Defense deciding South Fayette’s fate
South Fayette’s Hunter Hayes (No. 8) outruns DeWayne Murray (No. 3) after he recovered a Steel Valley fumble and raced 27 yards for a touchdown in the WPIAL Class AA semifinal football playoff game
South Fayette’s Ryhan Culberson makes a reception and breaks away from a Steel Valley defender. Culberson scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass to give the Lions the lead, 20-13, at halftime.
South Fayette defenders Jason Massey-Sears and Jake Berkovitz (No. 13) put a stop to Tremeire Redden’s progress on a Steel Valley offensive drive.
South Fayette quarterback Drew Saxton is sacked by Steel Valley’s Aujae Smith.
Hunter Hayes (No. 8) dives passed Steel Valley’s defense to score his second touchdown of the game.
For two straight seasons, defense paved the way to Heinz Field for the South Fayette football team. It certainly did in the semifinals when the Lions used a goal-line stand to seal a 27-19 victory against Steel Valley. And, South Fayette will continue to rely on defense when the Lions attempt to capture a third consecutive WPIAL title on Nov. 28. The Lions face undefeated Aliquippa at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Class AA finals set for Heinz Field.
South Fayette beat the Quips, 31-22, in the 2014 final. In the 2013 finals, the Lions posted a 34-28 triumph over Aliquippa. They also beat the Quips, 19-6, for the 2010 championship.
“It’s a fun rivalry,” said South Fayette head coach Joe Rossi. “The kids respect each other. We will go out and give it our best shot. It’s what they have worked for and they earned themselves another trip to a special moment. Another chapter,” he added.
Of the venue, Heinz Field, Rossi continued, “We are going to enjoy it. We tell the kids to enjoy the experience. But, we know it is going to be another physical war. That’s what the WPIAL is all about. Surviving,” he said.
On the final play of the semifinals, South Fayette survived a scare from Steel Valley. The defense, which has allowed 101 points in 12 games for an 8.4 average, stopped the Ironmen at the goal line and preserved its 44-game winning streak.
“We put it on our defense,” said Rossi, the mastermind behind the Lions’ run of two straight district and state titles as well as four WPIAL championship appearances in six years. “We played good defense all season. We put it on the team. We trust the defense.”
In November, the Lions believe in Hunter Hayes. The senior has played a big role in South Fayette’s success. During last year’s championship run, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards and excelled on defense. This fall, he has accumulated 1,340 yards and 20 touchdowns. He ranks among the team’s top tacklers along with Geavonie Love, Dom Malosh, Zack Radinizk and Ryhan Culberson. Love, Ray Eldridge, Jason Massey-Sears, Andy Gedrys and Alex Minford are SF’s sack men. Hayes and Luke Meindl lead the defense in picks.
“Hunter always seems to be around the ball. When you’re a good player, you’re always around the ball,” Rossi reiterated.
“Hunter is a beast,” Rossi continued. “He makes a lot of tackles. He is our workhorse. When you are playing in November, you have to run the football. He is on another level.”
Hayes proved that against Steel Valley. On offense, Hayes was around the ball enough to rush for 120 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. On defense, he stopped the Ironmen quite a bit. He also returned a fumble 27 yards for another score.
“It was a huge play,” Rossi said of the turnover.
Noah Plack made his own huge play. On special teams, he recovered a critical fumble and within seven seconds swung the momentum South Fayette’s way before halftime. After Hayes’ score tied the game at 13, Plack recovered the kick and Drew Saxton targeted Culberson for a TD strike that gave the Lions a 20-13 halftime edge.
In his rookie season behind center, Saxton, who completed nine passes for 153 yards against Steel Valley, has thrown for 1,559 yards and 27 scores. His top targets are Dan Trimbur (10 TDs and nearly 500 yards in receptions), Nick Ponikvar (over 400 yards in receptions) and Culberson (over 300 yards and nine scores). The versatile Mike Speca, who is the No. 2 rusher and can call the signals, as well as Camron Garland are threats to pull in passes.
Unlike Steel Valley, South Fayette’s opponent will present a balanced attack. The Ironmen relied on the run. In their loss to the Lions, DeWayne Murray, who has gained over 4,000 yards in his career so far, rolled up 166 yards and three scores.
In the Quips, South Fayette faces another plus, 4,000-yard rusher but they do boast a 1,000-yard passer. Sheldon Jeter leads the air assault with his talented targets: Jassir Jordan, Canard Tates, Thomas Perry, Bobby Cashaw and Draper Gilliam. Kaezon Pugh is their premier back. The Pitt recruit rushed for 230 yards and two touchdowns in a semifinal win against Freeport, 36-14. The 6-2, 215-pound tailback has gained more than 1,800 yards rushing and has scored 23 touchdowns this season. He averages 10.7 yards per carry. The Quips have six additional runners that have carried the ball 20 or more times this season and average five yards or better on their rushing attempts.
“Steel Valley was a fast, physical football team and they gave us everything that we could handle. It was a physical, physical war and that’s what we are in for against Aliquippa. It’s going to be another physical war this week. We played like a champion (against Steel Valley) and that’s what we are going to need again against another great football team.”
Under Mike Zmijanac, the Quips, indeed, have been great. They are 74-3 since 2010 with all three losses coming to South Fayette. Aliquippa returns to the championship contest for the eighth straight season.
NOTES: South Fayette and Aliquippa have played similar opponents this season. In Century Conference action, the Lions edged Seton-La Salle, 17-14. In the quarterfinals of the playoffs, the Quips dispatched the injury-riddled Rebels, 46-6. Both teams played Beaver with the Lions posting a 54-7 triumph and the Quips winning, 39-7 against the Bobcats. Finally, South Fayette handled Keystone Oaks, 51-7, while the Golden Eagles lost to the Quips, 42-26, in the first round of the playoffs.