After a COVID-shortened 2020 season where only 11 players topped the 1000-yard mark, 35 players accomplished the feat last season. Steel Valley’s Nijhay Burt led the WPIAL in rushing in the regular season with 1812 yards. Unfortunately, Burt’s season ended with an injury in the quarterfinals. By season’s end, Central Valley’s Landon Alexander and Mt. Lebanon’s Alex Tecza (who both played 16 games en route to winning state titles) surpassed Burt’s 11-game total. The top four rushers from last season have all graduated, leaving the race of the 2022 WPIAL rushing title wide open.
Here is a look at the top contenders for the WPIAL rushing crown. Players are listed in alphabetical order. Of note, their rushing stats from last year are full season statistics, which include both regular season and playoff outings. Typically the “Rushing Champion” is the player with the most regular season yards. Don’t forget to check out our WPIAL Blitz Season Preview Shows and bookmark our WPIAL Standings Page for once the season starts!
Top Contenders
Bobbie Boyd (McKeesport)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1545 yards, 14 TDs
Career Stats: 1587 yards, 15 TDs
Playing in McKeesport’s triple-option offense results in a number of different players getting carries. Boyd was absolutely electric last year, averaging 9 yards per carry. He displayed home run hitting abilities with numerous long touchdown runs and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball – whether that be on offense or defense. Boyd has an offer from Akron, along with FCS schools including Duquesne, Robert Morris, and Richmond.
Brock Borgo (Hampton)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1090 yards, 17 TDs
Career Stats: 1161 yards, 19 TDs
Last season Hampton was one of just a handful of WPIAL teams that had two players top the 1000-yard mark. With Christian Liberto graduating, Borgo is now the lead dog in the backfield. Last year as just a sophomore he was a big-play hitter, averaging 11.6 yards per carry and tying for the team lead in touchdowns. Hampton does have to replace their entire offensive line but Borgo is capable of doing serious damage in the open field and should see his volume increase this season.
Colin Brady (West Greene)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1444 yards, 20 TDs
Career Stats: 2267 yards, 31 TDs
Brady is only a junior but looks to be the next in line in a series of great West Greene rushers. Three years ago, Ben Jackson topped the 3000 yard mark during the Pioneers run to the semifinals. Brady stepped in the following year as a true freshman and ran for 823 yards and 11 TDs in just 6 games. West Greene has to replace nearly their entire offensive line in front of Brady, but he has the breakaway speed to carve up the soft defenses of the Tri-County South. Brady averaged over 9 yards per carry in both his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Cruce Brookins (Steel Valley)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1051 yards, 15 TDs
Career Stats: 1154 yards, 16 TDs
Brookins is Steel Valley’s quarterback but ran for over 1000 yards on the ground last year when he had more than twice as many rushing attempts as passing attempts. Everything is lining up for a monster year for Brookins. Last season, teammate Nijhay Burt led the WPIAL in rushing but he has graduated, leaving Brookins as the best ball-carrier the run-heavy Ironmen have. Additionally, Steel Valley has a D1 recruit on their offensive line in Greg Smith. After averaging 8.6 yards per carry last year, Brookins returns for his senior season with D1 offers from West Virginia, Akron, and Kent State (as a safety).
Tiqwai Hayes (Aliquippa)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1746 yards, 22 TDs
Career Stats: 1746 yards, 22 TDs
Hayes burst onto the scene as a true freshman last year. He was an integral part of Aliquippa’s run to the WPIAL and PIAA Championships. To follow up a freshman campaign where he finished in the Top 5 in the WPIAL in rushing, he received major college offers from Penn State, Pitt, Michigan, and Cincinnati. Hayes is the top returning rusher in the WPIAL this season and with Aliquippa’s “Trench Dawgs” plowing the road for him, he will certainly have the opportunity to showcase his abilities this season.
Braylan Lovelace (Leechburg)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1506 yards, 27 TDs
Career Stats: 2801 yards, 43 TDs
Last season Lovelace led Leechburg’s renaissance, carrying the Blue Devils back to the playoffs for the first time since 1988. Leechburg did not just make the playoffs, but got to host a playoff game and won it. Lovelace returns for his senior season, already having committed to Pitt. He averaged nearly 9 yards per carry last season as a junior. Leechburg is considered the top threat to Clairton in the Eastern Conference and is also being talked about as a contender for the WPIAL 1A title thanks to Lovelace’s talent.
Quinton Martin (Belle Vernon)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 902 yards, 16 TDs
Career Stats: 1327 yards, 24 TDs
Martin is just a junior but is already considered one of the most talented players in the state. He is a five-star recruit with offers from nearly every major D1 school, many of which came after his freshman season. He missed some time with injury last year so he did not break the 1000-yard mark but did average over 11 yards per carry. With dual-threat QB Devin Whitlock graduating, Martin will now be the focal point of the Leopards offense. Additionally, with Belle Vernon moving down to 3A, they should see an easier slate of defenses. All of this adds up to Martin being right in the mix for the WPIAL rushing crown.
Landan Stevenson (Mapletown)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1725 yards, 20 TDs
Career Stats: 3651 yards, 50 TDs
Stevenson was a key part of Mapletown returning to the postseason for the first time since 2016. He figures to see a load of carries as the focal point of the Maples offensive attack and has the added benefit of playing in the Tri-County South which has some teams with softer defenses. Stevenson also has more career yards than any other current back in the WPIAL and could surpass the 5000-yard mark for his career with another strong season.
Raequan Troutman (Cornell)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 985 yards, 12 TDs
Career Stats: 1088 yards, 16 TDs
Troutman was an all-around playmaker for the Raiders who made the WPIAL semifinals for the second time in three seasons. He led the team in rushing with 985 yards and was also used in the receiving game with 164 yards. He is a threat to score any time he gets the ball in his hands, averaging 11.7 yards per carry and nearly 15 yards per reception. In the newly aligned 1A Black Hills Conference, Troutman should have the opportunity to put his talents on display for Cornell this season.
Breydon Woods (Waynesburg)
Highlights: Hudl
2021 Stats: 1367 yards, 10 TDs
Career Stats: 1905 yards, 14 TDs
Woods led the Raiders in rushing as a freshman in 2020 and followed it up with a 2021 campaign where his yards per carry jumped by a full 2 yards. After topping 1300 yards and scoring 10 times, he is now the featured back in Waynesburg’s offense. He will be a high-volume player for the Raiders as they try to get back to the playoffs for just the second time in the last 19 years. If he continues on his current trajectory of building success, Woods should be right in the mix at the top of the WPIAL rushing list.
Others to Watch
Isaiah Aeschbacher (Beaver Falls) – After graduating their top three rushers from the WPIAL Championship team in 2020, Beaver falls turned to Isaiah Aeschbacher as their lead back last season. He put up over 800 yards and 13 TDs as a junior. Now, after finishing as the WPIAL runners up in 2021, Beaver Falls is widely considered one of the favorites to contend for the 2A WPIAL crown.
Luke Bombalski (Highlands) – Bombalski is a rising junior who ran for over 1200 yards and 15 TDs last season. The Golden Rams made the playoffs last year and also return a 4-year starter at quarterback. Highlands has a quality rusher in Bombalski who is a player to watch not just this season but also for next year.
Shawn Curry (OLSH) – Curry ran for over 1000 yards at Carlynton last season but transferred to OLSH. Moving down from 2A to 1A and getting to run behind OLSH’s offensive line should make him even more effective. OLSH went to the WPIAL finals last year and only graduated a handful of players, one of which was their leading rusher.
Brett FitzSimmons (Central Valley) – By season’s end when all 16 games were accounted for, Central Valley’s Landon Alexander put up the most rushing yards in the WPIAL last season. With Alexander graduated, Brett FitzSimons will now take on the feature back role. FitzSimmons ran for 445 yards and 12 TDs last season, averaging 8.6 yards per carry. Central Valley will be moving up to 4A but the expectations should be similar that the Warriors will contend for a WPIAL title.
Amir Key (Penn Hills) – The Indians got back to the semifinals last season and are loaded with returning talent. Dual-threat quarterback Julian Dugger is a threat to join the 1000/1000 club this season, but the player to watch out of the backfield is Amir Key. Key ran for 842 yards an 4 TDs last year as a sophomore and figures to take the next step as a junior this season.
Robbie Labuda (Mount Pleasant) – Labuda topped 1000 yards for a Vikings team that reached the 3A quarterfinals last season. He returns for his senior year after averaging 6.8 yards per carry and will be the feature back after running mate Aaron Alakson graduated.
Elias Lippencott (Thomas Jefferson) – After winning back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2019 and 2020, Thomas Jefferson had graduated nearly all of their starters from those squads. Lippencott started the season sharing carries with Connor Murga, but a mid-season injury to Murga put the job squarely on Lippencott’s shoulders He wound up running for over 850 yards and 13 TDs as a sophomore.
CJ Miller (Shenango) – Miller ran for over 1000 yards for the Wildcats last season, leading them to the playoffs and a first round victory over Carmichaels. This year both Miller and Hunter Lively return to Shenango’s backfield. Both saw over 100 carries last season which Miller posting nearly double the amount of yards as Lively. They will have the advantage of running behind a D1 offensive lineman in Kyle Lenhart who committed to James Madison.
Landon Smith (Laurel) – Laurel had two 1000-yard rushers last season in Luke McCoy and Kobe DeRosa. But both of them have graduated, along with Michael Pasquarello (who averaged 15 yards per carry and was the team’s leading receiver). Needing to restock the skill positions, Chase Tinstman figures to step in at QB while Landon Smith takes on the lead role in the backfield. In limited work last season, Smith ran for 259 yards and 4 TDs, but what puts him on this list is his 10.4 yards per carry average. If he can maintain that average with an increased workload, Smith should be right in the mix for the WPIAL rushing crown as McCoy was last year. Laurel’s move down from 2A to 1A should also help the cause.
Parker Statler (South Side Beaver) – South Side reached the 2A quarterfinals last year, falling to Steel Valley. This year, they move down to 1A with a number of returning starters. Parker Statler was the team’s leading rusher (895 yards) and receiver (399 yards) last season. The Rams will look to get him the ball any way they can as he can be explosive – averaging 9.4 yards per carry and 18 yards per catch. Statler found the end zone 20 times last year and should face an easier slate of defenses in 1A this season.
Header Image Source: Tiqwai Hayes’ Twitter
