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NORTH ALLEGHENY VARSITY FOOTBALL
* CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONS*
TIGERS RANKED
#10 IN PENNSYLVANIA BY MAX Coach Art Walker's Tigers finished as the #10 team in Pennsylvania according to Max Preps sports. Max Preps uses a computer program to determine team rank. They do not poll coaches, sportswriters, or fans, or make any judgments on the merits of any team. The system utilizes the huge number of game results stored in the MaxPreps database. Generally, the more a team wins the higher the ranking, but the system takes into account quality wins against other highly ranked opponents and strength of schedule MAX PREPS
RANKINGS
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * TIGERS PLACE NINE ON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM; GRECO NAMED TO ALL-STATE TEAM AS PUNTER The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announced the 2006 Northern Five All-Conference team. Nine Tigers were selected to the all-star squads. On offense, senior tackle Ian Overbaugh, junior guard Austin Fedell, senior center Chris Pottmeyer, and senior TE Tom Keiser made the team. On defense, junior DE Zach Watts, senior DT Mark Lamping, senior LB Marek Lapinski, junior LB Corey Watts, and senior DB Tim Lotz were chosen. In addition, junior Geoff Greco was named to the first team of the Class AAAA AP All-State team as the punter.
CONGRATULATIONS TO
ALL THE TIGERS WHO EARNED PITTSBURGH
POST-GAZETTE OFFENSE
DEFENSE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * THREE TIGERS NAMED TO PG NORTH FABULOUS 22
Three Tigers were selected to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PG North Fabulous 22. Seniors Tom Keiser, Marek Lapinski and Tim Lotz were chosen as members of the all-star squad. PITTSBURGH
POST-GAZETTE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * UPPER ST. CLAIR ENDS TIGER TITLE HOPES, 24-3 To listen to a replay of the game, click here! The Tigers took an early 3-0 lead, but Upper St. Clair stormed back to score two quick first quarter touchdowns on their way to a 24-3 victory over NA in the WPIAL Quad A semifinals at Canon-McMillan Stadium on Friday night. Senior PK Rich Doyle kicked a 32-yard field goal on the Tigers’ first possession for the only NA points of the game. USC outgained the Tigers, 310-153, holding NA to just 28 yards in the second half. After the opening kickoff went out of bounds, the Tigers started at their 35. On the first play from scrimmage, junior QB Geoff Greco threw to Tim Lotz along the left sideline and the senior running back raced all the way to the USC 15 before being caught from behind. On the next play, senior RB Carl DeCiantis gained four to the eleven. A procedure penalty moved the ball back to the 16. An incomplete pass brought up a third and eleven. Senior QB Adam Neugebauer made his first appearance since September, but his third down pass fell incomplete. Doyle then drilled a 32-yard field goal to give NA a 3-0 advantage just 1:48 into the game. On the ensuing kickoff, Grant Serdy returned the ball 42 yards to the Panther 46. After Dane Conwell was stopped for no gain, QB Pat McShane found WR Adam Chrisis open in the left flat, and he ran to the NA 5, a gain of 49 yards. On second and goal from the four, Conwell took it in for the score. The extra point attempt was blocked as USC took a 6-3 lead with 8:22 remaining in the quarter. After the kickoff went into the end zone, the Tigers started from their 20. Two running plays gained four yards. On third down, Neugebauer’s pass was intercepted by McShane who ran untouched for 25 yards and another USC touchdown. Conwell ran in for the two-point conversion to give the Panthers a 14-3 with 7:02 on the first quarter clock. After the kickoff was returned by sophomore Brian Austin to the NA 17, the Tigers could not move the ball, and Greco punted to the USC 25, a kick of 61 yards. After the Panthers picked up a first down on a fifteen-yard gain by Conwell, the NA defense stiffened and forced a punt by Ben Fraudin that was returned by Austin for 15 yards to the Tiger 45. On second down, DeCiantis gained eight to the USC 48. Lotz ran left for a gain to the USC 28 but a holding penalty brought it back to the 45, just enough for an NA first down. Three plays gained nothing, and Greco punted to Taylor Everett who returned it to the Panther 13. After Chrisis lost a yard on a reverse, the quarter ended with Upper St. Clair holding a 14-3 lead. As the second quarter began, the NA defense once again forced a punt that was returned by Austin for 13 yards to the USC 38. On the first play, Dan Miller made a diving interception of a long pass intended for Austin at the USC 8. Three plays gained only eight yards, and Fraudin punted to junior Christian Totera who returned it 13 yards to the Panther 47. DeCiantis found a hole up the middle and raced 13 yards for a first down at the USC 34. DeCiantis gained seven more, and senior FB Marek Lapinski ten off the right side for a first down at the USC 18. After a loss of one, Lotz gained four to the 14. Greco ran the right side for six more to the eight. On a fourth and one, Lapinski was stopped just short of a first down, and the Panthers took over at their own 8. Once again, the Tiger defense stepped up and forced another USC punt that rolled to the NA 37 before being downed. On second and eight, the Tigers fumbled and USC recovered at the NA 37. On first down, the Tigers were called for pass interference with ball being moved to the Tiger 22. On second and nine, McShane threw to Chrisis for a gain of seven to the NA 14. On the next play, McShane found Everett open for ten more yards and a first down at the NA 4. With first and goal, the Panthers fumbled and senior DT Mike Griffith recovered for the Tigers at the NA 1. Three plays gained only four yards, and Greco punted from the end zone with ball rolling out of bounds at the NA 37. After McShane threw to Conwell for eight yards, Conwell ran the left side for 12 more and a first down at the Tiger 17. Three plays gained nothing, and Alex Romanis came in to kick a 29-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to give USC a 17-3 lead. Lotz returned the kickoff to the NA 30 as time ran out. Upper St. Clair took a 17-3 lead to the intermission. The second half belonged to the Panthers. After Serdy returned the kickoff to the USC 22, the Panthers went on a long drive mainly on the ground. A quarterback draw by McShane gained 18 to the Panther 40. A third down pass was completed to Everett who made a diving catch on the NA 48. After McShane scrambled to the NA 38, Conwell ran the ball five consecutive times for two first downs that moved the ball to the Tiger 20. Two pass completions to Chrisis and Everett gave the Panthers a first down at the NA 4. On third and goal from the one, Conwell ran around right end for the touchdown. Romanis added the point as the Panthers increased the lead to 24-3. It was a 17-play drive that took 10:05 off the clock. After Austin returned the kickoff for 28 yards to the NA 33, three plays gained only three yards and Greco was forced to punt with the ball rolling dead at the USC 21. Once again, the Panthers controlled the ball with Conwell running for a pair of first downs, the big gain being a 37-yard dash to the Tiger 28. A holding penalty moved the ball back to the NA 40. after Conwell gained nine more to the NA 31, a personal foul against the Panthers pushed the ball back to the 46 as the quarter ended. The Tigers ran only three plays in the quarter as Upper St. Clair took a 24-3 lead into the final stanza. On the first play of the fourth quarter, junior corner Kyle Butson intercepted McShane’s pass at the Tiger 12. On second and ten, sophomore QB Mike Locke was sacked back at the NA 6. After an incomplete pass, Greco’s punt was caught by Everett on a fair catch at the NA 37. Three plays gained nine yards to the 26. On fourth and one, McShane picked up a first down as the Tigers pushed him out of bounds at the NA 25. A person foul against the Tigers took the ball to the Tiger 10. On second and eight, Oliver Hawk was hit for a three-yard loss by senior LB Darren LePere. Conwell was then stopped for no gain, and USC Coach Jim Render called a time out. A fourth down pass was incomplete, and the Tigers took over at their 11. After Locke threw to Austin for a gain of four, Locke found senior TE Tom Keiser open for a gain of sixteen and a first down at the NA 31. It was the first first down of the second half for the Tigers. Three incomplete passes forced another Greco punt that was caught again on a fair catch by Everett at the USC 46. Hawk ran for fourteen yards and a first down at the NA 40. Two running plays got another first down at the Tiger 30 before the NA defense held. The Tigers took over at their 24. After two incomplete passes, Lapinski ran for seven to the Tiger 31. On fourth down, Locke hit Greco for five and a first down at the 36. Three incomplete passes forced a final Greco punt that was downed at the USC 33. Two plays later, the game ended with the Upper St. Clair Panthers taking a 24-3 victory en route to a date with Penn Hills in the WPIAL Quad A championship at Heinz Field next Friday. After playing USC close on the statistical end in the first half where the Tigers actually held a 124-122 edge in total yards, the Panthers dominated the game in the second half. In the final totals, the Panthers gained 215 yards rushing and added 95 passing for the 310-153 advantage in total yards. The Tigers completed only four of 24 passes including a pair on interceptions. USC controlled the ball for a total of 32:18 building the big edge in the second half. For the Tigers, DeCiantis led the NA rushers with 36 yards on nine carries. Tim Lotz had 69 total yards, 17 rushing and 50 on the first pass play of the game. For his efforts, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Tim Lotz as the Player of the Game. It was a dominating performance in the second half as the Panthers showed why they are the top-ranked team in both the WPIAL and PIAA. The Tigers gave a good effort but fell to a better team. The first-half turnovers did not help, but in the end, the overall ball control of the Panthers made the difference. With the loss, the Tigers finished the season with a record of 9-3 including the championship of the Northern Five Conference. NA had won seven straight games before losing in the WPIAL semifinals. Two of the three losses were to the #1 ranked Upper St. Clair Panthers. CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH WALKER AND THE TIGERS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON!!!
GAME SUMMARY
INDIVIDUAL SCORING
WPIAL CLASS
AAAA FOOTBALL
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * WPIAL FOOTBALL 2006 The Tigers will compete again in Class AAAA along with 22 other teams. Championship play will begin in the tenth week (Nov. 3-4) with a sixteen team bracket in each classification as determined by the WPIAL tie breaker system. The tournament will culminate with the four classification championships at Heinz Field (tentatively) on Friday, November 24, 2006. The WPIAL tie breaker system will be used to determined section championship, play off entry, bracket placement and home field assignment where applicable. If teams tie in section record for the section championship, they will be declared co-champions and both will receive a section plaque. Non-section games will not be considered in the tiebreaker system. The WPIAL Football tiebreaker system will use the following criteria in the order listed: 1. Section
record In the event of a multiple tie (more than two teams) for playoff position, head to head will be the first determinant. If head to head does not break the tie, the tiebreaker will be Gardner points. If Gardner points fail to break the tie, the plus or minus point differential will be used. Failure to break the tie by these methods will result in a coin flip. In any instance where it may apply, the system will revert back to head to head to break a tie. The WPIAL tiebreaker system will be employed until the appropriate number of qualifiers in achieved. Note: In Class AAAA, all sections will qualify four teams to the post season. Regarding Quad A and Section 1, in the event that Erie McDowell finishes in the top four of Section 1, the tie breaking system will be applied to all four fifth place teams to arrive at a sixteenth team (wild card) to complete a 16 team bracket. All section games will be applied to determine the Quad A wild card team. WPIAL FOOTBALL ALIGNMENT - 23 Teams
Any questions or comments
should be directed to Athletic
Director Bob Bozzuto at:
bbozzuto@northallegheny.org |