FRIDAY

PIAA Class AA semifinals

Who: Central Scarlet Dragons (13-1) vs. Aliquippa Quips (14-0)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Spartan Stadium, Hempfield Area High School, Greensburg

Coaches: Central – Dave Baker (46-15 in five years at Central, 172-187-11 in 36 years overall). Aliquippa – Mike Zmijanac (212-31, 19 years).

Last meeting: First meeting

All-time series: 0-0

How they got here: Central – defeated Tussey Mountain, 55-13; defeated Tyrone, 48-14; lost to Clearfield, 19-8, defeated Penns Valley, 47-14; defeated Bald Eagle Area, 42-0; defeated Chestnut Ridge, 49-14; defeated Philipsburg-Osceola, 58-0; defeated Bellefonte, 55-20; defeated Huntingdon, 39-0; defeated Ligonier Valley, 35-13; defeated Forest Hills, 35-6, in the District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Ligonier Valley, 31-13, in the District 6 semifinals; defeated Juniata, 27-7, in the District 6 championship; defeated Hickory, 30-21, in the PIAA quarterfinals. Aliquippa – defeated Mohawk, 59-13; defeated Laurel, 46-21; defeated Ellwood City, 53-8; defeated Quaker Valley, 35-14; defeated New Brighton, 48-14; defeated Beaver, 52-7; defeated Freedom, 43-0; defeated Mount Pleasant, 50-38; defeated Beaver Falls, 44-21; defeated Keystone Oaks, 42-26, in the District 7 first round; defeated Seton-LaSalle, 46-6, in the District 7 quarterfinals; defeated Freeport, 36-14, in the District 7 semifinals; defeated South Fayette, 44-38, in the District 7 championship; defeated Karns City, 27-17, in the PIAA quarterfinals.

When Central has the ball: Central offense – QB Noah Benton (sr., 1), RB Damon Langer (sr., 5), RB Alex Hoenstine (jr., 2), WR Justin Helsel (sr., 4), WR Kyle Dodson (jr., 24) or Jacob Muthler (jr., 11), TE J.M. Knepp (sr., 85), T Luke Thomas (jr., 77), G Brice Brumbaugh (jr., 55), C Trevor Miller (jr., 72), G Mitchell Conrath (sr., 54), T Josh Harker (jr., 75). Aliquippa defense – DE Marcus Tigner (so., 22), DT Xavier Fisher (jr., 68), NT Dajour Fisher (so., 67), DT Antwar Washington (sr., 66), DE Kaezon Pugh (sr., 23), LB Darnell Gardener (sr., 60), LB Alexander Riggins (jr., 87), CB Draper Gilliam (sr., 8), CB Jassir Jordan (sr., 5), S Bobby Cashaw (jr., 88), S Sheldon Jeter (sr., 11).

When Aliquippa has the ball: Aliquippa offense – QB Sheldon Jeter (sr., 11), RB Marcus Tigner (so., 22), RB Kaezon Pugh (sr., 23), WR Jassir Jordan (sr., 5), WR Thomas Perry (jr., 10), TE Bobby Capshaw (jr., 88), T Xavier Fisher (jr., 68), G Xavier Fisher (so., 67), C Chase Durham (sr., 52), G Antwar Washington (sr., 66), T Kenny Rainey (jr., 78). Central defense – DE J.M. Knepp (sr., 85), DT Blaize Mock (sr., 26), DG Luke Thomas (jr., 77), DG Brice Brumbaugh (jr., 55), DT Cam Norris (jr., 35), DE Kyle Dodson (jr., 24), LB Jared Smith (so., 32), LB Damon Langer (sr., 5), CB Larry Corle (jr., 13), CB Justin Helsel (sr., 4), S Alex Hoenstine (jr., 2).

What’s next: The winner plays the winner of the PIAA semifinal game between Philadelphia West Catholic and Southern Columbia on Dec. 19 at noon at Hersheypark Stadium for the state championship.

Notable: Central is making its first-ever visit to the state semifinals. The Scarlet Dragons set a school record when they won their 12th game two weeks ago. This also is the first time Central has met a WPIAL opponent in football. Aliquippa is seeking its sixth trip to the state finals. The Quips have won two state titles, last reaching Hersey in 2012 by beating Richland. Tyrone knocked out Aliquippa in the semifinals the season before. A four-year player and two-time Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection, Pugh has committed to Pitt. He’s rushed for 2,185 yards on 226 carries. The Quips didn’t not lose a regular season game during his time on the roster. Hoenstine enters the contest with 1,309 yards on the ground, 29 receptions and 41 total touchdowns. Benton needs 39 yards to reach 2,000 passing and 166 yards to reach 1,000 rushing. … Norris enters the game with 131?2 sacks, including five in the playoffs. Jordan has 38 receptions for 884 yards. The Quips’ smallest offensive lineman is Durham at 225 pounds. The Dragons have scored more than 125 points in each of the first three quarters this season.

PIAA Class A quarterfinals

Who: Old Forge Blue Devils (13-1) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic Marauders (14-0)

When: Tonight, 7 p.m.

Where: Kemp Memorial Stadium, Shamokin

Coaches: Old Forge – Michael Shuback (128-44, 14th year). Bishop Guilfoyle – Justin Wheeler (50-14, five years).

Last meeting: First meeting

All-time series: 0-0

How they got here: Old Forge – defeated Wilkes-Barre GAR, 44-32; defeated Lakeland, 27-24; defeated Hanover Area, 53-20; lost to Lake-Lehman, 42-13; defeated Mid Valley, 26-0; defeated Lackawanna Trail, 27-13; defeated Carbondale, 40-0; defeated Holy Cross, 48-7; defeated Susquehanna, 49-13; defeated Susquehanna, 21-0, in the District 2 semifinals; defeated Lackawanna Trail, 49-14, in the District 2 championship; defeated Wellsboro, 28-21, in the PIAA first round; defeated Philadelphia Bishop McDevitt, 51-7, in the PIAA quarterfinals. Bishop Guilfoyle – defeated Richland, 38-14; defeated Westmont Hilltop, 49-7; defeated Central Cambria, 70-0; defeated Bishop Carroll, 49-0; defeated Penn Cambria, 54-0; defeated Forest Hills, 42-0; defeated Cambria Heights, 42-0; defeated Bishop McCort, 56-3; defeated Johnstown, 34-0; defeated Somerset, 31-14; defeated Cambria Heights, 49-9, in the District 6 quarterfinals; defeated Portage, 43-7, in the District 6 semifinals; defeated Moshannon Valley, 50-0, in the District 6 championship; defeated Camp Hill, 38-3, in the PIAA quarterfinals.

When Old Forge has the ball: Old Forge offense – QB Joey Gutowski (sr., 3) or Paul Cariati (jr., 14), RB Brendan Mozeleski (so., 4), RB Cooper Califano (sr., 21), WR Jaret Horn (sr., 23), WR Jerry Hobbs (sr., 10), TE Mando Sallavanti (sr., 34), T Trevor Brown (jr., 63), G Andrew Belles (sr., 54), C Christian Mitchell (sr., 71), G Mike Cantarella (sr., 53), T Dylan Wilcox (jr., 74). Bishop Guilfoyle defense – DE Luke Frederick (jr., 1), DT Logan McGeary (jr., 71), DT Nick Leamer (so., 70), DE Dakota Leamer (sr., 58), LB Andrew Irwin (2, jr.), LB Aaron Yasulitis (sr., 23), LB Josh Yasulitis (so., 40), CB Josh Trybus (jr., 7), CB Sam Keating (sr., 14), S Evan Chadbourn (jr., 28), S Nathan Hagg (sr., 10).

When Bishop Guilfoyle has the ball: Bishop Guilfoyle offense – QB Josh Trybus (jr., 7), RB Aaron Yasulitis (sr., 23), RB Evan Chadbourn (jr., 28), WR Sam Keating (sr., 14), WR Nathan Hagg (sr., 10), TE Luke Frederick (jr., 1), T Logan McGeary (jr., 71), G Zach Colyer (sr., 72), C Daniel Ramsey (so., 76), G Dakota Leamer (sr., 58), T Nick Leamer (so., 70). Old Forge defense – DE Troy Harris (jr., 8), DT Dylan Wilcox (jr., 74), DT Trevor Brown (jr., 63), DE Mike Cantarella (jr., 53), LB Cooper Califano (sr., 21), LB Mando Sallavanti (sr., 34), LB Brendan Mozeleski (so., 4), LB Jaret Horn (sr., 23) or Ian Hook (so., 24), CB Jerry Hobbs (sr., 10), CB Paul Cariati (jr., 14), S Joey Gutowski (sr., 3) or Jaret Horn (sr., 23).

What’s next: The winner plays the winner of the PIAA semifinal game between Berlin Brothersvalley and Farrell on Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. at Hersheypark Stadium for the state championship.

Notable: Bishop Guilfoyle is the defending PIAA champion. The Marauders haven’t lost since the 2013 District 6 championship game and currently hold the state’s longest winning streak at 39 games. … Old Forge is in the state semis for the second time in three years. It lost in the 2013 PIAA finals in overtime. … Chadbourn, who has scored 46 touchdowns this year, comes in needing 39 yards rushing to get to 2,000 and 119 to equal the 2,080 Sam McCloskey gained last season. Califano leads the Blue Devils on the ground with 1,499 yards and 27 touchdowns after rushing for 259 yards and six scores last week. … Gutowski left the McDevitt game in the second quarter with a knee injury and didn’t return. He is a very efficient passer, completing 96 of 128 throws for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns and also is among the state leaders with 12 interceptions. … Old Forge has among the bigger lines Guilfoyle has faced. At 230 pounds, Belles in the Devils’ smallest offensive lineman, with Wilcox and Brown checking in at 295 and 285, respectively. … Old Forge allowed just 11 rushing yards last week and has given up 1,482 this season. This is the third time in six years a District 6 team has faced a District 2 team in the Class A semis. Riverside beat Bishop Carroll in 2010, and Dunmore topped Bellwood-Antis in 2012. Guilfoyle hasn’t turned the ball over in the last two games and is plus-9 in takeaway/giveaway the last two weeks. … The game will be broadcast live in MeTV.