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NORTH ALLEGHENY  FOOTBALL

2003 GAME SUMMARIES

BETHEL PARK OUTSCORES TIGERS, 38-19

by Don Vandergrift

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The Bethel Park Blackhawks built a 24-6 halftime lead and cruised to a 38-19 victory over the Tigers at Newman Stadium on Friday night.  Tiger touchdowns were scored by junior QB Andrew Krewatch, junior halfback Andrew McMillen, and senior halfback Josh Zunic.  Junior B.J. Bytner led the way for Bethel with 103 yards in seven carries, good for a pair of touchdowns.  The loss knocked NA from playoff contention for the first time since 1995.

After the Tigers’ senior Tim Hreha returned the opening kickoff to the NA 22, NA was unable to move the ball, and Krewatch punted to Bethel Park QB Eric Yonish, who returned the kick to the NA 49.  A face mask call against the Tigers pushed the ball to the Tiger 34.  Junior halfback Chris Boris picked up nine yards in two carries, and Bytner ran for a first down at the NA 23.  After an offside penalty against the Tigers, Bytner got four, and Boris picked up another first down at the Tiger 11.  After Yonish gained one, the Blackhawk quarterback found Bytner open out of the backfield, and the junior running back ran into the end zone for the game’s first score.  Senior Jesse Richter added the point, and Bethel had an early 7-0 lead.

The Tigers came right back to score, thanks to the running of Krewatch.  After a holding call moved the ball back to the NA 12, McMillen got ten to the 22.  Krewatch then broke loose on a keeper and ran all the way to the Bethel Park 15, a gain of 62 yards.  After two running plays gained only two yards, Krewatch took off around the left side for ten yards to the five.  A face mask call moved the ball to the BP three.  From there, Krewatch followed his blockers into the end zone as NA cut the lead to 7-6.  Senior PK Lee House’s extra point attempt was blocked.

After the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, Bytner found a hole in the NA defense and raced to the NA 16, as junior free safety Craig Howarth made a touchdown-saving tackle for the Tigers.  Boris picked up a first down at the Tiger 5, but the NA defense held at that point.  Junior NG Wade Wolowiec broke through to tackle Boris for a three-yard loss, Hreha knocked down a pass at the goal line, and a third-down pass was incomplete in the end zone.  Richter came in to kick a 25-yard field goal, and Bethel Park took a 10-6 lead after one quarter.

Early in the second quarter, Krewatch punted out of bounds at the Bethel 48.  The Blackhawks put together a 52-yard drive to extend the lead.  After a penalty moved the ball back to the Blackhawk 30, Boris gained thirteen.  A pass interference call against the Tigers gave BP a first down at the NA 42.  After Yonish got ten, a pass to TE Matt Dunleavy gained 17 to the NA 16.  Three running plays picked up a first down at the NA 2 where Boris was able to take it in for the touchdown.  Richter’s point made it 17-6.  After the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers fumbled and Bethel recovered at the NA 31.  A holding call and good NA defense forced a Richter punt, that bounced into the end zone. 

The Tiger were unable to move the ball, and Bethel Park took over at their 33 with only 2:02 remaining in the half.  On second down, Boris broke free on a draw play and ran to the NA 32, a gain of 35 yards.  Yonish hit Bronder in the left flat, and Blackhawk receiver broke tackles to pick up a first down at the NA 3.  Boris completed the four-play, 67-yard drive as he followed his blockers into the end zone.  Richter’s kick pushed the scored to 24-6.  NA was unable to move the ball, and the teams went the intermission with Bethel Park in command.

The Tigers came out strong and dominated the third quarter.  The Tigers tried an onside kick, and senior Chris Huber recovered at the Bethel 45.  After McMillen got eight yards in two carries, Krewatch picked up a first down at the 34.  The Bethel defense dug in and stopped the Tigers, with McMillen’s fourth-down run coming up two yards short at the 26.  The Tigers forced a Bethel punt, and Richter’s kick went out of bounds at the 50, as NA narrowly missed blocking the kick.  After Krewatch got six on two runs, McMillen picked up seven and a first down at the BP 37.  Krewatch took it to the 31, and McMillen got another first down at the 25.  Hreha then ran for 9 yards in two carries before McMillen picked up 8 more and a first down at the Blackhawk 7.  On the next play, McMillen would not be denied and carried the ball and Bethel tacklers into the end zone.  The Tiger went for two, but McMillen was stopped inches short.  The Blackhawk lead was cut to 24-12.

After the kickoff was returned by senior Randy Gatz to the Bethel 39, the Tiger defense held again, forcing Richter to punt.  Krewatch made a fair catch on the NA 35, and it looked like the Tigers were going to force their way back into the game.  Krewatch gained three, McMillan six, and Krewatch two more for a first down at the NA 46.  After Hreha got two, the quarter ended with Bethel holding the 24-12 advantage.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Bethel Park defense stiffened and forced a Krewatch punt to the Bethel 31.  The Blackhawks then went on a 69-yard drive to effectively end the Tigers’ night.  The big play was a 42-yard run by Bytner to the NA 5.  After Boris lost a yard, Yonish ran to the four.  On third and goal, the Tigers were called for a second pass interference penalty, giving the Blackhawks a first and goal at the two.  Bytner scored his second TD of the game from there, Richter was good again on the point, and Bethel Park pushed the lead to 31-12.

On the next series of plays, a third-down pass by Krewatch was picked off by senior J.J. Davis, who ran untouched for 38 yards and a touchdown.  Richter was perfect again on the extra point, and Bethel Park had put the game out of reach, leading 38-12 with just 5:28 left.   The Tigers kept fighting, however, and put together a 74-yard drive as the clock wound down.  After Zunic ran the kickoff back to the 26, McMillen picked up five to the 31.  An illegal block wiped out a first-down run by Zunic, as the ball was put back at the NA 27.  After an incomplete pass, Hreha picked up eleven yards and a first down.  McMillen broke through for 12 more and a first down at midfield.  After another incomplete pass, Hreha gained five, and Zunic five more and a first down at the BP 40.  Zunic ran for seven to the 33 and then broke a 20-yard run to the Bethel 13.  Zunic then ran for seven, four, and the final two for a touchdown.  House added the point and the Tigers cut the lead to 38-19 with only 17 seconds left.  After the kickoff, Bethel took a knee and went home with a big victory.

With the win, Bethel Park clinched home field for the first round of the playoffs as they improved their conference record to 4-1, their overall mark to 6-2.  The Blackhawks will host Mt. Lebanon next week for the conference championship.  For the Tigers, it was another disappointing loss, dropping the NA conference record to 1-4, and their season record to 2-6.  Again, it was a case of too many mistakes.  Penalties, a lost fumble, a pass interception for a score, and a couple of defensive breakdowns did in NA on Senior Night.  For his efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network selected Andrew Krewatch as the Player of the Game.

The Tiger will travel to North Hills next Friday night where they will meet archrival North Hills.  Game time is set for 7:30 pm at Martorelli Stadium.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet.  Be sure to join Don Vandergrift, Bob Caldwell and Jordan Dee for all the action, live or archived.

GAME SUMMARY
BETHEL PARK – 38  NORTH ALLEGHENY – 19

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

10/18/03

Any questions or comments should be directed to Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto at:  bbozzuto@northallegheny.org