Jeannette, Aliquippa build on rivalry
Ray Reitz is the Jeannette football coach, which means he knows the athletes at Aliquippa nearly as well as those in his locker room.
If it's a big game and it's late in the playoff run, chances are Jeannette and Aliquippa will face each other -- whether the sport is football or basketball.
The sixth postseason renewal of the schools' rivalry since 2003 is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday at Highlands' Golden Rams Stadium in Natrona Heights. This time, Jeannette and Aliquippa meet in the WPIAL Class AA semifinals.
"This is a typical Aliquippa team," said Reitz, who was a Jeannette assistant in '03 when the Jayhawks lost to Aliquippa, 18-4, in Class AA title game. "They have speed, make big plays, are well-coached and they play hard. They are capable of making big plays on every play. That's one thing we have to guard against. (Aliquippa coach Mike Zmijanac) does a nice job every year having his team prepared."
Last year, Jeannette (11-0) upset No. 1 seed Aliquippa (9-2), 19-14, in a football quarterfinal game at Fox Chapel. Aliquippa got revenge on the basketball floor, defeating Jeannette in the WPIAL final and the PIAA Western final.
Now, the two meet with a trip to Heinz Field at stake.
No. 1 Jeannette is trying to prevent an all-Beaver County final. Beaver Falls and Riverside are meeting in the other semifinal.
Jeannette and Aliquippa have rich athletic traditions, even though they elect to play up one classification because their enrollment would put them in Class A. Aliquippa has won 12 WPIAL and two PIAA titles. Jeannette, the defending Class AA champion, has won seven WPIAL championships.
Aliquippa comes into the game fresh off an impressive 42-20 victory over Mars. In that game, Aliquippa slowed down the WPIAL's top rusher, Billy Bair, who only scored one touchdown and rushed for 138 yards.
This week, Aliquippa tries to control arguably the top player in the country: Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Terrelle Pryor gashed Aliquippa for three touchdowns and more than 200 yards rushing in last year's game.
Zmijanac said Terrelle Pryor isn't the only player his team must stop.
"Jeannette has a lot of other good players other than Terrelle," Zmijanac said. "Terrelle has a lot of support, and Ray does a great job putting his players in position to be successful. They do a lot of things well, which concerns us.
"But they can only put 11 players on the field, even though it seems like they are playing with 15. And the things they do aren't anything different than other teams have done. They just do it a lot better. Jeannette hasn't won 600 games by accident."
Aliquippa used a balanced attack to defeat Mars. The score was tied, 20-20, before the Quips pulled away by scoring the game's final 22 points.
Sophomore quarterback Rasheem Jones completed 10-of-11 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown to Jonathan Baldwin. The 6-foot-5 Baldwin, a Division I prospect in football and basketball, caught four passes for 52 yards. He leads Aliquippa with 35 catches for 431 yards. Jones has completed 85-of-144 attempts for 1,204 yards.
The Quips also rushed for 312 yards against Mars. Daron Cox gained 143 yards, and Terry Patrick 96. Both scored two touchdowns. Cox has rushed for 1,099 yards this season.
"They're like sharks in the water," Reitz said. "They're a good team. They come from the MAC (Midwestern Athletic Conference) and that's a very good conference. The Beaver Valley always has good teams. We'll have our hands full."
Jeannette, the top-scoring team in the WPIAL with 604 points, also features a balanced attack.
Reitz said the key to his offense is balance.
"It's tough to defend a team that is balanced," Reitz said.
Terrelle Pryor has completed 56-of-82 passes for 1,224 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has rushed for 935 yards and 21 TDs.
James Derry, in a part-time role, has gained 407 yards and scored eight touchdowns, and Jordan Hall has scored 16 overall touchdowns, rushed for 424 yards and caught 13 passes for 426 yards.
"Terrelle has been the No. 1 target for all the teams we've played," Reitz said. "I don't know if you can stop him; you'll try to control him."
Reitz was happy that Seton-La Salle and Shady Side Academy made his team work for scores in the playoffs. He expects Aliquippa will do the same.
"Our players respect Aliquippa," Reitz said. "They have a storied tradition. If we're not up for them, our season will be over."
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