Quips win AA title
HERSHEY -- Northern Lehigh had never faced a player like Darrelle Revis, so coach Jim Tkach looked for divine intervention to stop the Aliquippa star.
"When he got the ball," Tkach said, "we prayed."
Saying a novena wouldn't have helped the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon in the PIAA Class AA championship.
Revis scored five touchdowns, including the game-winner on a 64-yard run with 4:23 remaining, as Aliquippa beat Northern Lehigh, 32-27, at Hersheypark Stadium.
Revis scored on an 89-yard kickoff return, a 69-yard return of a blocked field goal and runs of 2, 1 and 64 yards. The five touchdowns set a PIAA Class AA finals record and tied four others for most in a PIAA championship game.
The play of Revis could go down as the greatest single-game performance by an Aliquippa player, considering the stakes. Revis, however, was quick to downplay his feat.
"People might think that, but some great athletes came through here, like Mike Ditka and Ty Law," Revis said. "I might be up there with them. Once I started scoring touchdowns, they started piling up."
The 6-foot, 175-pound senior -- who lined up at quarterback, tailback and receiver -- finished with 135 yards total offense. He had 13 carries for 91 yards, one catch for 6 yards and a 39-yard pass completion.
"Even if you bottled him up and tried to contain, he would settle then explode," Tkach said. "He would just sit and take off. It was incredible."
Defensively, he had six tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. He had another interception negated by an offsetting penalty.
"It's a dream come true," Revis said. "I'm a team player. I can't do it without the team. I played a role today. I just make big plays. That's what I came out here to do."
Northern Lehigh (14-1) had allowed only 47 points and had held opponents to 326 rushing yards this season. The Bulldogs outgained Aliquippa (14-1), 230-162, in total offense and 209-88 in rushing yards.
Northern Lehigh scored first when Jake Serfass, who rushed for a game-high 131 yards on 18 carries, scored on a 5-yard run for a 7-0 lead at 5:08 of the first quarter.
Revis responded by returning the ensuing kickoff 89 yards, but Dontae Patrick was stopped at the goal line on a two-point conversion attempt and Aliquippa trailed, 7-6.
The Bulldogs stretched their lead when Kyle Follweiler, who had 85 yards on 13 carries, took an option pitch left and scored on a 36-yard run for a 14-6 lead.
But Revis blocked Aaron Mill's 38-yard field-goal attempt, recovered it and raced 69. His cousin, junior Brandon Revis, caught a two-point pass from Sjavante Gilliam for to tie it at 14-14 with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
High winds wreaked havoc on the kicking game, and Josh Ziegler shanked a punt out at the Northern Lehigh 30. The Quips went 30 yards in eight plays, scoring on a 2-yard run by Revis for a 20-14 lead with 3:08 left in the half.
Northern Lehigh scored on Bob Sutjak's 40-yard punt return at 6:50 of the third, but Michael Washington blocked Mill's kick to keep it tied at 20-20.
The Bulldogs took a 27-20 lead when Serfass' 50-yard run set up a 6-yard touchdown by Jack Gill with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.
Until then, Revis hadn't touched the ball much on offense. When given the chance, he made magic.
"When it came," Revis said, "I just turned on the switch and made it happen."
Revis lined up at quarterback and tossed a 39-yard pass to junior Jarrad Littlejohn, who made a terrific catch at the Northern Lehigh 8.
"Littlejohn is a kid who hasn't gotten much notice," Zmijanac said, "because he plays the same position as Darrelle."
Revis scored on a 1-yard run to make it 27-26, but Serfass knocked Revis out at the 1 on a two-point run attempt. On the ensuing drive, Serfass fumbled and linebacker Will Forbes recovered at the Aliquippa 28 with 4:46 left.
On second-and-2, Revis took the snap and ran left. He saw a seam, cut back at midfield and outran Serfass en route to a 64-yard touchdown for a 32-27 lead.
The Quips nearly blew it in the final 90 seconds, when they elected to punt on fourth-and-1 at the Northern Lehigh 36. Serfass blocked Washington's punt, and Follweiler recovered it at the Aliquippa 42. Three plays later, Gilliam intercepted a Pete Wayda pass to clinch the win.
"We actually argued about it," Zmijanac said. "I made the final decision, which was the wrong one. Thank God the guy didn't run it all the way back. I'd look like a total fool."
Aliquippa finally won a PIAA title in Hershey, after losing to Berwick in AAA in 1988 to Mount Carmel in AA in 2000. It was the second PIAA crown for the Quips, who beat Hanover for the AA title in '91.
And Zmijanac became the first coach in PIAA history to win state titles in football and basketball. He led the Quips to the '97 Class AA basketball crown.
"It beats the hell out of losing," Zmijanac said. "I've taken this ride losing. I'm sure it will be a better ride home."
PIAA Class AA Championship
Aliquippa 32, Northern Lehigh 27
Northern Lehigh14-0-13-0--27
Aliquippa14-6-0-12--32
NL: Jake Serfass 5 run (Aaron Mills kick)
A: Darrelle Revis 89 kickoff return (run failed)
NL: Kyle Follweiler 36 run (Mills kick)
A: Darrelle Revis 69 blocked FG retusrn (Brandon Revis pass from Sjavante Gilliam)
A: D. Revis 2 run (pass failed)
NL: Bob Sutjak 40 punt return (kick blocked)
NL: Jack Gill 6 run (Mill kick)
A: D. Revis 2 run (run failed)
A: D. Revis 64 run (pass failed)
One-man show
Darrelle Revis sets PIAA Class AA record with five TDs to lead Aliquippa past Northern Lehigh.
