When Ryan Matsook became Beaver Falls' coach in 2006, he pointed toward Aliquippa as the model program. He acknowledges his goal was for the Tigers to reach Aliquippa's level.

Beaver Falls has been on the rise in Matsook's three seasons, and last night the Tigers more than measured up to Aliquippa. By next week, they'll be at least a notch higher.

Beaver Falls knocked off host Aliquippa, 27-12, in a showdown between the top two ranked Class AA teams in both the WPIAL and state. Aliquippa (2-1) entered the Midwestern Conference game at No. 1, but Beaver Falls will almost certainly be the new top team. It was only the third time Beaver Falls has defeated Aliquippa in the past 15 meetings.

"They've been the top dog in our conference for how many years? I set the barometer on them when I took over," Matsook said. "We wanted to get to their level with weight training, speed training and doing all the right things. I'm not saying we've surpassed them, but we're getting to that level."

Beaver Falls (3-0) ran past Aliquippa on the strength of Cody Cook, Todd Thomas and a staunch defense. Cook, a junior, rushed for 185 yards on 19 carries while Thomas, a senior, added 101 on 12 attempts.

Beaver Falls' defense limited Aliquippa to 85 yards in the first half and led at halftime, 14-0. Aliquippa finished with 235 yards rushing, but 89 came on a Terry Patrick run in the fourth quarter. Patrick finished with 133 yards on 13 attempts.

"It's not like we can say we beat ourselves," Aliquippa coach Mike Zmijanac said. "They just whipped us."

Cook did the most damage. Thomas, who has Division I college offers, got plenty of attention coming into the season, but the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Cook has been the most productive player in Beaver Falls' offense so far, while Thomas sometimes plays receiver and draws double coverage.

"Cody Cook is a phenomenal junior," Thomas said. "He reminds you of Adrian Petersen."

Thomas scored the game's first touchdown on a 2-yard run with 8:28 left in the second quarter. Beaver Falls' next possession started on the Tigers' 14. On the first play, Cook burst through the line and raced 86 yards for a touchdown.

Aliquippa looked energized in the third quarter, taking the kickoff and moving 57 yards in 12 plays for a score. Patrick capped the march with a 1-yard run. But that was one of the few times the Quips had a sustained drive. Quarterback Rasheem Jones, one of the best throwing quarterbacks in Class AA, finished 8 of 19 for 90 yards and one interception.

Beaver Falls answered the Quips two plays after the kickoff, when Admire Carter ran 57 yards for a touchdown with 5:14 left in the third quarter.

Aliquippa made things a little interesting early in the fourth quarter when Patrick ran 89 yards to the Aliquippa 7. But a penalty for illegal substitution moved the Quips back, and on fourth down, Beaver Falls lineman Kevin Nesmith stopped Jones on a run at the 3.

"That was all a matter of coaching and uncoaching," Zmijanac said of the penalty and the final few plays of the drive. "That was absolutely inexcusable and a lack of organization on the coaching staff. The kids weren't the ones who had 12 people out there."

Beaver Falls took over and a 62-yard run by Thomas put the ball at the Aliquippa 9, and Cook scored on a 9-yard run two plays later.