Freshman Cunningham Steps Up in QV's 18-14 Victory over Steel Valley

For the Quakers, Friday night started as a game about pride and ended with an unlikely scenario that could land Quaker Valley in the playoffs for the first time since 1999. After last year’s 76-26 Steel Valley blowout, which included an on-field fight, Quaker Valley circled this game on the schedule.

 “For us, this game was personal. It’s not a secret that these two teams don’t like each other,” said , Quaker Valley's quarterback .

 had to contend with one of the leading rushers in the WPIAL in Dontez Williams. Williams opened the scoring by capping a 60-yard drive on Steel Valley’s first possession with an 11-yard touchdown run and successful two-point conversion. 

Quaker Valley didn’t back down and answered with a drive of its own. Senior Jordan Vescio highlighted the scoring drive with a nifty 33-yard end around, which included a cut-back at the 10-yard line.  

“We blocked the play well, and I had one man to beat in the open field,” said Vescio.  “That score was important because it proved that we could compete.”  

The Quakers' point after failed as a result of an unsportsman-like conduct penalty that pushed them back 15-yards prior to the kick.

Quaker Valley got an opportunity early in the second quarter when Moser picked off Steel Valley quarterback Michael Todd at the Steel Valley 33. Quaker Valley then drove inside the Ironman 10-yard line before falling just short with a fourth-down run by Wilson Perez.  

The missed opportunity proved costly when Williams busted off an impressive 76-yard touchdown run for Steel Valley. The Ironman took a 14-6 lead into the half.

Scott Sommers and the Quaker Valley defense set the tone when they held Steel Valley on their first series of the second half and then marched 62 yards on the ground to pull the score to 14-12. The drive concluded with a 4-yard Wilson Perez run, his first touchdown of the season. Perez finished with 20 yards rushing; Vescio carried 11 times for 102 yards.

The game appeared to be over when Steel Valley stopped Quaker Valley on downs with 2:30 remaining. Instead of lying down, the Quaker Valley defense stepped up.  

On the second play of the series, sophomore Jake Trovado stripped the Steel Valley ball carrier, and freshman scooped the ball up and returned it down the sidelines 40 yards to inside the Steel Valley 5-yard line.

“The ball bounced perfectly, and I took it on the run. The only thing I had on my mind was getting the ball to the end zone,” said Cunningham.  “The whole defense was working hard, and I was in the right place at the right time.”

On the next play, Cunningham capped the best game of his young career by punching it in from the 2-yard line. He finished with 35 yards rushing on eight carries, but his leadership on defense stood out down the stretch.

Steel Valley’s final attempt was thwarted when Moser recorded his second interception of the night.

The win left Quaker Valley coach speechless after the game.  

“I’m just so proud of these guys, I really don’t know what else to say," Tortorea said. "This was a turning point for the Quaker Valley program.”

The Quaker Valley Quarterback Club compiled this report.