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NORTH ALLEGHENY VARSITY FOOTBALL

* 2004 GAME SUMMARIES *

MT. LEBANON - 14  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 13

MT. LEBANON COMEBACK TOPS TIGERS, 14-13

 by Don Vandergrift

After building a 13-0 lead in the first quarter, the Tigers gave up touchdowns in the second and fourth quarters to drop a heartbreaking 14-13 decision to the Blue Devils at Newman Stadium on Friday night.  Tiger touchdowns were scored by junior Bill Knight on an 11-yard pass play from senior QB Andrew Krewatch and senior Craig Howarth on a 38-yard run.  Senior halfback Josh Cipkala-Gaffin gained 85 yards in 11 carries to lead the Tigers in rushing.

In the first quarter, the Tigers came out strong.  After the opening kickoff, the NA defense held Lebo to a three-and-out forcing a punt by Mullen.  Senior Kyle Allis returned the kick to the Mt. Lebanon 49.  On the first play from scrimmage for the Tigers, Howarth ran around right end for 23 yards to the Lebo 26.  A pass from Krewatch to Howarth picked up another ten and a first down at the 16.  After sophomore Marek Lapinski picked up four to the 12, a motion penalty moved the ball back to the 17.  On third and long, a pass interference call against Mt. Lebanon gave the Tigers a first and goal at the 8.  After two plays picked up only two yards, another illegal procedure penalty moved the ball back to the 11.  On third down, Krewatch hit Knight over the middle and the Tiger junior took it in for the game’s first touchdown.  Sophomore Rich Doyle added the point and Tigers had a 7-0 lead with 6:16 left in the quarter.  On the ensuing kickoff, senior Mike Benintend returned the kick 46 yards to the NA 17.  On third down, senior DE Joe Apel forced a fumble that the Tigers recovered at the NA 14.  The Tigers used most of the remaining time in the quarter in an 86-yard drive for their second touchdown.  After Lapinski got four, Krewatch hit Howarth along the left sideline for 21 yards and a first down.  Three running plays picked up another first down before Krewatch found senior Brett Fields open for 15 yards and a first down at the Lebo 38.  On the next play, Howarth broke through and raced to the end zone as the Tigers made it 13-0.  The Tigers were called for illegal procedure on the extra point attempt.  From five yards further back, Doyle’s kick hit the left upright.  At the end of a quarter, the Tigers held a 13-0 advantage.

Mt. Lebanon came alive in the second quarter.  Mullen broke through for runs of 13, 13, and 11 on a drive that took the ball to the Tiger 29.  Four plays later the Tigers hit junior QB Nick Till for a 2-yard loss as NA held to take over the ball.  The Tigers continued to move the ball against the Lebo defense.  After Lapinski gained seven, Cipkala-Gaffin broke loose for 24 yards and a first down at the Lebo 46.  After a holding penalty moved the ball back ten yards, Krewatch threw long to senior WR John Woodruff who made a diving catch at the Lebo 31.  Four plays picked up only five yards and Lebo took over.  The Blue Devils went on a 74-yard drive to get back into the game just before the half ended.  Mullen again was the main weapon gaining 30 yards.  A long pass from Till to senior WR Mike Mathews gained 32 yards to give Lebo a first down at the NA 12.  The Tiger defense held for three plays but on fourth down, Till hit a wide open Jordan Ketch in the end zone with only 8 seconds left.  Senior Brad Stombaugh, who did not miss an extra point kick in the 2003 season, converted and the Tigers went to the intermission holding a 13-7 lead.

The Tigers dominated the third quarter, outgaining Mt. Lebanon, 91-4, but were unable to score.  After Knight brought the kickoff back 21 yards to the NA 28, Cipkala-Gaffin got loose for 25 yards and a first down.  After Howarth picked up five and Knight two, Krewatch hit Fields for a nine-yard gain to the Lebo 33.  Cipkala-Gaffin slashed for eight more and Howarth picked up a first down at the Lebo 20.  After three plays gained 7 yards, Krewatch threw to Howarth in the left flat for a first down.  As Howarth turned down field, however, Lebo DB Austin Pearson knocked the ball loose and Mt. Lebanon recovered at their nine.  The Tiger defense held again and forced Mullen to punt to the Lebo 45.  Cipkala-Gaffin picked up 18 yards in three carries, Lapinski got 3 more, and Krewatch got a first down at the Lebo 22 on a quarterback sneak.  Cipkala-Gaffin got 2 to the twenty and Lapinski seven more on two plays.  The quarter ended with the Tigers in a fourth-and-one at the Mt. Lebanon 13.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Krewatch was stopped on a quarterback sneak and Lebo took over.  On second and seven, Mullen raced around the right end and ran all the way to the NA 32.  The play was negated, however, as Lebo was called for holding and ball brought back to the Lebo 20.  Mullen picked up a first down on two plays to the Lebo 23.  On first down, Till faked to Mullen, rolled to his left, and raced up the center of the field all the way to the NA 10 before he was dragged down from behind.  Mullen then ran to the six on first down and took it the remainder of the way on second down.  Stombaugh’s kick was good and Lebo led for the first time in the game, 14-13, with 8:09 remaining.  After a personal foul on the kickoff return put NA in the hole at the Tiger 12, two plays gained only two yards.  On third down, Krewatch hit Fields along the left sideline for 28 yards to the NA 42 yard line.  The Mt. Lebanon defense held at this point and forced the first NA punt of the game with 5:29 left.  The snap to Krewatch went over his head, but the Tiger punter somehow managed to get off a line drive kick that rolled all the way to the Lebo 12.  Three plays picked up a Blue Devil first down to the 23.  After Till got a yard, Mullen ran for 8 yards on two plays.  With fourth and one, Lebo lined up in punt formation, but Coach Chris Haering called a time out.  This time, Lebo decided to go for the first down.  After a fake to the fullback, Till was able to carve out two yards and a first down at the Lebo 24 with just under two minutes remaining.  With no timeouts remaining, NA could not stop the clock and Mt. Lebanon left with a 14-13 victory.

It was a game filled with mistakes and Mt. Lebanon was able to take advantage in the second half to pull out the victory.  It was a game that NA dominated at times but could not put the Blue Devils away.  Krewatch had a good game at QB completing nine of 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown.  For his efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Andrew Krewatch as the Player of the Game.  Cipkala-Gaffin had a breakout game in leading the Tigers in rushing with 85 yards.  Howarth continued his fine play picking up 73 yards on nine rushes.  For Mt. Lebanon, it was Jimmy Mullen who carried the day, earning 135 yards in 27 carries on the night.

The loss dropped NA to 0-1 in the Quad North Conference, 1-2 overall.  The win was the first of the year for Lebo and improved their overall record to 1-2.  The Tigers will travel to Bethel Park on Friday night to meet the Blackhawks in a Quad North clash.  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.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

GAME SUMMARY
MT. LEBANON – 14  NORTH ALLEGHENY – 13

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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