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TIGERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS WITH 23-13 WIN OVER BETHEL PARK

To listen to an archived broadcast, click here!

The North Allegheny Tigers rode workhorse running back Alex Papson for 301 yards and three touchdowns to push past Bethel Park 23-13 in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Playoffs.  The Tigers game-plan became evident early in the contest as North Allegheny used an 11-play, 67-yard opening drive to score the first points of the night.  On that drive, Papson carried the ball 10 times for 53 yards.  The possession ended on a 1-yard touchdown run by the senior tailback to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

After a three-and-out by Bethel Park, North Allegheny used another methodical, time consuming drive that was keyed by Papson.  This time the Tigers moved 88-yards in 18 plays, capped by a 3-yard Papson score to increase the lead to 14-0 with 9:16 remaining in the second quarter.  However, 14-0 deficits weren’t anything new to Bethel Park.  The Blackhawks rallied from that exact score to shock McKeesport in the opening round of the playoffs 24-21, and Bethel Park was determined to come from behind again.

Starting from their own 18-yard line, Bethel Park began a 76-yard march that was sparked by a trick play.  Blackhawks’ receiver Lewis Dibble took a reverse pitch from tailback Bre’ Ford and tossed a 52-yard bomb to Evan Schweitzer who was tackled by Dan Slivka at the NA 3-yard line.  In a tight battle with Bethel Park, the hustling tackle by Slivka was the first of many “little thing” that amounted into a big win for the Tigers.  In this instance, Slivka’s tackle helped set the stage for a defensive stop that forced Bethel Park to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Dan Christenson.  The kick cut North Allegheny’s lead to 14-3 with 5:57 on the second quarter clock.

Bethel Park’s defense forced a three-and-out from the Tigers, allowing their offense an opportunity to score again before the end of the half.  The Blackhawks took advantage of the opportunity, putting together a 63-yard drive for their first, and only, touchdown of the game.  Ford plunged into the end zone from 1-yard out with 1:03 left in the half and Bethel Park was back in the game, trailing just 14-10.

The Blackhawks opened the second-half with the football and much like the Tigers’ opening possession of the first-half, put together a lengthy, time consuming drive.  Bethel Park ate up six minutes off the clock before their drive stalled at the NA nine-yard line.  On a 4^th and 2, Christenson was ready to kick another field goal, but the Tigers jumped off-sides giving Bethel Park a 1^st and goal at the NA four-yard line.  But thanks to the North Allegheny defense, 1^st and goal quickly turned to 4^th and goal and Bethel Park had to settle for another Christenson 22-yard field that trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 14-13.  North Allegheny regained their four-point lead on the ensuing possession.  With 1:03 left in the third quarter, Alex Greenblatt drove a 43-yard field just over the crossbar to increase the Tigers’ lead to 17-13.

As the game moved into the fourth quarter, Bethel Park was moving toward a go-ahead touchdown with just over seven minutes to play.  On 3^rd and 7 at the NA 12-yard line, Blackhawks quarterback Anthony Cinello tried a fade pass to WVU recruit Nick Kwiatkoski in the end zone but the throw was intercepted by Tigers sophomore Brendan Coniker for a touchback.  With ball placed on the NA 20, three consecutive Papson runs netted nine-yards.  That’s when Tigers head coach Art Walker made a calculated risk, going for it on a 4^th and 1 from the 29.  The gamble proved successful as Papson took the handoff for a 13-yard gain and a fresh set of downs.  Following another first down and a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the Tigers, North Allegheny had a 1^st and 10 from their own 38 yard line.  On that play, Papson bursted threw the right side of the offensive line and ran 62-yards for the game clinching score.  Greenblatt missed the extra point, but the Papson touchdown put the Tigers ahead 23-13 with 3:20 left in the fourth quarter.

Papson finished the night with 45 carries for 301 yards and three touchdowns.  For his effort, Papson was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.  With the win, North Allegheny improves to 10-1 and advances to the semifinals to face top-seed Pittsburgh Central Catholic.  You can hear all the action from that game live on the North Allegheny Sports Network. To view the entire Class AAAA playoff bracket, click here!    

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GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 23    BETHEL PARK - 13

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATS

Stats Courtesy of Steve Heckmann

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