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UPPER ST. CLAIR TOPS TIGERS ON LAST PLAY OF GAME, 30-28

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The Upper St. Clair Panthers scored on an 8-yard pass on the last play of the game to take a thrilling 30-28 victory over the Tigers at USC Stadium on Friday night.  A 63-yard pass and run from senior QB Mike Locke to senior HB Grant Huckestein had given NA the lead with just 2:39 remaining.  Huckestein also scored on a 50-yard run earlier in the game.  Senior WR Brian Austin and Locke also scored for the Tigers.

With the rain falling, Connor Scott returned the opening kickoff 43 yards to the USC 49.  The Panthers wasted no time in taking the lead.  Tailback Jacob Siwicki ran left for 18 and a first down at the NA 33.  Two more runs by Siwicki picked up another first down at the Tiger 23.  On the next play, QB Alex Park hit WR Austin Everett in the end zone.   David Court added the point as USC took a 7-0 lead after just 1:49 of play.  The Tigers answered quickly with Austin returning the kickoff to the NA 26.  After sophomore TB Alex Papson got three on first down, Austin ran a reverse for six to the 35.  A face mask penalty moved the ball to the fifty.  On the next play, Huckestein ran the left side all the way into the end zone.  Senior Kurt Devlin's conversion attempt was wide right as NA trailed, 7-6, with 9:00 still left in the quarter.  After Conor Scott returned the kickoff to the 27, the Panthers started another long drive.  Three runs by Siwicki earned a first down at the USC 40.  Park then went to the air, hitting Everett on a pair of completions that moved the ball to the NA 49.  A reverse to Spencer Scott got nine to the Tiger 40.  On third down, Siwicki picked up the first down with a run to the 34.  Another completion to Everett moved the sticks again to the Tiger 24.  On second down, Pack threw to FB Reed Apfelbaum who caught the ball and fumbled with the Tigers recovering at the NA 14.  The Tigers were unable to move the ball and sophomore Matt Steinbeck punted to Clay Ilkin who was tackled immediately at the NA 44 by junior Jon Lowery.  On the first play, Pack found Conor Scott open for a gain of 30 to the NA 14.  Conor Scott gained four more to the ten as the quarter ended.  The Panthers held a 7-6 lead after one period of play.

On the first play of the second quarter, Park threw to Everett in the end zone, but the Panthers were called for holding.  With the ball at the NA 24, Pack found hit TE Steve Lias who rambled to the NA 4 where he fumbled and Spencer Scott fell on it for the Panthers.  On the next play, Conor Scott took it into the end zone.  Court's conversion made it 14-6 just 55 seconds into the quarter.  On the ensuing kickoff, Austin brought it back for 39 yards to the 50.  It took NA nine plays to reach the end zone.  Papson was the key in the drive.  On the first play, the NA sophomore broke through for ten to the 40 and a first down.  After Papson picked up seven on two plays, he broke through the middle again for ten more to the USC 21.  On a third and seven, Locke scrambled for seventeen yards and a first down at the Panther 1.  After Papson was stopped just short of the goal line, Locke took it in for the score.  Austin ran the left side on a sweep and got in for the two-point conversion to tie the game at 14-14 with 6:10 left in the half.  The Panthers again regained the lead with a sustained drive of 68 yards on nine plays.  After Conor Scott returned the kickoff to the 3, Siwicki got seven on two plays.  Park then threw to Lias for a first down at the NA 44.  Siwicki picked up another first down at the Tiger 34.  On second and seven, Park again threw to Everett for a first down at the NA 20.  After a pass interference call gave the Panthers a first down at the 10, Apfelbaum bulled his way through the middle to put USC ahead again.  Court's kick was good as the score went to 21-14 with 1:48 left in the half.  Austin returned the ensuing kickoff to the NA 28.  The Tigers then went the 72 yards in nine plays to tie the game.  A long pass to Austin gained 30 yards and a first down at the USC 36.  After senior FB Jorden Kraus gained three up the middle, Locke hit Austin in the right flat for a gain to the 27. On third and short, Papson ran for the first down at the USC 22.  On the next play, Locke fumbled the snap but recovered for a loss of one.  After two incomplete passes, Locke again found Austin open for a gain of 13 to the USC 12.  After a motion penalty, Locke hit Austin in the right corner of the end zone for the score.  Devlin's kick tied the game with just five seconds left in the half.  Devlin's short kickoff was downed by the Panthers who took a knee to end play.  The teams went to the intermission tied at 21-21.

After combining for 42 total points in the first half, neither team could score in the third quarter.  After Steinbeck returned the kickoff to the NA 34, the Tigers started a drive.  On third and ten, Locke threw to Austin for a gain of 19 and a first down at the USC 47.  On second and seven, Locke hit senior WR Gabe Searles for a gain of five to the 39.  Huckestein ran the counter for five and a first down at the Panther 34.  After Kraus gained six on first down, Locke again threw to Austin for a first down, but a holding call against the Tigers moved the ball back to the USC 49.  Locke was sacked by NG Tony Basso for a loss back to the Tiger 44.  After an incomplete pass, Steinbeck punted to Conor Scott who returned the ball to the Panther 35.  The Panthers started with three runs by Siwicki that earned a first down at the 47.  On second and six, Park threw to Spencer Scott who picked up a first down before going out of bounds at the NA 40.  On third and five, Park was sacked by a swarm of Tigers back at the  47.  The Panther punt was downed at the Tiger 23.  Three plays gained eight yards to the 31 as the third quarter ended with the teams still tied at 21-21.

Steinbeck started fourth quarter action with a punt that was returned by Montgomery Scott to the USC 39.  After Siwicki was hit by senior LB Jackson Boyd for a 2-yard loss, senior LB Brad Comport broke through to sack Park at the USC 28.  On the next play, a questionable pass interference call against the Tigers gave USC a first down at the 43.  Montgomery Scott ran a reverse for seven, and Apfelbaum ran up the middle for nine more and a first down at the Tiger 41.  After a loss of three, a personal foul was called against the Panthers that moved the ball back to the USC 45.  Comport again caught Park in the backfield for a loss of two before an NA blitz hit Park again, this time for a loss of twelve to the USC 32.  The Panther punt rolled all the way to the Tiger 12 before rolling dead.  On a second and 12, Locke's pass was intercepted by linebacker Jon Biery who returned eight yards to the NA 9.  After a run of four by Siwicki, Park fumbled the snap and fell on it at the 7.  After a Panther time out, Apfelbaum ran up the middle but the NA defense stopped him at the five.  On fourth down, Court kicked a 22-yard field goal to put the Panthers on top, 24-21, with 3:31 remaining in the game.  After Austin returned the kickoff 30 yards to the NA 32, Locke hit Austen for a gain of five to the 37.  On the next play, Locke lofted a long pass to a wide open Huckestein down the left sideline and the Tiger senior took it the distance for a touchdown.  Devlin's kick was good as NA jumped ahead, 28-24, with 2:39 left.  After a low, bouncing kick by Devlin was covered by the Panthers at their 25, Park avoided the NA rush and found Everett open for a gain of 21 to the Tiger 47. Two running plays gained three to the 45.  After an injury time out and with 1:14 left in the game, Park  found Everett open again for a gain of 25 to the Tiger 20.  On first down, Apflebaum was stopped after a gain of just one.  On second down, Park hit Lias who ran for a first down to the Tiger nine.  On the next play, the Tiger defense broke through to sack Park for a loss of eight to the NA 17.  USC Coach Jim Render then called a time out with 16 seconds remaining.  On the next play, Park threw the ball well over the head of his intended receiver in the end zone, but NA was called for interference.  The penalty moved the ball half the distance to the goal line at the 8.   Just three seconds were left in the game, and NA coach Art Walker called two consecutive time outs to set his defense.  With time running out, Park threw to Everett who made a diving catch just inside the far corner of the end zone to give the Panthers the victory.  By rule, the extra point had to be attempted.  NA blocked the kick, but Upper St. Clair took a 30-28 victory.

It was a tough loss for the Tigers who had taken their first lead of the game late in the fourth quarter.  The statistics were relatively even with USC gaining 307 total yards to NA's 291.  Individually, Huckestein led the NA rushers with 61 yards on four plays while Papson added 54 on 13.  In the air, Locke was 9 of 14 for 160 yards and two TDs.  Austin caught seven passes for 92 yards and a score.  For USC, Siwicki gained 65 on 18 carries to lead the Panthers.  Park completed 16 of 21 for 229 yards and two scores.  Everett caught seven passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.   The North Allegheny Sports Network named Grant Huckestein as the NA Player of the Game.

With the loss, the NA non-conference record dropped to 1-2.  The Tigers will finish their non-conference play on Friday night when they host Penn Hills, a 42-21 victor at Butler on 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 7:10 pm.  Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Photo Gallery

GAME SUMMARY
UPPER ST. CLAIR - 30  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 28

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

* STATISTICS *
UPPER ST. CLAIR - 30  NORTH ALLEGHENY - 28

Statistics Courtesy of Steve Heckmann

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