PIAA quarterfinal rundown: Central Catholic, Aliquippa roll to wins; Westinghouse loses to defending champs by one point

Central Catholic met State College in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals for the second consecutive season Friday.

Not only did the Vikings eliminate State College once again, but also it came on the same field and by nearly the exact score as last year.

Owen Herrick passed for three touchdowns and WPIAL champion Central Catholic cruised to a 42-21 win against District 6 champion State College (10-3) at Altoona’s Mansion Park Stadium.

Central Catholic (12-1), last year’s runner-up, advanced to play Harrisburg (13-0) in next weekend’s semifinals. Harrisburg beat previously unbeaten Central York, 38-10, in Friday’s District 3 championship. Central Catholic topped Harrisburg, 38-33, in last year’s PIAA semifinals.

A 41-19 winner against State College (10-3) a season ago, Central Catholic had little problem beating the Little Lions this time around, sprinting to a 34-7 halftime lead before invoking the mercy rule early in the third quarter. The Vikings held a 42-7 lead when State College found the end zone twice in the final quarter.

All three of Herrick’s touchdown passes came in the first half. After firing a 65-yard touchdown pass to Aiden Nasiadka two minutes into the game, Herrick went on to connect with Maceo Watkins for a 25-yard touchdown and Chrys Black for a 20-yard score. Black added a 33-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Roman Thompson chipped in a 17-yard touchdown run and Antonio Difatta booted two field goals.

Standout running back and Syracuse recruit D’Antae Sheffey scored on runs of 8 and 5 yards for State College.

Class 4A

WPIAL champion Aliquippa (10-3) was once again stout defensively in beating District 10 champion Oil City (10-2), 28-6, at Slippery Rock University. The Quips, who have surrendered only 32 points through four postseason games, gave up their only points via a touchdown in the final minute of the game. It was Aliquippa’s fifth win in a row and eighth win in its past nine PIAA games. The Quips jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead following Qa’lil Goode’s 100-yard interception return in the closing seconds of the half. Akiva Woods added a 5-yard touchdown run and J.J. Work a 50-yard scoring run, while Marques Council connected with Josh Lay for a 16-yard touchdown. Winners of five state titles, Aliquippa will next take on Twin Valley (13-0), a 41-21 winner over Susquehanna Township in Friday’s District 3 championship.

Class 1A

Defending champion Bishop Guilfoyle (12-2) eliminated Westinghouse (6-5) in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row, 7-6, at River Valley. The District 6 champions opened the game with a drive that lasted 7:58 and culminated with Jake Kissell’s 7-yard touchdown run followed by the extra point, one that proved to be huge. That’s because after Westinghouse’s K’Shawn Hawkins scored on a 6-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, the Bulldogs cut the deficit to only 7-6 after failing on the conversion attempt. Westinghouse nearly scored the go-ahead points in the third quarter but fumbled with just seconds left. Westinghouse, which has never won a title, lost to Bishop Guilfoyle, 56-18, last season. The Marauders will face District 12 champion Belmont Charter (10-1) in the semifinals.