“ Warriors receiver Michael Barbuto ran for a 10-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime as his entire offensive line pushed him in from behind, then Ethan Ott drilled the extra point to give Central Valley a seven-point lead. Aliquippa scored and coach Mike Warfield decided to try for the win, but Isaiah Towler was stopped at the 2 and the game ended.” According to Warfield, Aliquippa’s coach, “We were struggling a little bit, as far as kicking the ball, and we didn’t want to put that on our kicker,” Warfield said. “We didn’t make it. They made a good play. I’m not going to second-guess that.”
“Nobody’s heads were down when [Aliquippa] scored,” Warriors coach Mark Lyons said. “They were just anxious to get lined up and let the whistle blow, and let’s play and see what happens.” Lyons now has three WPIAL titles in 10 seasons as Central Valley’s head coach, since the merger of the Monaca and Center school districts in 2010. “I think our defense has been flying under the radar all year, and that’s OK,” Lyons said. “Our skill guys get a lot of the publicity and rightfully so, but our defense, they know what’s important this time of year.”The teams went nearly 24 minutes without a point before the Quips got the scoring started as Aliquippa quarterback Vaughn Morris hooked up with wide receiver Chinua Solomon for an 11-yard scoring strike on third-and-9 with 22 seconds left in the half. Daniel Elmore’s extra point attempt went wide right, but the Quips took a 6-0 lead into the break.
After a scoreless third quarter, Dudley led the Warriors down the field for a game-tying score early in the fourth, finding Guy wide open for an 8-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. But Ott missed the extra point wide to the left to keep the score tied, 6-6, sending the game into overtime and setting the stage for Barbuto’s heroics.
Check out a highlight reel of the game Below!
The Warriors will face the Bald Eagle Area( PA) Eagles @ Moon Area High School on 11/29/19 @7:00. A win for the Warriors will send them to their second PIAA state championship in school history, since the merger of the Monaca and Center school districts in 2010. The Warriors have never won a state championship, their only trip to Hershey was in 2014 where they would end up losing. If they win Central Valley will face the winner of the Wyoming Area (PA)/Tamaqua (PA) game.
Sources:
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2019/11/18/WPIAL-football-championship-2019-Central-Valley-Aliquippa-Mark-Lyons/stories/201911170200
https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/high-school-football/2019/11/16/WPIAL-Class-3A-Final-central-valley-aliquippa-high-school-football-championships/stories/201911160057
