Neal Scores Twice as Avonworth Blanks Central Valley to Win Class 3A Championship

PITTSBURGH — With its third-straight trip to Acrisure Stadium, the fifth-seeded Avonworth Antelopes were looking to put to rest back-to-back championship defeats with a new challenger in the No. 2 Central Valley Warriors.

All Avonworth needed to snap that streak was an early touchdown as the Antelopes triumphed in a run-heavy defensive battle over Central Valley, 17-0, in the Class 3A WPIAL Championship Game.

It comes as the third WPIAL title for Avonworth and first since 2019. The other district title for the Antelopes came in 1959.

Avonworth wins the 2024 Class 3A Championship Game. Nov. 23, 2024 // Ed Thompson. PSN.

As expected, Avonworth fed the ground game with Nico Neal leading the way. The senior accounted for both of the ‘Lopes touchdowns with runs of 2 and 3 yards coming nearly 37 minutes apart. He also added a fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter.

The senior entered the contest pacing the ‘Lopes (11-3) with 605 yards and nine touchdowns with 153 of those yards coming against the Warriors (7-6) in a Week 5 Western Hills Conference win, 21-14, along with a touchdown.

On the first drive of the rematch, it was all Neal as he totted the rock eight times, going 57 yards that was capped on a 2-yard run.

Neal would score a late touchdown in the fourth quarter as he finished with 102 yards on 23 touches.

After the Neal touchdown, Central Valley looking to respond on its opening possession brought out the punt unit in just three plays. However, Antonio Perri attempted the fake punt, it fell incomplete for Mason Dixon.

That would be the story in the first half for the Warriors as it went 0-for-3 on fourth down attempts. It’s two other attempts saw the Antelopes come up and stuff Ethan Shearer and Dixon — at the Avonworth 21 — just a yard shy of the line to gain.

Avonworth took a 10-0 lead into the locker room as it added a 32-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Calder Mahan.

In a scoreless third quarter, both teams traded punts back and forth as it was the defensive fronts that stood tall. Avonworth’s ground game that rolled on its opening drive was held to just 19 yards since on 20 attempts.

Leading by 10, Avonworth chewed up the clock before punctuating the win with a 3-yard touchdown run with 4:23 to go in the game.

In its entirety, Central Valley saw one drive finish in plus territory. The Warriors totaled 51 yards on the ground, averaging 1.8 yards per carry. Dixon paced the Warriors with 33 yards.

Quarterback Steven Rutherford completed 11-of-15 passes for 109 yards. He was sacked four times with Avonworth senior linebacker Justin Beck recording two of them.

Avonworth advances to the state semifinals to take on the District 6 champion Penn Cambria, who defeated Hickory 30-7 on Saturday. Time, date and location still to be determined.