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NORTH ALLEGHENY  FOOTBALL

2003 GAME SUMMARIES

TIGER FUMBLES HAND UPPER ST. CLAIR 42-0 VICTORY

By Don Vandergrift  

To listen to a replay of the game, click here!

The Tigers lost five fumbles and Upper St. Clair turned four of them into touchdowns on their way to a 42-0 victory at Newman Stadium on Friday night.  The turnovers gave the ball to the Panthers at the 19, 25, 5, 23 and 24 yard lines.  USC built a 21-0 halftime lead, and the NA offense was unable to answer as the Panthers handed the Tigers their first loss of the season.

After the Panthers kicked the opening kickoff out of bounds, it looked like the Tigers were going to have a good offensive night.  Junior halfback Andrew McMillen ran 11 yards on a dive play to pick up a first down on the first offensive play of the game.  After senior RB Dan Bartos gained three, junior QB Andrew Krewatch, back from a hand injury, completed his first pass of the game to senior SE Chris Huber for nine yards and another first down.  On second down, however, disaster struck as an option pitch by Krewatch went awry, and USC’s Kevin Mathews recovered and returned the ball to the NA 19.  Four plays later, Panther fullback Nick DeBartolo took it in from 3 yards out.  Senior kicker Josh Whiteside converted and it was a 7-0 Panther lead.

The Tigers began their next drive at the 22, and McMillan gained 20 yards and a pair of first downs in three carries.  Unfortunately, NA went back to the option.  This time, defensive tackle Rob Rankin got a hand on the ball and DeBartolo recovered at the NA 25.  Senior linebacker Josh Zunic was able to make two big hits on the USC drive, but a pass from junior QB Josh Helmrich to junior HB Sean Lee gave the Panthers a first down at the NA 11.  After no gain on two plays, Mathews took it to the two, and the Panthers had a fourth and goal as the quarter ended.

On the first play of the second quarter, Coach Jim Render decided to go for it, and Mathews responded by driving into the end zone.  Whiteside’s kick made it a 14-0 USC lead.  After an exchange of punts, the Tigers began at the own 26 but could only pick up a yard on three plays.  Tiger senior Chris Rogers punted to Mathews at his 31, and he returned it to the 43 where he was hit hard by Zunic.  After Helmrich ran 16 yards for a first down to the NA 41, a good Tiger rush forced an incomplete pass.  On the play, Rogers was injured and did not return.  A 15-yard penalty for intentional grounding moved the ball back to the USC 40 where it was third and 30.  Helmrich then lofted a long pass down the right side line where Mathews made a leaping grab for a gain of 31 and a first down.  Five plays later, DeBartolo rambled five yards into the end zone, Whiteside converted, and the Panthers had a commanding 21-0 advantage. 

The Tigers were able to pick up a pair of first downs behind the running of McMillen and a pass from Krewatch to junior flanker Craig Howarth.  The drive stalled at the USC 49, and Krewatch had to punt in place of the injured Rogers.  The Panthers ran out the clock, and the teams went to the intermission with USC on top, 21-0.

There was no scoring in the third quarter as the Panthers kept NA bottled up deep in their own territory.  Lee set the stage when he returned the kickoff all the way to the NA 39.  The Tiger defense held but senior punter Alex Kandabarow pushed a punt out of bounds on the Tiger 9.  NA was able to gain only a yard in three plays, and Krewatch’s punt from the end zone was downed at the NA 39.  After Mathews was hit for a three-yard loss on second down, Zunic sacked Helmrich back at the NA 43 forcing another punt.  Kandabarow hit a high punt that was fair caught at the NA 11.

The Tiger offense showed some signs of life as McMillan broke through for 10 yards and a first down.  Senior running back Tim Hreha got eleven more, and Zunic added seven as NA moved the ball out to their 40.  A loss of one and an incomplete pass stopped the drive forcing another Krewatch punt.  Mathews was able to return the kick to the NA 41.  After one first down, USC was forced to punt again, this time to the NA 9.  Two runs pushed it out to the 12 as the quarter ended.

After McMillen was stopped for no gain on the first play of the fourth quarter, Mathews returned Krewatch’s punt to the NA 32.  After two plays gained two yards, Helmrich found DeBartolo open in the flat and the fullback ran for a first down to the NA 14.  On the next play, Helmrich lofted a perfect pass to SE Jay Yanak for a touchdown.  Whiteside was perfect again, and it was a 28-0 USC lead.

The ensuing kickoff was returned only to the NA 4.  After Bartos picked up seven yards in two plays, it was back to the option.  Once again, the Panthers disrupted the play forcing a fumble that DeBartolo recovered at the NA 5.  Three plays later, Mathews scored his second touchdown of the game, a three-yard run.  Whiteside’s kick made it 35-0, and the mercy rule was invoked with 6:44 left in the game.

After Hreha returned the kickoff to the 31, sophomore Billy Knight took over at quarterback.  After Zunic picked up two, Knight tried the option and, once again, the ball was knocked loose with USC recovering at the NA 23.  Three plays later, reserve running back Ramy Nubani raced 18 yards around right end for the sixth Panther score.  Whiteside added the point, and USC led, 42-0. 

Whiteside’s kickoff went over the goal line, and the Tigers took over at the 20.  After junior running back Josh Cipkala-Gaffin picked up nine yards, the Tigers fumbled the ball away again, their fifth turnover, at the NA 24.  The Panthers then ran out the clock and celebrated a big USC win, 42-0.

In retrospect, the Tiger defense did not play poorly.  NA kept the two top Panther running backs under control for most of the game.  Mathews carried 18 times for only 35 yards, while DeBartolo picked up 23 yards on 8 carries.  The turnovers took the game away from the Tigers and gave the ball to USC deep in NA territory.  For his defensive efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network selected senior Josh Zunic as the Player of the Game for his many hard hits.  The Tigers will travel to #2-ranked Penn Hills next Friday night.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 7:15 pm.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
UPPER ST. CLAIR – 42            NORTH ALLEGHENY – 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING          

9/6/03

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