Penn Hills Varsity Football Victory Over Aliquippa

The night kicked off with a special arrival—Penn State University (PSU) coaches James Franklin and Terry Smith flew in by helicopter to watch the game. Upon landing, WTAE reporter Sheldon Ingram interviewed both coaches.

Adding to the excitement, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds attended the game in support of the Steelers Game of the Week and had the honor of flipping the coin for the coin toss.

During the break between the first and second quarters, girls’ flag football players from both Penn Hills and Aliquippa were recognized on the field to celebrate the sport becoming an official PIAA sport.

Penn Hills' offense took flight with senior quarterback Jaymere Ellis connecting on two touchdown passes—one to Carter Bonner and the other to Martel Palmer. Bonner’s 23-yard reception put the Indians ahead just before halftime, scoring with only five seconds left in the first half. Palmer's touchdown came from a 35-yard play.

Senior running back Naytel Mitchell also made a key contribution with a 53-yard rushing touchdown. Aliquippa responded in the second half with a 14-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Marques Council Jr. to sophomore receiver Larry Moon III, followed by a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Brooks in the fourth quarter. However, a missed extra point left Aliquippa unable to close the eight-point gap in time.

Due to their standout performances, Naytel Mitchell was named the Chrislynn Energy Offensive "Player of the Game," while Donovan Burnett earned the title of Chrislynn Energy Defensive "Player of the Game."

This victory marked a significant achievement for Penn Hills, as it ended Aliquippa's 16-game winning streak. As the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted, "The last time Aliquippa lost in the regular season was to Central Valley on September 10, 2021. The Quips had been on a 16-game overall winning streak, including a perfect 2023 season in nonconference, conference, and postseason play."

To see all photos from the event, click here.