Interrupting an Aliquippa tradition started by Don Yannessa, an Ambridge fan took the Quips' flaming spear out of the midfield logo and threw it onto the turf.
It didn't take the fire out of the Quips.
Not even having Yannessa on its sidelines could reverse the fortunes of visiting Ambridge, as Aliquippa rolled to a 38-21 victory over the Bridgers in the season opener Saturday night at Carl A. Aschman Memorial Stadium.
The game was billed as Yannessa's homecoming to Aliquippa, where he played for the Quips and later coached them to four WPIAL titles between 1972-88. It was his first time coaching on the opposing sidelines since leaving.
"Deservedly so for Don Yannessa, a Hall of Fame coach, coming home," said Aliquippa coach Mike Zmijanac, a former longtime Yannessa assistant said of the hype. "He deserves pomp and circumstance."
By the time Ambridge (0-1) scored its first touchdown, with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter, Aliquippa (1-0) had inflicted the mercy rule on its foes. The Quips scored on every possession in the first half, when they outgained Ambridge, 305-43, in total yards.
"I knew it was going to be a struggle," said Yannessa, who took over at Ambridge after 13 seasons at Baldwin. "I didn't like all that hype but I understood it was going to happen, regardless of what I wanted. It'd be different if we were going to play a poor Aliquippa team, but we were playing one that could win a championship."
Quarterback Sjavante Gilliam completed 4 of 5 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, and five players rolled up 178 rushing yards in the first half.
"It was great because we heard all kinds of stuff, Yannessa this and Yannessa that," Gilliam said. "He's a great coach, but it's about the players on the field."
The Quips got a big game from receivers Darrelle Revis, who had a 44-yard run, two catches for 50 yards and an interception, and Michael Washington, who had a 45-yard run and a 72-yard reception.
Ambridge took the opening kickoff and got a first down in two plays, when Tommy Pringle broke off runs of 8 and 3 yards. But the Bridgers managed only one more yard and were forced to punt.
The Quips got started with the 72-yarder to Washington that set up Dontae Patrick's 10-yard scoring run for a 6-0 lead at the 6:48 mark.
On the next play, Pringle fumbled and it was recovered by Aliquippa's Jance Henry at the Bridgers' 32. After a 19-yard run by D'von Jeter, Gilliam scored on a 13-yard keeper to give the Quips a 12-0 lead.
Revis lined up at quarterback, and turned a broken play into a 44-yard gain to the Ambridge 28. Two plays later, Gilliam tossed a 25-yard scoring pass to Juan Ross for an 18-0 advantage with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
Aliquippa got another big play from Washington, this time on a 45-yard scoring run. Marc Pellegrini's extra point gave the Quips a 25-0 lead. Revis added a 39-yard scoring run on an inside handoff to make it 31-0.
Pringle fumbled again, and it was recovered by Randall Palakovich at the Ambridge 30. After Patrick and Jeter took turns moving the ball to the 3, Gilliam scored on a fourth-down run for a 38-0 halftime lead.
In the second half, Ambridge got touchdown runs of 6 and 2 yards by Kenaz Murray and a 38-yard touchdown pass from Besong, who finished 7 of 18 for 166 yards, to Brad Bichey with 1:35 remaining in the game.
And the fire went out on Yannessa's return to Aliquippa.
"I don't take any pleasure at all -- actually I'm embarrassed -- in beating a friend of mine," Zmijanac said. "He turned Baldwin around and he'll turn this program around, too. I don't want to coach too long or he might get me back."
