EF embraces underdog role heading into matchup with Quips

By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
On paper, a meeting between Elizabeth Forward and Aliquippa may look like a David versus Goliath type of matchup.
A team that has relied heavily on underclassmen this season, the Warriors enter the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs as the seventh-seed and third-place team out of the Big East Conference. Meanwhile, the defending WPIAL and state champion Quips are the No. 2 seed after coming one win away from winning the Tri-County West Conference.
“The name Aliquippa is known throughout the country with football when you have guys like Darrelle Revis, Sean Gilbert and Mike Ditka from the area,” Elizabeth Forward head coach Mike Collodi said. “It might be intimidating to some people and I think that’s what Aliquippa prides itself on.”
Despite the illustrious history of the Aliquippa football program, the Warriors won’t be intimidated by the 3A powerhouse that stands in their way.
Elizabeth Forward will embrace the underdog role and try to prove the naysayers wrong when the two teams meet 7 p.m. Friday in a WPIAL Class 3A first-round matchup at Ambridge.
“We’re going to play our physical style of football,” Collodi said. “We won’t be intimidated; we’re going to go in, play as hard as we can and do what we do.
“I like being the underdog. We’ve been the underdogs since I’ve gotten here and we’ve done a lot of things in five years.”
Aliquippa (9-1) enters the playoffs coming off its worst home loss in program history. In a battle for the conference title last week, the Quips suffered a 45-6 loss at the hands of Central Valley, its first defeat since falling to the Warriors, 14-8, in last year’s regular season finale.
While Collodi knows the Quips will be eager to get back on the right track, he also knows his team will be ready to prove something as well.
“Any time a team loses, they want to bounce back. They’re a team that isn’t used to losing at all and, losing the way they did, I’m sure they’ll want to seek vengence and show everyone that it’s a fluke,” Collodi said. “It’s just like what we plan on doing. We’re a huge underdog and there isn’t anyone that is going to give us any kind of respect. There is only one way to get it and that is to go out, win and earn it, and that’s what we plan on doing.”
EF (7-2) is preparing to face a high-powered Aliquippa offense that is scoring an average of 42.1 points per game, which leads Class 3A.
The Quips are led by quarterback Vaughn Morris, who has completed 48 of 107 passes for 936 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Chuinua Soloman is his top target with 16 catches for 432 yards and nine touchdowns, while Cyair Clark and Isaiah Towler each have over 10 catches for 200 yards.
The running back tandem of Antonio Quinn and Vernon Redd give Aliquippa a solid ground game to go with its aerial attack. Quinn has 116 carries for 1075 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. Redd has carried the ball 56 times for 522 yards and 12 touchdowns. Both are averaging 9.3 yards per carry.
Players such as 6-5 junior defensive lineman Chase Whatton are confident and eager for the chance to play against a talented offensive unit.
And the Warriors have every reason to be confident considering they are allowing a minuscule 10.7 points per game, the second lowest total in Class 3A. Aside from two instances in which it allowed 26 points, EF has not allowed more than 13 in any other game this season.
“They’re Aliqippa. They’re the reigning state champs, so of course we’ll be doubted, but we’re confident,” Whatton said. “We’re going to hit them from the start and be physical.”
EF’s offense has been led all season by quarterback Nico Mrvos; however, he will be lining up at wide receiver to start Friday night’s game.
Evan Lewis will be under center for the Warriors after taking over in the fourth quarter of a win over Uniontown on Oct. 18.
Lewis got his first career start in a 38-6 triumph over Yough last week and completed 7 of 10 passes for 137 yards and two touchdown passes. Mrvos was his top target, finishing with four catches for 107 yards. Whatton, Jason McClellan and Jacob Prah were also factors as targets in the passing game.
“Evan had a great game against Yough and Nico had a great game at receiver,” Collodi said. “We’re gonna go with this, knowing in our back pocket we always have Nico in case of an emergency.”
Lewis said he didn’t have any experience at quarterback entering his appearance against Uniontown, but he’s making progress and feeling more comfortable.
“I’m adjusting. It’s a lot different than running back and receiver,” Lewis said. “I feel like I’m getting more used to it every day with the more reps and more time.”
EF certainly has a steep hil to climb against a team like Aliquippa, but don’t dare tell the Warriors they don’t have a chance.
They’ve been doubted on plenty of occasions and proven people wrong.
And that’s exactly what they plan on doing Friday night in an effort to claim their first playoff win since 1999.
“If we play our style of football by limiting turnovers, creating turnovers and playing fast and physical, we’ll have a chance and hopefully we can shock the world,” Collodi said.
“The only people that really think we’re going to win this game are the people on this team,” Lewis said. “We all believe we can win, we think we’re going to win and that’s the goal.”