Matt Sieg ran for 178 yards, passed for another 166, scored twice, threw a pair of TD passes and added an interception on defense, all in leading Fort Cherry to its first-ever WPIAL Football Championship with a 42-28 win over previously unbeaten South Side Area. The sophomore quarterback completed 9-of-16 passes including touchdowns of 35 and 22 yards to Shane Cornali who also threw a touchdown pass in the win. The Rangers (14-0) scored first on Sieg’s 3-yard run. South Side (13-1) answered with a pair of touchdowns to lead 14-6. Fort Cherry, playing in its first WPIAL Final since 2001, scored three times before the half and again to open the third quarter. Fort Cherry advances to the PIAA semifinals next weekend against District 9 champion Redbank Valley. WPIAL Football brackets
Nolan DiLucia threw for more than 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter, and Carter Shanafelt kicked four field goals as Peters Township (14-0) topped District 10 champion Cathedral Prep, 33-14, in the Indians’ first-ever PIAA playoff game. DiLucia found Evan Wertman open on a skinny post for a 32-yard score about 90 seconds into the game, then hooked up with Thomas Aspinall on the 62-yard sideline sprint on the Indians’ next play. Shanafelt’s four field goals matched his season total, hitting from 30, 29, 28 & 26 yards. Vinny Sarcone closed the scoring on a two-yard run. Peters Township held the Ramblers to 24 yards after intermission, -2 in the fourth quarter. The Indians will face District 3 champion Cocalico in next weeks semifinals. PIAA Football brackets
WPIAL Championship Scores (at Acrisure Stadium)
1A Fort Cherry 42, South Side 28
2A Beaver Falls 14, Steel Valley 12
3A Belle Vernon 26, Avonworth 0
4A Aliquippa 35, McKeesport 21
PIAA Quarterfinals
5A Peters Township 33, Cathedral Prep 14
6A North Allegheny 41, McDowell 7