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TIGERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS,
BLAST BLACK HAWKS, 42-14

(11/9/12) The top-seeded North Allegheny Tigers pounced on Bethel Park with three first quarter touchdowns on their way to a 42-14 victory in the WPIAL Quarterfinals at Martorelli Stadium on Friday night.  Mack Leftwich eclipsed 2,000 yards passing on the season in the victory, throwing for 132 yards and two touchdowns.  The senior quarterback also rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on his way to Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors. 

The Tigers opened the game with an eight play, 83-yard drive that culminated on a Leftwich touchdown pass to a slanting Brendan Coniker and NA grabbed a quick 7-0 lead.  Following a Bethel Park three-and-out, the Tigers stuck again with an 11 play, 50 yard drive that was capped by an Alex DeCiantis three-yard rushing touchdown to push the NA advantage to 14-0 with 4:27 to go in the opening stanza.  With Bethel Park ready to punt from their own 42-yard line, North Allegheny senior Ben Schweiger blocked the Cody Gilchrist kick and Elijah Zeise scooped the ball up at the BP seven-yard line and raced into the end zone for a special teams score and a 21-0 lead.  The blocked punt by Schweiger was his second of the season and helped the Tigers take control of the game.

With Bethel Park driving at the NA 40-yard line, Black Hawks running back Zack Enick caught a swing pass from Levi Metheny but was stripped of the football by Taylor Nikitsher and safety Jack Henderson recovered the ball at the Tigers 35-yard line.  The fumble proved to be the back breaker for Bethel Park as the Tigers offense promptly took advantage and drove the ball 65-yards on six plays for a touchdown with 1:04 to go in the half.  Leftwich capped the drive on a one-yard QB sneak to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead going into halftime.

In the third quarter, the Tigers invoked the mercy rule when Leftwich hit Gregg Garrity for a 20-yard touchdown pass to balloon the NA advantage to 35-0 with 4:17 on the clock.  To their credit, Bethel Park fought hard in the fourth quarter and scored on touchdown runs by Alex Minton and Levi Metheny to cut the score to 35-14.  Junior Josh Bergman punctuated the night for North Allegheny with a 17-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter to bring the score to its eventual final, 42-14.  

The Tigers improve to 11-0 with the win and advance to the semifinals to face conference rival Seneca Valley.  Bethel Park’s season ends with a record of 7-4.      

GAME SUMMARY
NORTH ALLEGHENY - 42   BETHEL PARK - 14

INDIVIDUAL SCORING

TEAM STATISTICS

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

NORTH ALLEGHENY

BETHEL PARK

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TIGERS FACE BETHEL PARK IN WPIAL QUARTERFINALS

(11/9/12) For the third time in five years, the North Allegheny Tigers (10-0) will face the Bethel Park Black Hawks (7-3) in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs.  The last time these teams met, North Allegheny defeated Bethel Park, 23-13, en route to a WPIAL and state title.  These familiar foes also did battle in 2008 when the Black Hawks topped the Tigers, 42-21, on their way to a WPIAL crown and an appearance in the state title game in Hershey.  Always an exciting and well coached match-up, the 2012 quarterfinal meeting between North Allegheny and Bethel Park is sure to have more of the same. 

The Tigers enter tonight’s game as the top-seed in the Quad-A bracket and rightfully so, having won back-to-back WPIAL championships and 27 consecutive games against WPIAL opponents.  North Allegheny averages 40 points per game offensively and is led by field general Mack Leftwich who needs just 81 yards tonight to surpass 2,000 yards for the season.  What is perhaps the most impressive number for Leftwich is that he’s tossed 25 touchdowns to just four interceptions.  Amongst the Leftwich’s collection of targets, senior Greg Garrity tops the team with 36 catches and 789 yards receiving and 11 scores.  Despite missing last week’s game, senior Alex DeCiantis is the leading rusher for the Tigers with 879 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Getting the start in his place last week, junior Josh Bergman carried the ball 16 times for 65 yards and three touchdowns in last Friday’s 42-14 win over Altoona in the opening round of the playoffs.

In the quarterfinals tonight, Bethel Park will attempt to control the clock and keep the ball away from the high-powered Tigers with a rushing attack that is led by Zach Enick who has toted the ball for 667 yards and six touchdowns.  Enick isn’t the lone threat for the Black Hawks running game as quarterback Levi Metheny, the son of BP head coach Jeff Metheny, operates the option effectively for 370 rushing yards and six touchdowns.  Multi-dimensional wide-out Avery Dibble will carry the ball from out of the wing and will also QB the Wildcat Formation for the Black Hawks.  Dibble has 380 receiving yards to go along with his 139 rushing yards.  Adding to his credentials, Dibble is an excellent return man and defensive back and scored the Black Hawks first three touchdowns of the season against Plum on two punt returns and an interception.  Dibble is just the tip of the iceberg in regard to the BP special teams.  Chiante Pryor is another explosive returner who scored on a 92-yard punt return against Upper St. Clair, keying an upset and signature win over the Panthers in week seven.  Not to be outdone, junior place kicker Danny Christensen has an accurate and strong leg that has kicked six field goals this season and 36 PAT’s.  Christensen has been the Black Hawks kicker since his freshman year.

When handling the Bethel Park special teams, the Tigers will need to play their usual disciplined style and stay in their lanes to prevent the big return.  Special team demons like Paul Blendinger, Jason Monper and Reilly Sullivan will be counted upon tonight.  While the Black Hawks offense would ideally like to run the ball, that is something easier said than done when it comes to an NA defense that has yielded a scant five points per game this season.  The Tigers held Altoona to 22 rushing yards last week and they would love to put intense pressure on BP’s freshman quarterback in third and long situations.  

When the Tigers are on offense, Bethel Park will likely rely on their stout D-line and middle linebackers to try and slow the NA running game.  Evan Yeager, Casey Schisser, and Mike Brucker help anchor an odd defensive front that is gunning for DiCiantis and hoping that their agile cornerbacks, Dibble and Zach Rusch, can intercept a pass or two if the Tigers are forced to take to the air.  That could be a dangerous proposition for Bethel Park as Leftwich has passed over and through some of the best defenses in Quad-A. 

The last two times these two teams have hooked up in the playoffs, the winner went on to claim a WPIAL championship.  You can hear all the action live in tonight’s quarterfinal battle as Randy Gore and Rick Meister have the call with the pre-game show beginning at 7:00 pm, featuring interviews with Bethel Park head coach Jeff Metheny and North Allegheny head coach Art Walker.  Tonight’s kickoff from Martorelli Stadium is slated for 7:30 pm.   

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