Naman Alemada, South Fayette

Versatility and delivering in clutch situations made Indians tight end-linebacker stand out.

The WPIAL Class 5A football championship games includes a matchup of workout partners.

ALIQUIPPA – Belle Vernon did plenty of good things early in the game and again late, but Aliquippa dominated the middle and that carried the Quips to a 33-25 victory over the Leopards in a WPIAL Class 4A semifinal game Friday night.

Serra quarterback Max Rocco broke the Highlanders’ hearts when he connected with Jayvon Holt for a 68-yard touchdown pass that provided the winning margin with 28 seconds remaining in the game.

BELLE VERNON – Belle Vernon rushed for 346 yards and exploded for 35 second-half points in a 49-21 WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinal win over Chartiers Valley Friday night.

COAL CENTER – Trailing 21-7 with under five minutes to go in the fourth quarter, fourth-seeded California looked like it needed a miracle to get back in the game against Shenango.

Peters Township sets up a rematch of last year's WPIAL 5A championship game by handling Woodland Hills.

Eli Jochem caught three touchdown passes from Cole Spencer and returned an interception for another score as top-seeded Pine-Richland defeated South Fayette 47-7 in a Class 5A first-round playoff game Friday night.

Freshman quarterback Brad Birch passed for four touchdowns and ran for another score — all in the first half — and Jeannette scored twice on returns as the Jayhawks rolled to a 62-14 victory over Avella in a Class A first-round playoff game Friday night.

The WPIAL football playoffs begin tonight with seven local teams participating.

Seven local high school football teams will participate in the WPIAL playoffs, with four of those playing home games in the first round.

NEW CASTLE -- Jackson Clark rushed for 152 yards on 18 carries and scored twice as Union downed Burgettstown, 36-22, in a Big 7 Conference game Friday.

FREDERICKTOWN — Jared Johnson scored three touchdowns and McGuffey wrapped up the outright Class AA Century Conference championship Friday night with a 48-20 win over Beth-Center.

CANONSBURG — Though his team won convincingly, Canon-McMillan coach Mike Evans was not all pleased with his team’s performance, especially on offense.

HOUSTON — Jimmy Sadler ran for six touchdowns and Chartiers-Houston's defense blanked Waynesburg in the second half as the Bucs pulled away for a 41-14 victory in a Class 2A Century Conference game Friday night.

IMPERIAL — Peters Township knocked off West Allegheny 23-7 Friday night to head into the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs undefeated.

UNIONTOWN — Tyson Brophy was stopped one yard short on a potential go-ahead, two-point conversion attempt as Trinity's comeback bid ended Friday night with a 34-33 Big Eight Conference loss to Laurel Highlands.

AVELLA — A pair of second-quarter touchdowns were all that Avella needed Friday night as the Eagles played terrific defense and dominated the field position to stun Carmichaels 14-7 and clinch a WPIAL Class A playoff berth out of the Tri-County South Conference.

WAYNESBURG — Freshman Colin Brady ran for 273 yards and four touchdowns, Corey Wise had a hand in three scores, and West Greene's offense rolled in a 54-28 victory over Jefferson-Morgan in a Class A Tri-County South Conference game played at Waynesburg University's John F. Wiley Stadium.

McDONALD — Chase Belsterling scored two touchdowns and Jake Tkach had a hand in two other scores as Fort Cherry rolled over Cornell 41-6 in a Class A Big Seven Conference game Friday night at Jim Garry Stadium.

MAPLETOWN — Sophomore Landan Stevenson rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries, returned an interception 68 yards for a score and a punt 22 yards for a fifth TD Friday night as Mapletown ended the season with a 40-29 victory over Bentworth in the Class A Tri-County South Conference.

MONONGAHELA -- West Mifflin scored a late touchdown to pull away from Ringgold, 20-8, in a Big 8 Conference game Friday.

California running back has hand in 6 touchdowns as Trojans win the Tri-County South title.

Belle Vernon’s defense forced six turnovers and quarterback Devin Whitlock continued his stellar play with five touchdowns.

Peters Township gave its best, scoring 28 points in the first half and cruising to a 45-7 Senior Night/Homecoming win.

Highlanders score on each of their seven first-half possessions and cruise to lopsided victory.

CHARLEROI – In what was a slugfest early, Washington scored 25 second-half points to pull away for a 39-0 victory over Charleroi in a Century Conference game Friday night.

ROGERSVILLE — West Greene running back Corey Wise needed only four carries to rack up 101 yards and two touchdowns, and Wesley Whipkey completed 5 of 5 passes for 79 yards and three touchdowns, as the Pioneers pounded visiting Brownsville 53-12 Friday night.

Jefferson-Morgan 20, Mapletown 13

McDONALD — Charley Rossi caught a pair of first-half touchdown passes and added a fourth-quarter interception return for another score as South Fayette never trailed in a critical 38-14 victory Friday night over West Allegheny.

BURGETTSTOWN — Burgettstown's Shane Kemper and Cole Shergi combined to rush for 222 yards and four touchdowns as the Blue Devils rolled to a 27-7 Class A Big Seven Conference victory Friday night over Northgate.

WAYNESBURG — Hayden Sierocky ran for three touchdowns and passed for another as Ligonier Valley defeated Waynesburg 42-7 in a nonconference game Friday night.

Unbeaten Thomas Jefferson did all its scoring in the first half and cruised to a 41-0 victory over Ringgold in a Class 4A Big Eight Conference game at Joe Montana Stadium Friday night.

WEXFORD — Greg Phillips threw four touchdown passes, Mason Kress and J.R. Burton each had two scores and undefeated North Allegheny blanked Canon-McMillan 35-0 in a Class 6A Quad County West Conference game Friday night.