This time, Seneca Valley left nothing to chance.
The Raiders ran around and through Kiski Area, then threw over top the once-stingy Cavaliers defense to win 31-14 on Friday night at Davis Field in a WPIAL Class AAAA first-round playoff game.
Kiski Area ended its season at 6-4, losing three of its final five games after Chris McKillop's season-ending lower-leg injury Sept. 27. Seneca Valley improved to 8-2 and advances to face Penn Hills next week.
It was the way the Raiders moved on that was most impressive.
Known for their running game, with powerful fullback Jon Lee complementing the elusive style of tailback Billy Davis, the Raiders hadn't needed to pass much this season. And though they threw only seven passes Friday, the four Jon Aldridge completed left Kiski Area stunned.
With the Cavaliers having rallied from a touchdown deficit to lead 14-7 with 1:19 remaining in the first half, Aldridge went to work. Facing a second-and-12 from the Seneca Valley 30-yard line, Aldridge dropped back to pass, then scrambled for a 27-yard gain.
A personal-foul penalty for a late hit set up the Raiders at the Kiski Area 28. Three plays later, Aldridge lofted a near-perfect pass down the Kiski Area sideline over defensive back Anthony Cellitti, and Dom Duggan hauled it in for a 33-yard touchdown.
Aldridge and Duggan - who accounted for all of his completions - connected again late in the third quarter. On a third-and-6 from the 44, Aldridge released almost the identical pass, and Duggan again was there to pull it in, this time over Justin Wray.
The score increased Seneca Valley's lead to 24-14, and the Raiders never looked back.
The last time these teams met, in Week 3 of last season, Kiski Area receiver Greg Hutcherson pulled in 51- and 52-yard touchdowns in the final eight seconds of the game to give the Cavaliers an improbable 38-33 victory at Davis Field.
There would be no last-second prayers answered this time.
Kiski Area lost its opportunity to rally when on fourth down from the 15 with about nine minutes remaining in the game, Cavaliers coach Dave Grimm opted for a 32-yard field goal. Cellitti's attempt bounced off the crossbar and fell short.
The Cavaliers never threatened again.
In fact, Seneca Valley held Kiski Area's vaunted offense at bay all evening. The Cavaliers gained just 175 total yards, 63 of which came when Seneca Valley pressured Cellitti on a punt, and Cellitti was forced to run.
Besides those 63 rushing yards, Kiski Area gained just 17 on the ground. Quarterback Adam Gunn, who is being recruited by Pitt as a defensive back, completed just 5 of 21 passes for 75 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
"When we get our running game open, our passing game opens," running back Scott McKillop said. "They're linemen were quick off the ball. I don't know what to say."
Seneca Valley converted 7 of 13 third-down conversions and 3 of 3 fourth-down conversions, as they overcame four turnovers. Davis ran for 120 yards on 19 carries and Lee added 62 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
