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TIGERS TITLE DEFENSE BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT AGAINST STATE COLLEGE

The Pennsylvania high school football season is set to kick off on Friday night as the State College Little Lions invade Carl A. Newman Stadium to face the North Allegheny Tigers.  The game features teams that have participated in the last two PIAA Quad-A state finals.  State College was state runner-up in 2009, losing to La Salle, the team North Allegheny defeated a year ago in Hershey.   The Tigers are poised to defend their PIAA state championship, entering the game ranked third in the MSA preseason rankings, and slotted in the top ten in the ESPN PA Preseason Poll, ranking teams across all classifications in Pennsylvania.   

Although the Little Lions are located in District 6, the two teams are very familiar with each other, having faced off twice last season.  North Allegheny won the 2010 season opener against State College, 42-7, and then defeated the Little Lions again exactly three months later in a state playoff game played at Pine-Richland, 21-6.  A year ago, the Little Lions started (0-5), before surging to win four of their last five regular season contests.  After routing Erie Strong Vincent and Central Mountain in the District 6-9-10 playoffs, they powered their way into the state tournament, beating Pittsburgh City League champions Perry before falling to North Allegheny, ending their season at (7-7).  They will begin their 2011 campaign with upperclassmen on both sides of the ball, featuring 17 seniors among the 22 offensive and defensive starters.  However, despite the upperclassmen, few playing have starting experience.  State College returns just three starters on defense and two on offense.   

The Little Lions offense centers around senior Josh Weakland.  The 6’3 quarterback will throw often, spreading the ball around to the skill positions.  He will target junior split ends Dan Fry and Darian Herncane along the outside, while senior slot receivers Saige Jenco and Chase Stone fill out the other receiver positions.  Last season, Weakland passed for 2,153 yards and 21 touchdowns.  He will look to air it out again in 2011, behind an undersized offensive line that was dominated by North Allegheny in both meetings last year.  While State College boasts seniors up and down the line, they lack starting experience.  However, their size has greatly improved from an offensive line that averaged less than 230 pounds last year.  Assisting in the blocking and receiving the occasional handoff will be senior fullback Jack Haffner, the only other returning offensive starter.  Last season, he rushed for 471 yards and scored a team-high 12 touchdowns.  The physical Haffner is also a vital member of the Little Lions defense, averaging over five tackles a game from his linebacker position. 

For the Tigers, Mack Leftwich will in step behind center, taking over for the graduated Michael Buchert.  Last year, Leftwich played for Union High School in Oklahoma, a perennial football powerhouse at the 6A level.  He is a versatile threat who can run just as well as he can pass.  In addition to his own playmaking abilities, he will have a complete arsenal of experienced weapons at his disposal, with Brendan Coniker, James Kleinhampl, Gregg Garrity, and Isaiah Faulk all expected to see time at receiver. 

One of the keys to last year’s state championship was a burly offensive line that plowed open running lanes for anyone one that carried the football.  Returning from that offensive front are seniors Pete Thistle and Zach Harvey, and junior Patrick Kugler.  Alex Jewell, Lani Kauvaka, Jeremy Gonzales, and Matt Zabierek all look to be in the rotation along the line, as well.  Highly effective blocking back Nick Passodelis will again be relied upon to lead the way for running backs Vinnie Congedo and Alex DiCiantis. 

The North Allegheny defense was the stingiest in the WPIAL last season, allowing just over seven points per game.  One of the few returnees from that unit is senior defensive end Nate Nachazel, who will again look to collapse opposing pass pockets.  Last year, Nachazel led the defensive unit with ten sacks.  In 2011, he will be surrounded by some fresh faces, as there figures to be a heavy rotation across the front seven, and parts of the secondary.  At cornerback, Brendan Coniker will return, anchoring a position where he made numerous clutch plays and interceptions last year, particularly late in the regular season and during the Tigers’ run to the state title.

North Allegheny is led by head coach Art Walker Jr. who is heading into his 14^th season head coach and seventh at North Allegheny. Walker has an overall coaching record of 116-40, boosted by last year’s 15-1 campaign.  Kickoff for the 2011 season opener is set for 7:00.  Catch all the action from Newman Stadium on the North Allegheny Sports Network and online at msasports.net.

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