Success in Pennsylvania high school football, like many states these days, means that teams have to “play up” above their enrollment. Aliquippa should be a 1A team, but because of the Quips success they play in Class 4A, because of Pennsylvania’s “competition formula.”
Thursday night at HersheyPark Stadium, Aliquippa won the 4A championship by beating Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) 34-27. It’s the school’s fourth overall state championship.
Bishop McDevitt jumped-out to a 13-0 lead, but then the Quips went to work behind freshman running back Tiqwai “Tikey” Hayes.
That’s Tiqwai Hayes bursting through the line and going 42 yards for the score. Here we go gang it’s @HailToTheeMcD 13 @QuipAthletics 7 5:57 left quarter one @PIAASports 4A Championship @PremiunSports @CaryMoyer @HSFBamerica @SeanMcBryan pic.twitter.com/aKQzlL2Boa
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 10, 2021
Hayes rushed for 139 yards on 32 carries with three touchdowns.
First play of quarter four, on a fourth and goal from the 1 Tiqwai Hayes plows across to give @QuipAthletics a 27-20 lead over @HailToTheeMcD in the @PIAASports 4A Championship @HSFBamerica @SeanMcBryan @CaryMoyer @PremiunSports pic.twitter.com/zYGJOjEsPa
— EasternPAFootball (@EPAFootball) December 10, 2021