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TIGER TURNOVERS HELP PINE-RICHLAND TO 24-20 VICTORY

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The Pine-Richland Rams defeated the Tigers, 24-20, at Pine-Richland Stadium on Thursday night in a Northern Six Conference contest.  NA committed five turnovers, including four fumbles, that proved costly in the loss.  Sophomore Alex Papson scored a pair of touchdowns and junior QB Justin Brozick another but the Tigers saw the Rams score the winning touchdown with just 17.5 seconds remaining.

After the Rams Mitch Elliot returned the opening kickoff to the Pine-Richland 24, the NA defense forced a punt by Matt Yoklic.  In a sign of things to come, the punt was fumbled and recovered by the Rams at the NA 39.  After sophomore DB Matt Steinbeck knocked down a long pass on first down, Ian Hennessy gained eight to the Tiger 31.  After a motion penalty on the Rams, a pass from Eric Kordenbrock to Elliot got seven and a first down at the Tiger 29.  Three plays gained only four yards and the Rams had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Greg Langer as Pine-Richland took a 3-0 lead with 7:27 remaining in the quarter.  Senior Brian Austin returned the ensuing kickoff 20 yards to the NA 25.  Papson ran the left side for 12 yards and a first down at the 37.  On second and eleven, senior QB Mike Locke threw to Austin fro a gain of fifteen and another first down at the P-R 49. On a third and six, Locke scrambled for a first down at the Ram 38.  Papson followed with a pair of runs for 11 more and a first down at the P-R 26.  Senior FB Jorden Kraus then ran up the middle for 12 and another first down at the 14..  After Kraus got five and Papson three, Papson dove for a first down at the 3.  On the next play, Brozick came in and ran the keeper into the end zone.  Senior Kurt Devlin added the point as the Tigers took a 7-3 lead with 47 seconds left in the quarter.  NA completed the 75-yard drive in 13 plays.  After Braden Pitts ran the kickoff back to the 32, two plays gained seven yards as the quarter ended.  The Tigers took a 7-3 lead into the second quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Kordenbrock threw to Steve Valenza for four yards and a first down at the 43.  Ian Hennessy ran a reverse but was tackled for a loss of eight yards by junior Allen Ayuninjum.  On the next play, Kordenbrock found Valenza open again for a 18-yard gain and a first down at the Tiger 47.  Three running plays picked up another first down at the NA 36.  On first down, senior DE Wes Henderson knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage.  On the next play, the Rams fumbled but Mike Felker recovered for P-R for a gain of one.  Kordenbrock then hit threw to a wide open Valenza in the end zone for a 35 yard scoring play.   Langer added the point as the Rams took a 10-7 lead with 8:07 left in the half.  Papson got loose on the kickoff return and ran it all the way to the P-R 37, a gain of 53 yards.  After Kraus gained six, the Rams called a time out.  After an incomplete pass, Papson got three on a reverse.  On a fourth and one, the Tigers fumbled and Pine-Richland recovered at the 29.  On a second and 8, senior LB Mike Zelik leaped high to pull down an interception at the Ram 40.  On the next play, T.J. Kuban returned the favor as he picked off a pass at his five and returned it to the P-R 31.  Three plays gained eight yards and Matt Yoklic punted all the way to the NA 3 where the ball went out of bounds.  On first down, Locke dropped back into the end zone and found Austin open for a gain of 15 to the NA 18.  After a motion penalty, three plays picked up on ten yards, and Brozick punted out of bounds at the Ram 48.  On first down, Henderson sacked Kordenbrock for a loss of five to the 43.  The Rams could not move the ball, and Yoklic punted out of bounds at the NA 17.   The Tigers took over with 1:00 remaining.  After an incomplete pass, Papson ran a draw for a gain of 13 and a first down at the 30.  On the next play, Locke threw to Austin for 14 more to the NA 44.  Locke then found senior WR Gabe Searles open for another gain of 14 to the Ram 42.  With time running out, Locke hit Henderson down the middle for a gain of fifteen but the ball was stripped and recovered by the Rams at their own 27.  Kordenbrock took a knee and the half ended with Pine-Richland holding a 10-7 advantage

The Tigers took the second half kickoff with junior David Humphrey returning the ball to the P-R 44.  On first down, Papson ran left for three to the 41.  On the next play, Locke threw to senior FB Jared Congedo for a gain of ten and a first down to the Ram 31.  After a motion penalty, Locke hit Austin for a gain of 15 and another first down at the Ram 20.  After Papson gained six around the left side, Kraus ran the middle for nine and a first and goal at the P-R nine.  On the next play, Papson ran around the left side and scored as he dove for the pylon at the goal line.  Devlin's conversion attempt hit the left upright, but the Tigers took a 13-10 lead with 8:38 left in the third quarter.  The Rams answered quickly after the ensuing kickoff was returned to the Ram 20.  It was the running of Elliot that moved the ball down the field as the Ram senior carried the ball six straight times for a pair of first downs and gains to the NA 46.  After a motion penalty, Kordenbrock threw a middle screen to Hennessy who ran it all the way into the end zone.  Langer converted on the extra point as the Rams had the lead again, 17-13, with 4:08 left in the third quarter.  The Rams tried a short kickoff but junior Jake Haddad made a nice over the shoulder catch at the NA 40.  On first down, Locke threw to Congedo for a gain of 13 to the Ram 47.  A roughing the passer penalty against the Rams added 15 more to the play moving the ball to the 32.  After Papson ran the middle for seven, the Tigers sophomore broke free for a gain of 21 to the P-R 4.  On the next play, Papson took it into the end zone to put NA back ahead.  Devlin added the point as NA took a 20-17 lead with 4;08 remaining in the quarter.  After the kickoff was returned to the PR 26, a third down pass from Kordenbrock to Kuban got a first down at the Ram 40.  On second and ten, Elliot ran around the left side for sixty yards and an apparent Ram touchdown.  Pine-Richland was called for an illegal chop block, however, that brought the ball all the way back to the Ram 24.  After two plays failed to gain any yardage, Yoklic punted to Steinbeck who made a fair catch at the NA 32.  The Tigers gained only six yards on three plays as the quarter ended.  The Tigers took a 20-17 lead into the fourth quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Brozick punted to Tyler Williams who made a fair catch at the Ram 26.  After a holding penalty moved the ball back to the 16, two runs by Elliot got nine yards.  On third and one, the Tigers jumped offside giving the Rams a first down at the 30.  On second and six, Kordenbrock threw to Valenza for a gain of 6 and a first down at the 40.  An incomplete pass plus a pair of penalties against the Rams forced a Yoklic punt that Austin returned to the NA 38.  A block in the back penalty against the Tigers brought the ball back to the Tiger 19.  Afer Austin ran the right side for a gain of eight, Papson got four more and a first down at the NA 31.  Papson then gained nine more on two running plays.  On third and one, Locke picked up a first down on a quarterback sneak to the 42.  After three plays gained only seven yards, Brozick punted out of bounds at the P-R 22.  Henderson broke through to tackle Elliot for a loss of seven to the 15.  After two plays got only three yards, Yoklic punted out of bounds at the NA 40.  After a running play was stopped for no gain, a delay of game penalty against the Tigers moved the ball back to the NA 35.  A pass from Locke to Austin got nine to the 44.  On third down, the Tigers fumbled the ball with the Rams recovering at the NA 32 with 2:20 left in the game.  After a loss of two on first down, Kordenbrock threw to Hennessy for a gain of eight to the 26.  After an incomplete pass, the Rams called time out.  On the next play, the Tigers were called for pass interference that moved the ball to the NA 13.   After Elliot was stopped for no gain, Kordenbrock threw to Hennessy in the right flat and he raced to the Tiger 2.  After a QB sneak got a yard, Elliot went over the top into the end zone to put the Rams ahead.  Langer's extra point made it a 24-20 game with just 17.5 seconds remaining.  After Humphrey returned the kickoff to the Na 35, Locke threw to Papson for a gain of 17 to the 48 with just 4 seconds left.  On the last play, Locke hit Austin who was tackled in Ram territory as time ran out.  Pine-Richland had come back to take a 24-20 victory.

It was a tough loss for the Tigers who were their own worst enemies.  NA lost four fumbles and had one pass intercepted.  Statistically, the Tigers had 19 first downs to 14 for the Rams and outgained their opponents by a 314-247 margin.  Papson led all rushers with 106 yards on 24 carries good for two touchdowns.  Locke completed 12 of 18 for 154 yards with Austin pulling in four for 60.  Kordenbrock connected on 10 of 21 for the Rams for 156 yards and two TDs.  The Rams did hold a time of possession advantage as they controlled the ball for 25:46 to NA's 22:14.  For his work on the defensive end with six unassisted and eight combined tackles, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Gary Allen as the Player of the Game.

With the loss, the NA conference record dropped to 2-1, the overall mark to 4-3 on the season.  The Tigers will host Butler on Friday night at Newman Stadium as conference play continues.  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.

Photo Gallery
Game Statistics

GAME SUMMARY
PINE-RICHLAND - 24  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 20

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

* STATISTICS *

PINE-RICHLAND - 24  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 20

Statistics Courtesy of Steve Heckmann

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