Nov 20, 2016 By The 3 min read

Quarterback Nick Ross ran for a two-point conversion that lifted West Allegheny to a 38-37 win in overtime over McKeesport in the WPIAL Class AAAAA championship football game Friday at Heinz Field.

It was the last in a string of gutsy calls by veteran WA coach Bob Palko. He already had opted for not one, but two onsides kicks — his team recovered both — a fake punt that converted a fourth-and-2 and he attempted a 49-yard field goal instead of a last-second Hail Mary play.

As fate would have it, WA’s kicker was roughed on the field goal attempt, the ball was moved 15 yards closer and his kicker D.J. Opsatnik then booted a 34-yarder to tie the game and force overtime.

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Thomas Jefferson 42, New Castle 0: Quinton Hill rushed for 248 yards and three touchdowns and the Jaguars defense was not in a giving mood, as Thomas Jefferson won its second consecutive WPIAL championship.

This time, it was the Class AAAA crown after TJ dominated Class AAA for years.

The Jaguars (12-0) held New Castle to five first downs and came up with three interceptions, including one in the early going.

New Castle recovered a blocked punt at the TJ 6-yard line at the end of the Jaguars first possession, but Zane Zandier intercepted a Geno Smith pass near the end zone a few plays later to thwart the threat.

Thomas Jefferson was never challenged again.

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Beaver Falls 35, Aliquippa 22: Derrell Carter accounted for 251 total yards as one Beaver County team beat another in this Class AAA title tilt.

Carter caught a 50-yard scoring pass and also broke free on a 49-yard score after Aliquippa threatened to make a game of it.

Beaver Falls avenged a 44-13 loss in the regular season opener to Aliquippa and kept the Quips from winning their 16th WPIAL title. Instead, Beaver Falls won its fourth title.

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Central Catholic 42, Seneca Valley 7: Senior running back J.J. Younger scored three touchdowns to power Central Catholic over Seneca Valley in the first-ever WPIAL Class AAAAAA championship.

Younger scored twice on the ground and once on a kickoff return, but it was Central Catholic’s dominant offensive line that made the difference.

Justice Evans also scored on a punt return for the Vikings, who enacted the Mercy Rule early in the fourth quarter.