Aliquippa's Tiqwai Hayes puts on a show in front of Penn State head coach James Franklin in Pennsylvania Class 4A state championship
MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania - Penn State head coach James Franklin was on the sideline at Cumberland Valley's Chapman Field for the PIAA Class 4A state championship game.
But if Franklin wanted to see his prized Aliquippa recruit from the 2025 class - running back Tiqwai Hayes - all he had to do was look at the end zone.
Hayes finished off his junior season by running for 220 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries as Aliquippa defeated Dallas 60-14 to claim its second state title in three years.
"He's hard to tackle," Aliquippa head coach Mike Warfield said. "You have to be up close to see him running and at practice you can hear him coming through the hole."
On his second touchdown run - a 34-yarder late in the first quarter, Hayes took the handoff and went through the hole to his right. About seven yards into the run, a Dallas safety thought he had a beat on the 6-foot, 197-pound running back but Hayes pushed him off with ease and scooted the rest of the way untouched for the score.
"Honestly, I don't even know what was happening in that moment," Hayes said. "The safety, that was my man, I knew he was going to be unblocked. I knew that I had to make a move and try to run him over, so that's exactly what I did."
On the next Aliquippa possession, Hayes put on a show with a 61-yard touchdown run that featured multiple cutbacks to turn around defenders and then ended when he sprinted away into the end zone as he outraced a herd of Dallas defenders.
"I had some good blocks from my offensive line and wide receivers," Hayes said. "And then all I had to do was make my man miss again and get to the end zone."
By the time Franklin was back on his helicopter and in the air at halftime, Hayes had amassed 179 yards and three touchdowns on just 15 carries.
But having the head coach of Penn State at the game didn't faze the junior, because he didn't even realize he had a special visitor on the sideline.
Aliquippa running back Tiqwai Hayes runs the ball during the 2023 PIAA Class 4 state championship game. Photo by Paul Burdick, SBLive Sports
Paul Burdick, SBLive Sports
"I didn't even know he was here until I saw the helicopter (leaving)," Hayes said.
Even had the 4-star recruit known his future head coach was at the game, it would not have changed how he played.
"I go out there and try to play like I don't have any offers," Hayes said. "I go out there and try and play like have zero stars. That's the mentality that our coaches put into us and that's how we play every time."
There was a sign on the Aliquippa side of the stadium that read "Best RB in Quips history #23" referring to Hayes, but he downplays his place in the annals of Aliquippa football.
"I really don't get into that," Hayes said. "I just do what I gotta do to produce for this team."
What he does is lead by example, even as a junior.
"He's a kid that doesn't waste a day," Warfield said. "You should have seen last night - he was the first one getting ready (for practice). He wants to be great. It shows in his preparation. He's a beautiful kid. There's no animosity between him and (running back John Tracy). Here you have a 4-star player going to Penn State. He could have a little edge if he wants the ball more but there is none of that."
And for anyone wondering about his commitment to Franklin and the Nittany Lions, the running back had a simple message.
"I am 100% committed to Penn State," Hayes said.
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sblivepa
Photo gallery (photos by Paul Burdick, SBLive Sports)
Paul Burdick, SBLive Sports
