Live updates: Serra Catholic wins WPIAL Class 2A championship over Beaver Falls
Serra Catholic wins WPIAL Class 2A championship
On the strength of three defensive touchdowns, the Serra Catholic Eagles rolled to a 35-12 win over the Beaver Falls Tigers in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Friday night at Heinz Field. Read more about the game here.
Ninth Beaver Falls turnover leads to another Serra Catholic score
Looking to just run the clock out in a tough WPIAL Class 2A defeat, Beaver Falls running back Isaiah Aeschbacher fumbled the football away for the Tigers' ninth fumble of the game, resulting in a 42-yard fumble return for touchdown by Serra Catholic junior DaiQuan Chatfield, giving the Eagles a 35-12 lead with 1:04 remaining.
Short rushing touchdown stretches Eagles' lead
Serra Catholic's Terrell Booth picked off his second pass of the game, setting up an eventual 1-yard rushing touchdown by running back Machai Duetrieulle-Brooks, giving the Eagles a 28-12 lead with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter.
Pick-six gives Eagles 21-12 lead late Q4
One play after exiting the game and coming back in due to an injury, Beaver Falls quarterback Jaren Brickner threw his second pick-six of the game, this one to Serra Catholic's Terrell Booth, giving the Eagles a 21-12 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Aeschbacher punches one in from 6 yards out
One player after Mekhi Clark's 58-yard punt return, Beaver Falls running back Isaiah Aeschbacher plunges in from six yards out untouched. The Tigers' 2-point conversion fails. Beaver Falls trails Serra Catholic 14-12 with a little over 11 minutes remaining.
END Q3: Serra Catholic 14, Beaver Falls 6
Beaver Falls opens the third quarter with possession at the Serra Catholic 6 yard line thanks to a 58-yard punt return from Mekhi Clark on the final play of the fourth quarter. Despite six turnovers, the Tigers are six yards from tying this game up.
QB sneak fails, Beaver Falls records sixth turnover
Facing a fourth and short from near midfield, a Jaren Brickner sneak comes up short for Beaver Falls as the Tigers turn the ball over for the sixth time in the WPIAL Class 2A championship. Serra Catholic still leads 14-6 with a little over two minutes left.
Second half is underway
Serra Catholic opens the second half with the football at the Eagles' 24 yard line holding a 14-6 lead. Snow is starting to fall here at Heinz Field.
HALFTIME: Serra Catholic 14, Beaver Falls 6
Driving for potential points near the end of the half, Beaver Falls quarterback Jaren Brickner threw an interception at the 1 yard line, recording the fifth turnover of the first half for the defending WPIAL Class 2A champions, who trail the Eagles 14-6. Really rough first half for Beaver Falls overall.
Turnovers costs the Tigers once again
Looking to take the lead before the half, Beaver Falls aired it out against the Serra Catholic defense, but junior Elijah Ward had something to say about the Beaver Falls drive late in the half. Ward stepped in front of a Jaren Brickner throw and returned the interception 29 yards for a touchdown, giving the Eagles a 14-6 lead with 1:28 left in the half.
Beaver Falls fumbles the football away again
Inside Serra Catholic territory following a 30-yard completion from Jaren Brickner to Mehki Clark, Tigers running back Quinton Adamson fumbles away the third turnover of the first half for the Tigers, giving Serra Catholic the football near midfield. The Eagles hold a 7-6
End of Q1: Serra Catholic 7, Beaver Falls 6
Serra Catholic takes over possession to open the second quarter after Beaver Falls' Trey Singleton fumbled the football away after gaining enough yardage for a first down. The fumble is the second of the game for the Tigers.
Beaver Falls fumbles the football away
On a third down scramble trying to extend the play, Beaver Falls quarterback Jaren Bricker fumbles the football away on a sack by Serra Catholic's Ryan Brooks, giving Serra Catholic the football near midfield, midway through the first quarter.
Serra Catholic fires back, takes 7-6 lead
On its first possession of the game, Serra Catholic moved right down the field against the Beaver Falls defense thanks to some timely throws by Max Rocco and a few big runs by Machai Duetrieulle-Brooks, who caps off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown. Extra point by Caden Bauer is good, giving Serra Catholic a 7-6 lead with 6:13 left in the f
Beaver Falls strikes first, takes 6-0 lead
Following a 60-yard kickoff return by Isaiah Aeschbacher sets up the Tigers at the Serra Catholic 20 yard line, quarterback Jaren Brickner finds Trey Singleton on fourth and 18 for a 28-yard touchdown. Extra point bounces off the right upright. 6-0 Beaver Falls, 10:02 left in the first quarter.
Kickoff
The WPIAL Class 2A championship game between No. 5 and No. 6 Serra Catholic is underway here at Heinz Field. Beaver Falls opens with possession looking to win its second straight WPIAL championship.
Pregame Notes
For the second and final game on Friday, defending WPIAL Class 2A champion Beaver Falls will look to defend its title against Serra Catholic. The No. 5 Tigers, led by head coach Nick Nardone, have won nine straight after starting the year 0-3. Meanwhile, the Eagles, under head coach Jose Regus, enter Friday evening coming off of back-to-back victories over unbeaten teams, looking to secure the program's third WPIAL championship.
Kickoff is at 5 p.m. Be sure to follow along for instant updates throughout the game. Get live stats here.
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Beaver Falls win ninth straight, move on to defend WPIAL 2A championship
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New year, same result: Rebranded Beaver Falls offense rolls in win over Western Beaver
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Live updates: Serra Catholic wins WPIAL Class 2A championship
