the first play down to the Golden Eagles’ 1-yard line and then punched it in two plays later. This was just the start of Beauford’s big night.
After little-to-no action after Beauford’s touchdown, the Tigers’ offense came alive again in the middle of the second quarter. Kadin Brickner found Da’Sean Anderson for a 9-yard touchdown to extend the Tigers lead to two touchdowns.
At halftime, Beauford totaled 18 carries for 144 yards and one touchdown. In comparison, the Golden Eagles amassed a total of 20 first-half yards.
The Golden Eagles looked to get back into the game in the second half and used their second offensive possession of the third quarter to do just that. After DiMajio Locante found Anthony Stribling to extend the drive, Clinton Robinson took the ball in from 27 yards out to give the Golden Eagles their first score of the night.
The Golden Eagles’ final chance was to stop the Tigers on a fourth-and-two with just under nine minutes in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, Beaver Falls’ Anderson went on to crush that chance when he converted with an 8-yard run.
Beauford went on to score again and finished the game with 26 carries for 185 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
While the Golden Eagles season ended earlier than expected, the Tigers’ season continues for now. Next week, the Tigers will travel to No. 2 Neshannock for the second round of the playoffs. The Tigers narrowly lost to Neshannock, 27-26, earlier this season which should give the Tigers hope going forward.
