Nov 13, 2014 3 min read

Six straight WPIAL Class AA championship appearances, a record 15 WPIAL titles, two state title game appearances since 2003 and a factory for Division I talent.

Washington High School’s players know all about the exploits of Aliquippa. It was the Quips who defeated the Prexies in the 2012 WPIAL championship game at Heinz Field after knocking them out in the 2011 quarterfinals.

This will be the seventh postseason meeting in 17 years between the two schools.

Washington’s senior class witnessed the Quips spoil the seasons of plenty of WPIAL teams over the past decade, but they hope to change that tonight.

The Prexies (11-0) and second-seeded Aliquippa (11-0) face off at West Allegheny High School in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinals. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

“Since I’ve been at Wash High, they’ve ended our season twice,” senior Jonathan Spina said. “It’s definitely exciting to get one more chance at them this year. They are a great team – a typical Aliquippa team.”

While Aliquippa enters the game with three players who hold Division I scholarship offers, the Prexies are hobbling to Imperial. Junior fullback Jordan West broke his left ankle in last week’s win over Apollo-Ridge, and senior running back Malik Wells is doubtful with an ankle injury suffered late in the first half against the Viking. West’s replacement at safety, Matt Popeck, has mononucleosis.

It will force Washington head coach Mike Bosnic to be creative, but he can find solace in the fact that junior Kurt Adkins rushed for 126 yards on 11 carries with two touchdowns last week, junior Kenya Davis impressed at fullback and Spina will play safety in place of West.

“We’ve got our backs against the wall a little bit because we are going into the game pretty banged up,” Bosnic said. “We have really progressed throughout the season and kind of evolved. Now, we’re probably going to be limited in what we can do.”

Injuries or not, longtime Aliquippa head coach Mike Zmijanac is weary of Washington. He saw Washington’s film against Apollo-Ridge where the Prexies’ linemen were relentless, senior DeQuay Isbell made big plays and the running backs rush for more than 400 yards.

The offensive performance began with the play of the line – senior Zack Blystone, junior Khalid Blount, senior Justin Blussick, senior Keirs Gloady, junior Thomas Cherry and junior tight end Nate Swart.

While the Quips boast three 300-pound linemen, including Division I prospect Arrington Gipson, Zmijanac feels Washington could disrupt Aliquippa’s rhythm on offense and give the Quips’ defense headaches.

“They are the biggest (double-A) team I’ve ever seen,” Zmijanac said. “I mean, good grief. They are huge, and they really get after it. When teams are really good, for the most part, it’s because they have good offensive and defensive lines. Everything else can fill in around it.”

History shows Heinz Field is a second home for Aliquippa, but Washington’s players are ready to flip the script on one of the biggest powerhouse programs in Pennsylvania and reach the title game.

“It’s time for someone new to be up there. I feel like they aren’t as strong as they were in 2012 or last year,” said Swart. “How could you with the guys they lost? We are going to come in with a chip on our shoulders and know that we are supposed to be there and win the game.”