2010 Varsity Football - NA - 21 McDowell

After falling behind for the first time this season, 10-7 in the third quarter, the Tigers rallied behind the running of senior HB Alex Papson to down the McDowell Trojans, 21-10, in Northern Seven Conference action in Erie on Friday night. Papson scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns, one on a 74-yard run, to spark an NA rally along with rushing for 275 yards on 29 carries. A 30-yard scoring strike from senior QB Mike Buchert to senior WR Dan Slivka had given NA a 7-3 halftime lead.

After senior PK Diego Febres-Cordero sent the opening kickoff into the end zone, McDowell moved the ball into NA territory on the opening drive. After two plays got only two yards, a pass from QB Collin Kimball to RB Kasey Chodubski picked up 18 and a first down at the 40. Once again, the NA defense held the Trojans to just two net yards on two plays, but FB Jeremy Baronner ran up the middle for 14 on third down to give McDowell a first down at the NA 44. On first down, HB Greg Garman got eight on an option pitch to the Tiger 36. After two plays picked up only a yard, a fourth down run up the middle by Baronner gained the first down at the Tiger 29. At this point, the NA defense stiffened and forced a fourth and seven. On fourth down, senior safety Matt Steinbeck picked off a Kimball pass at the 15 and returned it 16 years to the NA 31. The Tigers began their first possession of the game after McDowell used up 6:30 on the initial drive. Three runs by Papson got only nine yards and Steinbeck had to punt. The punt was driven long and took an NA bounce and roll where it hit a Trojan player with NA’s senior Matt Adams recovering at the McDowell 13. Unfortunately for NA, the officials ruled that an NA player pushed the McDowell player into the ball giving the Trojans possession at their own 13. After senior DT Vince Czerniewski stopped Barroner for no gain up the middle, a false start moved the Trojans back to the 8. A fumbled snap was recovered by Kimball at the 5. After a pass from Kimball to Garmon got ten, McDowell was forced to punt. Zach Mayr’s punt was short and was downed at the McDowell 30. On the first play, Buchert found Slivka wide open for a 30-yard scoring play to put NA ahead with 1:03 left in the quarter. Senior Alex Greenblatt tacked on the point as the Tigers took a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Chodubski fumbled the ball but it was recovered by Martin Oduho at the Trojan 23. On first down, Baronner broke free up the middle for 20 yards and a first down at the 43. On the last play of the quarter, senior DE Rob Kugler stopped Garmon for no gain on a run around the left side. The quarter ended with the Tigers holding the 7-0 advantage.

On the first play of the second quarter, senior DE Justin Haser sacked Kimball for a loss of a yard. A pitchout to Garmon around the left was stopped by senior LB Kevin Cope after a gain of three forcing another McDowell punt. Steinbeck returned the punt five yards to the NA 22, but a block in the back on the return moved the ball back to the NA 8. On the first play, Buchert fumbled but recovered just outside the NA end zone at the 1. Papson got six hard earned yards to the seven. On third and long, Papson ran a reverse to the 17 but was a yard short. Once again, Steinbeck had to punt to Chodubski who returned the ball to the NA 42. A first down run of ten yards by Garmon picked up a first down at the Tiger 32. At this point, the Tiger defense came up big again. After Garmon was stopped for again of one, a false start moved the ball back to the 36. On the next play, senior CB Steve Ferringer made a leaping interception at the NA 10 to stop the drive. After Papson got seven on two runs, an incomplete pass brought up another fourth down. Steinbeck was forced to punt again with the ball downed at the McDowell 33. After three plays gained only four yards, Mayr punted to Steinbeck who returned the ball seven yards to the NA 35. After Steinbeck was tackled for a loss of five after catching a short pass, McDowell’s John Dahlstrand picked off a Buchert pass and returned it to the Tiger 41 with 2:46 remaining in the half. On a second and six, Kimball ran a keeper for 19 yards and a first down at the NA 18. After Kimball gained four more on another keeper, McDowell called a time out with 1:36 left. On the next play, an option pitch was fumbled but recovered by Chodubski at the Tiger 19. After Garmon ran up the middle for seven to the NA 12, the Trojans called their final time out with 19.8 seconds left. With McDowell lined up for a field goal attempt, the Trojans were guilty of two consecutive false starts, Bryan Mong was able to lift a field goal just over the cross bar from 38 yards away to put the Trojans on the board with 14.7 left to cut the NA lead to 7-3. After the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, the Tigers started from their 35. On the first play, Buchert got loose up the middle for 21 yards and a first down at the McDowell 44. After an NA time out with 6.4 left, Papson broke free and almost scored with the last Trojan tackler bringing the NA back down at the 16 after a gain of 28 yards. The Tigers took a 7-3 advantage to the intermission.

The second half kickoff by Mong was squibbed along the ground when senior WR Mike Eck fell on the ball at the NA 31. After two plays gained only three yards, an incomplete pass forced another Steinbeck punt that went off the side of his foot and out of bounds at the NA 42. After Kimball was stopped for a loss of two by Cope, Garmon ran up the middle and outraced the Tigers to the end zone for a touchdown that put McDowell ahead. Mong’s kick gave the Trojans a 10-7 advantage lust 2:24 into the half. It was the first time in the 2010 season that the Tigers had trailed. After Eck returned the ensuing squib kick by Mong for ten yards to the 41, NA went on a 12-play 59-yard drive, all on the ground, to retake the lead. After Papson ran left for eight, the Tiger senior gained two more to the Trojan 49. On third and short, Buchert kept the ball for a gain of six and a first down at the McDowell 43.. Papson ran the middle for five and on the next play gained six more on a nice cut back up the middle for a first down at the 32. Three more runs by Papson moved the sticks again as the Tigers had another first down at the Trojan 18. Papson followed with a run around the left side for fifteen and a first and goal at the three. After Papson was stopped just short of the goal line, McDowell called a time out. Buchert was stopped just short of the goal line on a quarterback sneak, but on the next play, Papson finished the drive and blasted into the end zone. Greenblatt again added the point as NA regained the lead at 14-10 with 4:00 minutes remaining the quarter. Febres-Cordero’s kickoff was returned by Jarrett Koper to the Trojan 35. After a false start, Kimball was stopped after a gain of 1. On the next play, Garmon ran for nine up the middle to the 40. After another Trojan time out, Cope and Haser combined to stop Garmon short of a first down forcing another Mayr punt that rolled dead at the NA 26. On the first play after the punt, Papson broke free at the line of scrimmage and raced 74 yards for his second touchdown of the game and eleventh of the year. Greenblatt again was perfect on the point as NA took a 21-10 lead with1:20 still left in the quarter. Febres-Cordero’s kickoff was returned by Garmon four yards to the Trojan 20. After an NA time out, two running plays gained only five yards. The quarter ended with the Tigers holding the 21-10 lead.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Kimball passed to Mayr for a gain of eight and a first down at the McD 33. After Garmon ran right for a gain of six, another false start cost the Trojans five. After an incomplete pass, Kimball scrambled for 23 yards and a first down at the NA 44. The NA defense stepped up to force a loss of two yards on the next three plays as Mayr punted into the end zone. The Tigers took over at the 20. After Papson was held to five yards on two plays, Buchert ran a keeper for 12 and a first down at the NA 37. After Steinbeck got three on first down, Papson took a pitchout to the 50 for ten yards and another first down. On the next play, Papson got loose for a gain of 30 and another first down at the Trojan 20. Three runs by Papson gained only six bringing up a fourth and four at the 14. After an NA time out, Buchert ran a keeper to the seven as rain started to fall. The gain was negated by an NA holding penalty that sent the ball back to the 23. On the next play, Buchert threw in the end zone where Slivka made a leaping catch just in bounds. The touchdown was called back as the Tigers were called again for holding as the ball was moved back to the Trojan 39. Steinbeck got off a punt from a short punt formation that was partially blocked and downed at the McDowell 25. On the first play, Kimball threw down the right sideline to Chobubski who ran into the end zone, a 75-yard play. McDowell, however, was called for holding that wiped out the long touchdown play with the ball marked back at the Trojan 12 with just over three minutes to play. Two incomplete passes and a run of one yard by Kimball forced Mayr to punt with the ball downed at the NA 43. The Tigers took over with just 1:06 left. A keeper by Buchert gained four to the 43. On the next play, Papson broke through the middle for 28 yards and a first down at the McDowell 11. Buchert then took a knee as time ran out with the Tigers completing the 21-10 victory.

It was an important victory for the Tigers as they faced their toughest opponent to date. Papson finished with 275 yards on 29 carries (9.5 ypc) and a pair of touchdowns. Garmon gained 95 yards on 15 runs and a TD to pace the Trojans. Defensively, Cope led with nine solo and four assisted tackles as the NA defense was tough when it had to be. For his offensive efforts, particularly in the second half, the North Allegheny Sports Network named Alex Papson as the Wright Automotive Player of the Game.

With the win, the NA conference record improved to 2-0 and moved them into a first place tie with North Hills for the lead. The overall Tiger mark improved to 4-0 on the season. The win also marked the seventh against McDowell without a loss. The Tigers will host the Seneca Valley Raiders next Friday in the Annual Homecoming game. The North Allegheny Sports Network will be there to broadcast the game LIVE on the internet beginning with the pre-game show at 7:00 pm. Game time is scheduled for 7:30 pm at Newman Stadium.

NORTH ALLEGHENY		McDOWELL
15	First Downs	10
39-326	Rushes - Yards (Net)	38-184
28	Passing Yards (net)	36
6-3-1	Passes Att-Comp-Int	10-3-2
45-354	Total Offense Plays - Yards	48-220
0-0	Fumble Returns - Yards	0-0
1-6	Punt Returns - Yards	1-3
1-10	Kickoff Returns - Yards	3-35
2-22	Interception Returns - Yards	1- -2
5-24.0	Punts (Number-Avg)	5-31.2
0-0	Fumbles - Lost	0-0
3-72	Penalties - Yards	7-43
21;36	Possession Time	26:24
5 of 9	Third-Down Conversions	4 of 12
0 of 0	Fourth-Down Conversions	1 of 2
1-3	Red-Zone Scores - Chances	1-1

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