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TIGERS TAKE DOWN TOP SEED
CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 17-7

To listen to an archived broadcast of the game, click here!

For the first time ever, the North Allegheny Tigers are going to Heinz Field.  Thanks to a 17-7 win over top seed Pittsburgh Central Catholic on Friday in the semifinals, the Tigers earned the right to play for the WPIAL Championship next Saturday night.  It’s the Tigers fifth trip to the title game in school history and first since 1998 when the game was played at Three Rivers Stadium.

Central Catholic and North Allegheny traded punts to start the game and after another Vikings drive stalled the Tigers were set to receive the ball again midway through the first quarter.  But a Louis Craven punt was fumbled by NA’s Matt Steinbeck and Central Catholic recovered the loose ball at the Tigers’ 25-yard line.  It took only one play for the Vikings to capitalize on the turnover as quarterback Perry Hills fired a touchdown pass to Dustin Lowman to give Central Catholic a 7-0 the lead with 5:55 to go in the first quarter.

The next Tigers possession also ended on a turnover.  Central Catholic’s Ed Latimer intercepted a Michael Buchert pass at the NA 36-yard line and the undefeated Vikings appeared ready to take hold of this game early.  But the North Allegheny defense had other thoughts and did not budge an inch forcing a punt.

Before the first quarter expired, the Vikings again had the ball in North Allegheny territory.  On a 4^th and 11 from the 31-yard line, Hills threw a screen pass right into the chest of Tigers defensive lineman Justin Haser and he rumbled to the Vikings 40-yard line.  Beginning the second quarter, Alex Papson was dropped for a loss but a facemask penalty moved the ball to the Vikings’ 26.  After the Tigers converted a 4^th and 2 play with a Papson run, NA tied the game at 7-7 on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Buchert to Dan Slivka with 8:34 remaining on the second quarter clock.

Papson and the North Allegheny offense was bottled up by Central Catholic’s quick and aggressive defense in the first half.  Papson had only 29 yards at halftime and the Tigers only 47 total yards.  But in the second half, the offensive line began to steer Papson and the Tigers toward victory.  A steady diet of Papson, who ended the night with 194 yards rushing, put the Tigers in position to take the lead early in the fourth quarter.  North Allegheny capped a 10-play, drive with a 33-yard field goal by Alex Greenblatt and the Tigers grabbed a 10-7 lead with 10:50 left to play.

The North Allegheny defense was also very important to the Tigers victory.  NA’s hard hitting defensive line and linebackers suffocated a stout Central Catholic offense.  Vikings star running back Damien Jones-Moore was held to four yards rushing on 16 carries.  In total, Central Catholic was limited to a negative seven yards on the ground.  The only way the Vikings could move the ball on this night was courtesy of the right arm of quarterback Perry Hills who finished the game with 254 yards passing, one touchdown and two interceptions.  On the Vikings ensuing possession, Hills led his team to the Tigers’ 25-yard line before the drive began to unravel.  Faced with a 3^rd and 10, Hills was sacked by Kevin Cope for an 8-yard loss forcing a long field goal attempt by Central Catholic.  Kicker Jon Murphy’s 50-yard attempt had enough distance but was wide left and the Tigers three point advantage remained intact with a little over five minutes remaining. 

With an opportunity to grind down the clock, North Allegheny received a carbon copy play from a week ago.  The Tigers were faced with a 3^rd and 8 with 3:25 left in the contest when Papson broke a 67-yard touchdown run increase NA’s lead to 17-7.  In similar fashion a week earlier, Papson busted a 62-yard touchdown jaunt to put away the Tigers’ quarterfinal win over Bethel Park.  But in this semifinal game with Central Catholic, the game wasn’t quite over yet.

The Vikings promptly moved into NA territory and appeared to have scored a huge touchdown with 1:53 remaining.  Hills rifled a would-be 35-yard touchdown pass to Jones-Moore but a holding penalty cost Central Catholic the score.  The penalty was deflating to the Vikings and their comeback hopes were soon dashed by the Tigers defense.  Four straight passes would not net a first down and Central Catholic’s last gasp effort was denied, giving North Allegheny a 17-7 victory over previously undefeated Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

Among many players on both sides of the ball, defensive lineman Nate Nachazel was instrumental in the Tigers win.  Nachazel notched two sacks, one pass deflection, numerous tackles and recovered a blocked punt.  For his efforts, Nachazel was recognized as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. 

The victory advances the Tigers to the WPIAL title game against the defending Quad-A champions, the Woodland Hills Wolverines.  The contest at Heinz Field is slated to kickoff at 7:30 on Saturday night and you can hear all the action live on the North Allegheny Sports Network.   To view the entire Class AAAA playoff bracket, click here!    

Photo Gallery
GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY – 17   CENTRAL CATHOLIC - 7

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