Southern Columbia Tigers Win Record 7th State Title With 49-14 Beat Down of Aliquippa

HERSHEY – Jim Roth has been to the title game with the Tigers 13 times before, but as a Class 1A representative, winning six of those games. Today was their  14th trip to the title games. It turned out to be a sweet trip as the Tigers won their First PIAA Class 2A State Title in convincing fashion, forcing a record seven turnovers, turning five of them into points. “This one is so special,” said Roth. “We haven’t been here in a while and to win with such a talented group of kids, it just feels great.”

For Aliquippa, this was one of their worst defeats in years. “You know you can’t turn the ball over to a team like that,” said Mike Zmijanac, Head Coach for the Quips. “I’m very proud of this team and I wouldn’t trade places with 588 high schools that didn’t get this far.”

The Quips got things rolling from the start, taking the opening drive seven plays in 66 yards with Pitt commit Kaezon Pugh finishing the drive on a one-yard run. The two-point play failed but Aliquippa was off to a six point lead. On the ensuing kick Blake Marks fumbled the ball and Robert Anzio pounced on it for the Quips at the SC 37. “Oh man, I was like if that costs us the game, that sucks,” said the Sr. running back for the Tigers. The Quips moved to the SCA 21, but on second and ten, Billy Marzeski stepped in front of a wind whipped pass from Sheldon Jeter in the endzone and returned it to the 35. “I knew the wind was going to make the ball sail so I played inside the receiver,” said Marzeski.

The Tigers then marched 65 yards with four different players touching the ball.  Jared Torres finished off the drive with a four-yard TD run. Tyler Keiser hit his first of seven straight PATs to make it 7-6. SCA never looked back from there.

“It is really nice to have three backs to turn to for the running game,” said Coach Roth. “It keeps those legs fresh.” Steve Toczylousky picked up the second interception for the Tigers with nine minutes left in the second quarter at the Quips 19. Three plays later QB Nick Becker made it 14-6 with a 15-yard dash up the gut of the Aliquippa defense. It only took a few more seconds to make it 21-6 as Marzeski recorded his SECOND interception, this time returning it 41 yards to the endzone. “Man, that one I was like WHOA! He threw that right to me and all I saw was that stage (in the north endzone) so I just ran to it.”

Aliquippa came storming back to make it a 21-14 game when Sheldon Jeter hit Canard Tates for a three-yard pass who in turn performed a perfect hook and ladder toss back to Jordan Jassir. Jassir did the rest sprinting 41 yards for the score. With just 44 seconds left in the half, it appeared we had a great game in front of us.

The Tigers were having none of that. “When they scored we just wanted to get some momentum cause we knew we were getting the ball to start the second half,” said Tiger quarterback Nick Becker. “But when we got the ball and we moved close to the  end zone, we knew we could score.” On third and one with 23 seconds left in the half, Becker broke a few tackles and went 30 yards to make it 28-14 at the half .

Aliquippa was facing a situation they had faced in their previous three playoff games, trailing and needing a comeback for the win. At first they appeared to be on their way. After stopping SCA and forcing a punt, the Quips used a steady dose of Kaezon Pugh to march the ball to the SCA 28. Blake Marks sacked Jeter for a three-yard loss. Then they had a five-yard penalty. The final straw was Josh Yoder crushing Jeter which forced the ball loose. It was recovered by Gabriel Delbo at the SC 40.

Southern again put the turnover up onto the scoreboard on a seven-play, 60 yard drive highlighted by a Becker to Marks pass of 49 yards. Jared Torres went over the goal line from the one yard run and the rout was on. Southern would score two more times thanks to Hunter Thomas runs of one and 10 yards. The Jr. RB had touchdown runs of one and ten yards.

Photo credit Matt Topper