Welcome to the
NORTH ALLEGHENY
SPORTS NETWORK

The Official Source of North Allegheny Sports

NORTH ALLEGHENY VARSITY FOOTBALL

TIGER DEFENSE MASTER McDOWELL IN 7-0 VICTORY

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

The Tiger defense held McDowell to just 93 net yards as NA blanked the Trojans, 7-0, in a Northern Five Conference contest at Newman Stadium on Friday night.  Before a huge Homecoming crowd, junior halfback Carl DeCiantis ran 21 yards on a reverse for the game's only score late in the first quarter.  The NA defense made it stand up for the remainder of the game as the Tigers won their their straight conference game.

After sophomore WR Brian Austin returned the opening kickoff to the NA 30, the Tigers could not move in three plays and junior Geoff Greco punted to Kyle Harpster who returned the ball to the Trojan 30.  After three running plays gained nine yards, A.J. Fenton gained just enough for a first down at the 40.  A pass from QB Phil Johnson to WR Bryant Kimball gained nine on first down, and Fenton picked up five more and another first down at NA 46.  On the next play, junior linebacker Corey Watts broke through to sack Johnson for a big loss of eleven back to the McDowell 43.  Two plays later, Jordan Bukowkski punted with the ball being downed at the NA 25.  The Tigers started a drive with senior FB Marek Lapinski gained six on first down, and senior RB Tim Lotz ripping off another six on a reverse for an NA first down at the 43.  Lapinski then ran off the right side for eleven more and another first down at the Trojan 46.  After two plays lost two yards, Nate Beaman sacked sophomore QB Mike Locke for a loss of seven to force another NA punt.  Greco sent a high short kick that Harpster tried to make a diving fair catch on the McDowell 31.  The ball bounced free and NA recovered at the Trojan 25.  After Lapinski picked up four on first down, DeCiantis took a double handoff and raced through the McDowell defense 21 yards to score.  Senior PK Rich Doyle added the point and the Tigers took a 7-0 lead with 1:11 remaining in the quarter.  After the kickoff was returned by Harpster to the Trojan 35, McDowell gained five yards on two plays as the quarter ended.  The Tigers took a 7-0 lead into the second stanza.

On the first play of the second quarter, senior LB Jack Connolly chased down Johnson and sacked him for a loss of eight to force another McDowell punt.  Austin returned the kick eleven yards to the Trojan 46.  DeCiantis gained 12 yards in two plays as the Tigers moved the sticks for a first down at the Trojan 34.  After Lotz gained 4 in two plays, junior QB Geoff Greco was stopped after a gain of one.  After an NA time out, Lotz ran around left end and came up just short as McDowell took over on downs.  On second and nine, junior DE Zack Watts broke in and sacked Johnson for a loss of 4.  After an incomplete pass, Bukowski's punt was caught by Austin on a fair catch at the McDowell 49.  Three plays picked up only six yards and Greco punted to the Trojan 16 where the ball was downed by senior LB Darren LePere.  After senior DE Tom Keiser hit Fenton for a loss of five, Fenton came back to gain 15 to the 26.  Johnson then got the first down on a quarterback sneak.  Two running plays by Fenton picked up only one yard, and Keiser broke through again to sack Johnson for a loss of four forcing another Bukowski punt.  Austin returned the kick eight yards to the McDowell 47.  After a long pass intended for Austin was broken up, Greco picked up five to the 42.  Another incomplete pass forced Greco to kick to the Trojan 12 where the Tigers downed the ball.  With only 51 seconds left, the Trojans ran out the clock with three running plays as the Tigers took the 7-0 lead to the intermission.  In the first half, the NA defense held McDowell to just five yards rushing and 20 total for the half.

On the second half kickoff, Robert Ward took the short kick on the dead run and returned it to the Trojan 40.  Three plays gained only five yards forcing Bukowski to punt.  NA fumbled the ball but recovered at their own 28.  On second and nine, Locke scrambled for eight yards coming up just short of the first down marker.  On third and short, the Tigers fumbled and McDowell recovered at the Tiger 37.  The Trojans started a drive and it looked like the Erie team would tie the game.  Sliker ran up the middle twice for a gain of 12 yards and a first down at the NA 25.  Fenton took a pitch out around left end for another nine to the Tiger 16.  It was Fenton again, this time up the middle for seven more and a first and goal at the NA 9.  After a gain of one of first down, Fenton ran the right side to the Tiger 2.  On the next play, the Trojans fumbled the ball and NA recovered at their own three.  After DeCiantis got a tough three on first down, Lotz ran the counter for 22 and a big first down at the Tiger 25.  After DeCiantis picked up four more, it was Lotz again for nine and a Tiger first down at the  40.  On second and eleven, Greco ran for seven to the NA 46.  Lotz followed with a pick up of four and an NA first down right at midfield.  At this point, the McDowell defense stiffened holding the Tigers to just three yards on three plays.  Greco's punt went out of bounds at the McDowell 30.  After Fenton gained just two off the right side, the quarter ended with the Tigers still holding the 7-0 advantage.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, junior DB Kyle Butson intercepted a Johnson pass and took it to the Trojan 42.  After two running plays got only three yards, Locke tried to hit Austin deep but the ball was tipped away at the last second.  Greco's punt was downed by Connolly at the Trojan six.  After three plays gained only nine yards, Bukowski punted to the Tigers who fumbled it back to McDowell at the Trojan 42.  On first down, Johnson tried to hit Dan Vasil with a long pass down the right sideline but Lotz was there to knock it down.  After another incomplete pass, Johnson's long attempt to Fenton out of the backfield was also incomplete forcing yet another Bukowski punt.  This time, Austin made a fair catch on the Tiger 29 with 7:39 remaining in the game.  Three running plays gained only six yards, and Greco punted to Harpster who made a fair catch at the Trojan 41.  After two runs gained five yards, Fenton took a pitch out five yards for a first down at the Tiger 49.  After Fenton gained eight and Sliker one, it was Fenton again for five and another first down at the Tiger 35.  After a long pass intended for Aaron Fitzpatrick was broken up by junior DB Christian Totera, a pitch out to Fenton was stopped for no gain.  On third down, a screen pass gained yardage, but McDowell was called for an ineligible receiver down field that negated the game.  The five yard penalty against the Trojans was the only penalty that was marked off against either team.  On the next play, the Trojans tried another screen pass that junior DL Austin Fedell stepped back and picked off.  Fedell brought it back five yards to the McDowell 46 with just 1:18 remaining.  After Lapinski picked up seven on first down, Greco gained four and a first down at the 35 to effectively end any Trojan hopes.  Two knees later, the Tigers finished off a hard-earned 7-0 victory over McDowell.

The total game statistics were relatively even with NA outgaining the Trojans, 149-93, in total net yards.  In this defensive struggle, there were a total of 14 punts, seven by each team.  Turnovers, particularly in the second half, were costly for both teams.  The Tigers lost two fumbles while McDowell turned the ball over twice on fumbles and twice on interceptions.  Leading the Tigers in rushing was Lotz with 54 yards in 8 carries.  Lapinski gained 49 in 8 attempts, and DeCiantis 45 in 10 tries including the TD run.  NA did not complete a pass in seven attempts while the Trojans were only 3 for 11 including two picks by NA.  For his effort, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Carl DeCiantis as the Player of the Game although the entire Tiger defense could have qualified for the honor.

With the win, the Tigers improved their conference record to 2-0, the overall mark to 4-2.  On Friday night, NA will travel to Shaler, also 2-0 after a 21-16 victory at Butler last night.  The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 7:10 pm.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

GAME STATISTICS

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 7  McDOWELL - 0

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

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