MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Tate Sechrist stiff arms a Selinsgrove defender during the District 4 Class AAAA championship. Sechrist and the Bulldogs play tonight in the PIAA Class AAAA semifinals at Central Cambria against Aliquippa.

NOTES: Game is tonight at Central Cambria High School, 7 p.m.

Aliquippa road to semifinals: In WPIAL, defeated Laurel Highlands, 36-0; McKeesport, 27-21, in double OT and Belle Vernon, 28-13

Aliquippa PPG–41.4, PPA–10.0

Aliquippa notes: The Quips are the most decorated program in WPIAL history and captured their record 18th district championship last week against Belle Vernon. Aliquippa has played in a record 14 straight WPIAL finals, a streak which nearly ended in the semifinals two weeks ago before it rallied from a 14-point deficit and defeated McKeesport. Aliquippa captured the 2018 Class AAA state championship and lost to Thomas Jefferson in overtime in last year’s WPIAL final. Aliquippa has a Class A enrollment but was voluntarily playing up at the Class AAA level before the PIAA’s success formula forced it to move up to AAAA. If the Quips win the state title this season, they would be forced to move to 5A and have said they would consider leaving the WPIAL if that happens. Aliquippa has won 10 straight games since losing to defending AAA state champion Central Valley, 21-12, in Week 2. The defense shut down one of the state’s premier offenses a week ago, surrendering just 202 yards, including 40 in the first half. Aliquippa is the biggest team Jersey Shore has faced this season the interior line of Jason McBride (6-feet, 3-inch, 300 pounds), Neco Eberhardt (6-2, 280) and Omar Banks (6-2, 270) were especially strong against Belle Vernon. The Quips built a 21-0 third-quarter lead against Belle Vernon a week after forcing overtime against McKeesport with a late touchdown. Freshman running back Tiqwai Hayes was outstanding in the McKeesport win, running for 229 yards and three touchdowns on 44 carries. Hayes has run for 1,509 yards and 18 touchdowns while sophomore Jon Tracy has added 574 yards and 13 scores. Aliquippa is balanced and sophomore quarterback Quinten Goode has completed 57.8% of his passes for 1,596 yards and 16 touchdowns. Three receivers have caught at least six touchdowns and Cyair Clark has a team-high 27 catches for 527 yards and eight touchdowns. Tajier Thornton has 23 catches and Donovan Walker has made the most of his 13 catches, hauling in seven touchdowns.

Aliquippa player to watch–Tyrese Jones and Naquan Crowder: OK, I cheated and put two players here. Jones and Crowder help make the Aliquippa offense go and the massive offensive linemen shined against Belle Vernon as the Quips controlled the clock. Jones is a 6-6, 365 pounder and Crowder 6-3, 345. Those two anchor a stout unit which has helped the Quips score at least 27 points in each of their 10 consecutive wins.

Jersey Shore road to semifinals: In District 4, defeated Lewisburg, 48-7, and Selinsgrove, 41-0; in states, defeated Allentown Central Catholic, 20-7, and Meadville, 30-6

Jersey Shore PPG–39.1, PPA–7.7; YPG–391.9, YPA–146.2

Jersey Shore notes: Jersey Shore is making its third consecutive Final Four appearance and seeking its second straight state final berth. The Bulldogs are competing through the West Region after winning last year’s Eastern Region championship. Jersey Shore is 24-1 over the past two seasons and 31-2 in its last 33 games dating back to Week 8 of 2019. The Bulldogs have won four consecutive district and HAC-I championships, going undefeated in league play the past three years. Jersey Shore rallied from a four-point halftime deficit at Allentown Central Catholic and blanked it over the final three quarters. Jersey Shore broke open a close game against Meadville with a 24-point second quarter and again did not surrender a second-half point. Jersey Shore’s defense leads District 4 in points and yards allowed and has surrendered just two touchdowns since Week 8. Linebackers Haydn Packer and Karter Peacock have each made at least 15 tackles in each state tournament game. They are over 100 tackles this season as is standout defensive end Connor Davis who made 12 tackles against Meadville. The Bulldogs shut down Meadville’s explosive running game, allowing just 150 yards against a team which entered the game with more than 4,500. Kooper Peacock forced a fumble which Tate Sechrist returned 75 yards for the game’s opening touchdown and Cayden Hess’s late second-quarter interception set up a last-second Breck Miller field goal. Jersey Shore’s defense has scored more touchdowns (3) than it has allowed (2) in four playoff games. Sechrist, Luke Springman and Dierk Stetts all have at least 7 1/2 sacks and Stetts recovered a fumble against Meadville. Quarterback Brady Jordan threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the state quarterfinal victory, finding Peacock and Hess for long touchdowns. Jordan has totaled more than 3,000 yards and Packer has run for 1,183 yards and 20 touchdowns. A stout offensive line has paved the way for three players who have gone over 700 rushing yards, including freshman Elijah Jordan. Hess, Peacock and Connor Griffin all have caught at least 22 passes and four touchdowns. Griffin’s brilliant 27-yard catch set up Packer’s game-clinching touchdown against Meadville.

Jersey Shore player to watch–Zach Rooney: The two-way starting lineman has made a big impact on both sides of the ball. A reliable tackle on the offensive line, Rooney has helped the Bulldogs feature a 1,000-yard passer and two rushers for a second time in three seasons. Also a quality nose tackle, the junior has collected 4 1/2 sacks, has 12 tackles for loss and added an interception in the district final.

Winner plays: District 3 champion Bishop McDevitt or District 1 champion Bishop Shanahan

Outlook: All the work Jersey Shore has been since January is for a game like tonight’s. Like Aliquippa, Jersey Shore has built a super tradition and these are two powerful programs colliding after producing strong performances a week ago. This one is all about what goes on up front. The Bulldogs have to find a way to neutralize Aliquippa’s size on both sides of the ball. Jersey Shore likely is being labeled the underdog entering this game and that is way it likes it. The Bulldogs have proven doubters wrong all year and will trying do so tonight against it’s toughest opponent yet.

–By CHRIS MASSE