Friday night's matchup between Center and Aliquippa was likely the last between the two Beaver County rivals, and it would go down as an epic battle that would not soon be forgotten in this week's Eat 'N Park Game of the Week.
Aliquippa (5-1) overcame a 12-point deficit to outlast Center (5-1), 13-12, on their homecoming night to bring the Quips to a first-place tie with the Trojans in the WPIAL AA Midwestern Conference.
Center was in control for the majority of the game, and they got on the scoreboard first in the second quarter after quarterback Preston Dawson converted a critical 4th and 1. Later in the drive, Dawson rolled out to the left, then threw back to the right into the end zone for a touchdown pass to junior running back Ben Cobb for a 6-0 lead after a botched extra point attempt.
(Jim Pratchenko's sack of Aliquippa's Mikal Hall helped put Center in position for their second score of the game and a 12-0 lead by halftime)
Later in the second, Center's Jim Pratchenko sacked Aliquippa quarterback Mikal Hall to help stall a Quips drive, giving Center the ball again. Dawson took advantage with a 26-yard touchdown run, but his two-point conversion pass attempt was intercepted at the goal line by Stanley Pugh and the Trojans carried a 12-0 lead into halftime.
(Center QB Preston Dawson runs for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter)
But in the second half Aliquippa literally hit the ground running from the first time they got their hands on the ball. Junior Haetaun Mathis took a punt all the way inside the Center 5-yard line, giving the Quips a 1st-and-Goal on their first drive.
Richard Lowe put Aliquippa on the board with his first of two touchdown runs, and with the extra point attempt their deficit was cut to 12-7. They held strong to get the ball back again and set up Lowe's second touchdown run, but a failed two-point conversion attempt left the Quips with a one-point lead.
(Aliquippa RB Richard Lowe scores one of his two touchdown runs in the second half)
"Our team has been in these kinds of positions before," Aliquippa head coach Mike Zmijanac told Channel 4 Action Sports' John Meyer after the game. "In the second half we played great defense, and it gave us a chance to return punts and get into position."
Center drove deep into Aliquippa territory late in the fourth quarter, and were faced with a tough decision to either go for it on 4th-and-8 or to kick a 49-yard field goal by Lucas Campos. The Trojans chose to kick, but Campos' attempt fell short with about four minutes to go.
(Stanley Pugh's interception was one of two failed conversion attempts for Center)
Center had one last chance to take the lead, but Dawson's deep pass attempt in the waning seconds was intercepted by Mathis and the Quips held on for the win.
"Center is a great team," Zmijanac said. "They really dominated us for three quarters, but it only counts in the end, I guess."
Barring a playoff meeting this will be the last meeting between the two teams because Center will merge with Monaca next season to create the newly formed Central Valley school district. In the meantime, the Trojans will return home to face New Brighton (0-6) next week, while Center will host Ellwood City (0-6).
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