MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. — The Parkway Conference is arguably the toughest to win in the WPIAL when it features the Aliquippa Quips, who have won the last four titles. An undefeated Montour team was looking to clinch a piece of its first conference title since 2012, had its sights set on ending the Quips run standing alone at the top of the conference, which included 27-straight Parkway victories.
In a tightly-contested, playoff-esque battle, it came down to a final series of plays as Montour completed the 36-35 victory over Aliquippa thanks to desperate late-game heroics.
Aliquippa had shutout Montour’s potent offense throughout the second half, but the Quips still only led by one score. All the Spartans needed to do was compile one successful drive to, at the very least, tie the game.
With 2:08 remaining, Montour’s defense returned the ball to the offense thanks to a Nino DiMichele sack. Senior signal called Trey Hopper and company went to work as they drove into the red zone. At the Quip 20, Hopper handed it off to junior running back Caden Halajcio, who sprinted left and barreled down the sideline for a big 18-yard pickup. One play later, Halajcio was in for the 4-yard touchdown with 31 seconds to go.
Trailing by one point, Montour opted to go for the two-point conversion and the win. Hopper took the snap, scrambled right before firing a go-ahead strike to AJ Alston to send Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium into a frenzy as Montour finished off Aliquippa to clinch a share of the Parkway Conference title and improve to 9-0.
MONTOUR IN FRONT
Hopper connects with AJ Alston for the 2-point conversion.
Hopper continued to prove why he’s atop the WPIAL quarterback charts as the district’s leading passer completed 19-of-32 passes for 203 yards and two touchdown passes to Alston and Daniel Batch, along with two interceptions.
With a Week 8 matchup, the defenses attempted to set the tone early with fourth down stops on both sides.
However, the Spartans were not going to stifle Penn State running back commit Tikey Hayes for much longer. Taking the handoff on the second Aliquippa drive of the game, Hayes bounced around the tranches before escaping and using his breakaway speed to score on a massive 81-yard touchdown run. Sa’Nir Brooks converted on the two-point try to put the Quips ahead 8-0.
Hayes finished the contest banged up and on the sideline before running for 220 yards and the long score.
After an early fourth-down fail on the ground at the Aliquippa 13, Montour did not want to relinquish another red-zone drive. On fourth-and-7, the Spartans gambled for it as Hopper located his top receiver, Alston, in the corner of the end zone as he pulled down the contested grab for an 11-yard touchdown.
A Spartans offense that averages 37.1 points per game found its groove in the second quarter as they were gifted prime field position on an errant punt. Following a false start penalty, Hopper immediately went to the air, this time connecting with Daniel Batch, who pulled in the 24-yard touchdown with Larry Moon III in coverage.
Trey Hopper dials it up for Daniel Batch for the 24-yd TD connection as Batch beats Larry Moon III.
Leading 14-8, Montour’s defense stepped up and forced a quick possession to return the ball to Hopper’s hands. A quick 39-yard pitch and catch with James Bundridge moved the Spartans back into striking distance. It would come down to another fourth-down attempt for Montour and it was handed to senior Kaleb Platz as he rumbled straight ahead for a 12-yard touchdown as Montour extended its lead to 21-8.
Aliquippa was in desperate need of a response and it once again turned to its dynamic ground attack. A 40-yard pickup from Hayes gave way to the ensuing handoff to Brooks, who cut right and broke into the end zone on a 10-yard touchdown run.
The Quips were charged down the field as the first-half clock drained in hopes to regain the lead for the first time since the first quarter, but quarterback Marques Council let go a low pass that was intercepted by a sliding Platz as Montour held onto a 21-15 halftime lead.
It wouldn’t take long into the second half before Aliquippa avenged that first-half-ending drive as the Quips moved methodically down field. With Hayes banged up, the Quips went to their sophomore star Brooks for just his third carry of the game as he moved right, fought through contact before finding paydirt. The extra point was blocked bringing it to a 21-21 dead heat.
Aliquippa’s defense was starting to come alive as it slowed Montour at midfield. As the Spartans sent a punt into Aliquippa territory, it was touched by a Quip and rolled towards the end zone before it was landed on by a Quip at the 1.
As Aliquippa slowly pushed away from the danger zone, Council dropped a snap as Batch shot through to pick it up and returned it seven yards to flip the script. The score put Montour ahead, 28-21 with 1:52 to go in the third quarter.
All momentum seemingly swung in Montour’s direction but a determined Aliquippa team turned to the air to score twice in a hurry with Arison Walker completing two big plays on the receiving end.
Fooling the Montour defense with play action, Council unleashed a long throw down the sideline to a wide open Walker as he caught it and ran in for the 47-yard touchdown.
Touchdown Aliquippa:
Off the play action, Arison Walker is found wide open as he pulls it in for the 47-yard touchdown.
Quips connect on the two-point conversion as Council connects with Cleaster Longmire.
Moments later, Aliquippa came up with the ball on a forced fumble in Spartans territory. On the first play, Aliquippa capitalized as Council found the senior receiver again, this time for a 32-yard touchdown to go up 35-28 on the Spartans.
For nearly the entire second half, Montour’s offense was kept off the board and struggled to sustain any meaningful drives.
With one last gasp, trailing by seven, Montour needed to score. Expecting the pass, Aliquippa was not prepared for the Halajcio to reel off a 16-yard run near the goal line. That set up for Halajcio to pound it in from four yards out to bring the game within one point with 31 seconds left. Halajcio finished the night with 61 rushing yards.
The Hopper to Alston two-point connection and a defensive stop sealed Montour’s biggest win of the season.
Heading into the final week of the year, Montour has clinched at least a share of the conference title. If Montour wins over West Allegheny next week, the Spartans take the outright title. If West A wins and Aliquippa beats Ambridge by more than a point, there will be a three-way tie atop the conference.
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