2016 Beaver Falls High School Football Team
The Fighting Tigers entered the 2016 football season with high expectations. With 9 starters returning on both offense and defense, the team was expected to be a section title contender and one that could make a deep run in the playoffs.
In the season opener, The Fighting Tigers faced the #1 ranked team in the WPIAL, the Aliquippa Quips. It was a tough night for the Tigers, falling 44-13.
The Fighting Tigers would bounce back with victories over Apollo Ridge, Ellwood City, Southmoreland and New Brighton to improve their record to 4-1. During this 4-game winning streak, the Fighting Tigers offense was clicking and the defense was dominating.
Week 6, the Tigers host the Quaker Valley Quakers. On this Homecoming evening, the defense would score 3 times and the Tigers coasted to a 33-0 shutout victory to improve their overall record to 5-1.
The Fighting Tigers traveled to Central Valley for an all important section game. The unranked Tigers were playing the #1 ranked team in the PIAA. In a contest, that had multiple lead changes, the Fighting Tigers prevailed with a 27-21 victory and climbed into a 1st place tie with Aliquippa, Beaver and Central Valley.
On Senior Night, the team defeated the Hopewell Vikings and remained in a 1st place tie with a record of 7-1.
Tigers entered Week 9 in what would be an all or nothing contest against the top-ranked team in the state, the Beaver Bobcats. In a hard-fought game, the Fighting Tigers claimed victory and completed the regular season with a record of 8-1 and a share of the section championship.
As the WPIAL Playoffs started, the Fighting Tigers hosted Mount Pleasant. The Fighting Tigers easily dispatched the Vikings, 42-14. With the victory, the Tigers advanced to the WPIAL Semi-Finals.
In the Semi-Final round, the Fighting Tigers faced the Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles. For the 3rd time, the Fighting Tigers entered a contest against the top-ranked team in the state. During the game, the Tigers trailed most of the night, but two late 4th quarter scores gave the Tigers the victory, 28-21.
The Fighting Tigers advanced to the WPIAL Championship game and the opponent was a rematch with section rival, the Aliquippa Quips. Aliquippa entered the game as the top-ranked team in the state. During the encounter, the Fighting Tigers controlled both sides of the ball and claimed a 35-22 win. With the victory, the Fighting Tigers not only avenged their only defeat of the season, but were the 2016 WPIAL champions.
The Fighting Tigers advanced to the PIAA Semi-Finals and the opponent would be Martinsburg Central. On a cold evening in Altoona, the Fighting Tigers prevailed with a 14-7 win. With the victory, Coach Ryan Matsook earned his 100th victory as Head Coach.
A week later, the team would travel to Hershey Park Stadium to face Middletown. For the 5th time this season, the team would play the top-ranked team in the state and for the 5th time, the team would claim victory over the top-ranked team in the state; this time by a score of 30-13 and reigned as PIAA champions.
The 2016 edition of the Fighting Tigers made history by winning section, WPIAL, PIAA championships and setting a single-season record with 13 victories.