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2023-2024 News

Khiryn Boyd To Play In Prestigious PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic

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North Allegheny senior Khiryn Boyd has been selected to play in the annual PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic for Team Pennsylvania. The rosters for Team Pennsylvania and Team Maryland were announced on Wednesday.

Boyd, a Duquesne University commit, will play alongside some of the best senior players in the state. As a junior, Boyd was named All-State at defensive back after posting seven interceptions during the 2022 campaign. He followed that up with another stellar season in 2023 despite being slowed by injury during the first five weeks of the season. Once fully healthy, Boyd dominated opposing wideouts as a shut down corner and posted 27 tackles and two interceptions and a pick-six against Seneca Valley in the regular season finale. On offense, Boyd was the team’s top receiving threat with 32 receptions for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns. A dynamic offensive and special teams weapon, he rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and also tallied three return touchdowns in the kicking game. By season’s end, Boyd was named to the PG’s Fabulous 22 Team and Trib HSSN’s Terrific 25.

The Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association’s (PSFCA) 67th Big 33 Football Classic presented by Renewal by Andersen of Central PA will be played on Sunday, May 26 at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field in Cumberland County, Pa. Kickoff is 7:00 p.m.

Under the leadership of the Pennsylvania Scholastic Football Coaches Association, Cumberland County, the Commonwealth of PA and various sponsors are partnering to support the PSFCA Big 33 Football Classic presented by Renewal by Andersen. This exciting football match up has been described as the “Super Bowl of High School Football,” and has chosen a team since 1957.

Three Tigers Sign NLI To Play College Football

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Three members of the North Allegheny football team signed their National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic careers at the next level. Senior linebacker Tyree Alualu (Temple University), senior wideout/defensive back Khiryn Boyd (Duquesne University) and senior lineman Jack Pingpank (Allegheny College) all inked their NLI’s on Wednesday morning.

Among numerous accolades achieved on the season, Alualu was named All-State by the Pennsylvania Football Writers. He was also tabbed to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 Team and the Trib High School Sports Network’s Terrific 25. On defense, Alualu finished the season with 63 tackles with one sack, three forced fumbles and an 84-yard interception return for a touchdown against Penn-Trafford in week eight. A two-way standout, Alualu rushed for 892 yards and 13 touchdowns, averaging 8.0 yards per carry.

As a junior, Boyd was named All-State at defensive back after posting seven interceptions during the 2022 campaign. He followed that up with another stellar season despite being slowed by injury during the first five weeks of the season. Once fully healthy, Boyd dominated opposing wideouts as a shut down corner and posted 27 tackles and two interceptions and a pick-six against Seneca Valley in the regular season finale. On offense, Boyd was the team’s top receiving threat with 32 receptions for 846 yards and 10 touchdowns. A dynamic offensive and special teams weapon, he rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries and also tallied three return touchdowns in the kicking game. By season’s end, Boyd was named to the PG’s Fabulous 22 Team and Trib HSSN’s Terrific 25.

Pingpank provided depth for a talented offensive line that plowed open holes for the WPIAL Class 6A Player of the Year, quarterback Logan Kushner, who rushed for 1,439 yards and 24 touchdowns. Collectively, the Tigers averaged 232 rushing yards per game thanks in large part to the offensive line. At Allegheny College, Pingpank will play for a Gators team in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference that’s led by second-year head coach Braden Layer.

Alualu, Boyd and Pingpank were all part of a North Allegheny team in 2023 that posted a 13-2 overall record, won a second consecutive WPIAL Class 6A championship and finished as PIAA runners-up.

Three Tigers Named To PA Sports Writers’ All-State Team, Art Walker 6A Coach of the Year

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The Pennsylvania Football Writers announced their All-State Team for Class 6A and three members of the North Allegheny football team were recognized as all-state selections.

Senior quarterback Logan Kushner and junior lineman Jack Yatchenko were tabbed all-state on offense in the largest classification. On defense, senior linebacker Tyree Alualu earned all-state laurels.

Leading North Allegheny to a 12-2 record, a second consecutive WPIAL championship and a PIAA title game appearance, head coach Art Walker Jr., was named the Class 6A Coach of the Year.

For a look at the complete list of the Class 6A All-State Team from the Pennsylvania Football Writers, click here.

Four Tigers Selected To Trib HSSN’s Terrific 25 Team

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The post-season awards continue to roll in for the North Allegheny football team and WPIAL Class 6A champions. Trib HSSN announced its annual Terrific 25 on Wednesday and four Tigers were selected to this prestigious list.

Senior running back and linebacker Tyree Alualu, senior receiver and defensive back Khiryn Boyd, senior quarterback Logan Kushner and junior lineman Jack Yatchenko were all named to the 2023 Terrific 25 Team.

For more on the Terrific 25, click here.

Daniel Sellers, Cameron Chmura Ink NLI’s On National Signing Day

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Two members of the WPIAL Class 6A champion North Allegheny football team made their college choices official on Wednesday on National Signing Day. Senior lineman Cameron Chmura inked his letter of intent with Marshall University and senior edge rusher and tight end Daniel Sellers signed his NLI with the University of Richmond.

Chmura was an anchor at left tackle on the offensive line for one of the top offenses in Class 6A. He was a finalist for the Bill Fralic Award and was named first-team all-conference by the Big 56 Conference. Injured for part of the season, Chmura made 22 tackles on defense.

Sellers made 46 tackles at defensive end and hounded opposing quarterbacks to the tune of 5.5 sacks, tying him for most on the team. Offensively, Sellers tied for second on the team in receptions by hauling in 12 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. An efficient ball carrier on the jet sweep, Sellers toted the football three times for three yards and three touchdowns. He was named first-team all-conference as a defender by the Big 56 Conference.

Four Tigers Selected as All-Stars By Pittsburgh Union Progress

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More postseason accolades for the WPIAL Class 6A champions as four Tigers have been named All-Stars by the Pittsburgh Union Progress. On offense, linemen Cameron Chmura and Jack Yatchenko earned all-star recognition. On defense, linebacker Tyree Alualu and defensive back Khiryn Boyd were chosen as all-stars.

Senior edge rusher/tight end Daniel Sellers and senior quarterback Logan Kushner, who was named the WPIAL Class 6A Player of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Trib HSSN on Sunday, were both selected to the “Best of the Rest” list by the Pittsburgh Union Progress.

For a look at the entire list of 26 WPIAL All-Stars by PUP, click here.

Art Walked Tabbed Class 6A Coach of the Year by Trib HSSN

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North Allegheny head coach Art Walker Jr. has been named the WPIAL Class 6A Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season by the Trib Live High School Sports Network.

Coach Walker led North Allegheny to a a 13-2 record in 2023 and a second straight WPIAL Class 6A championship. Additionally, the Tigers rattled off nine consecutive wins and reached the PIAA championship game for the first time since 2012.

For his career, Walker boasts a coaching record of 244-70 and has led teams to seven WPIAL titles and three PIAA crowns. Under coach Walker’s tutelage, North Allegheny has amassed 183 wins, five WPIAL championships, two PIAA crowns and one PIAA runner-up.

Among his many accolades, Walker was also named the National Coach of the Year by the National Sports News Service in 2012 after leading NA to a WPIAL and PIAA title that season.

Kushner Named WPIAL Class 6A Player of the Year

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North Allegheny senior quarterback Logan Kushner was named the WPIAL Class 6A Player of the Year on Sunday by both the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Trib Live High School Sports Network. It’s the second consecutive year that a North Allegheny player has been tabbed the WPIAL 6A Player of the Year by both publications. Receiver/defensive back Khiryn Boyd earned was the 6A POY for the 2022 season.

Kushner led North Allegheny to a second consecutive WPIAL championship and a PIAA title game appearance this past fall. For the season, Kushner rushed for a team-best 1,439 yards and 24 touchdowns, to go along with 1,821 passing yards and 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. A three-year starter, Kushner is the first quarterback during the Art Walker era to throw for three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His rushing yardage and touchdown total is the most in a single-season at North Allegheny since Alex Papson rushed for 2,482 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2010. Papson was inducted into the NA Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.

Kushner not only put up gaudy numbers, but he came through with his best performances in the biggest games. In the 2022 WPIAL championship game, a 35-21 win over Central Catholic, Kushner rushed for a then-career high 195 yards and accounted for three total touchdowns. In the 2023 WPIAL title tilt, Kushner once again put a stake in the heart of the Vikings in a 44-41 win by rushing a for a new career-best 240 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns. His 76-yard touchdown run with just over two minutes left in the game proved to be the winning touchdown.

Kushner finishes his North Allegheny career with 4,812 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. On the ground, he completes his high school career with 1,850 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns.

NA To Clash With St. Joseph’s Prep With PIAA Title At Stake

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Powerhouse programs from opposite ends of the state will do battle on Saturday night with a PIAA Class 6A title at stake when the North Allegheny Tigers (13-1) take on the St. Joseph’s Prep Hawks (12-1) at Chapman Field in Mechanicsburg.

Winners of three PIAA crowns, North Allegheny captured state gold in 1990, 2010 and 2012. Following NA’s reign as champions in 2012, St. Joseph’s Prep has dominated the state’s largest classification. Tonight, the Hawks are appearing in the PIAA championship for the 10th time in the last 11 years, having won seven state titles in that span. St. Joe’s only blemishes with state gold on the line came in 2017 to Pine-Richland (41-21) and in 2020 to Mt. Lebanon (35-17). The Hawks are 7-2 in state championship games and the Tigers are 3-0.

St. Joseph’s Prep enters tonight’s game ranked No. 6 in the country according to the latest USA Today High School Super 25 rankings. The Hawks only loss of the season came in week zero to IMG Academy, the fourth-ranked team in the nation, by a narrow 17-14 decision. Since then, the Hawks have soared to 12 consecutive wins, including a 49-0 whitewash of Central Bucks South last week in the PIAA semifinals.

Riding a nine-game winning streak, North Allegheny most recently defeated District 3 champion Harrisburg in the PIAA semifinals, 24-12. The Tigers used a strong effort on special teams and defense, along with a power rushing attack to seize control of the game. Senior quarterback Logan Kushner rushed for 164 yds and two touchdowns, and senior running back Tyree Alualu opened the scoring with an 8-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. Aside from one busted play in the second quarter, the North Allegheny defense hounded dual-threat quarterback Shawn King into two sacks and one interception by Dylan Langdon.

North Allegheny will contend with another stellar dual-threat quarterback in the form of senior signal caller Samaj Jones in tonight’s championship. A University of Cincinnati commit, Jones is the No. 5-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the country by ESPN for the Class of 2024. He throws passes to three future Division wideouts, including David Washington (Kentucky commit), Brandon Rehmann (WVU commit) and Elijah Jones (Cincinnati commit). There’s no lack of talent in a well-balanced backfield either where senior Kaheim Phillips, senior Eric Sanchez and junior Isaiah West have all rushed for over 500 yards each this season.

The champions of the Philadelphia Catholic League boast more Power 5 talent on defense, headlined by senior linebacker Nick McGlynn, who is an Army commit. St. Joe’s allows just 8.2 points per game on defense.

North Allegheny, the WPIAL champions for the second consecutive year and sixth time overall, possess a high-powered offense and rock-solid defense as well. The Tigers score 44 points per game and permit 17 points per contest.

NA is 11-2 all-time in PIAA playoff games and St. Joe’s is 26-2 all-time in the state playoffs. Tonight will mark the first ever meeting between the two programs.

North Allegheny has played a team from District 12 before in the PIAA championship. In 2010, the Tigers blanked La Salle College High School by a 21-0 decision.

Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:10 p.m. from Chapman Field at Cumberland Valley High School. As always, the game will be broadcast live via the internet by the North Allegheny Sports Network. Your hometown broadcasters of Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina will have the call, with the pregame show getting underway at 6:45 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here. 

Tigers Begin Quest For State Title, Host McDowell In PIAA Quarterfinals Tonight

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For the second time this season, the WPIAL champion North Allegheny Tigers (11-1) will matchup with the District 10 champion McDowell Trojans (8-4). In week two, the Tigers traveled to Erie and defeated the Trojans, 43-24, in a non-conference contest. In the rematch tonight, a trip to the state semifinals is at stake as NA and McDowell will duel in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals at Newman Stadium.

In the week two meeting, North Allegheny built a 16-0 lead before McDowell cut the deficit to five in the third quarter, 22-17. Senior Evan Lyon responded with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and the Tigers pulled away in the second half en route to the win. Lyon finished with three total touchdowns, including two receiving. Senior running back Tyree Alualu also had a three-touchdown performance, rushing for all three of his scores and a career-high 154 yards. The NA defense played a bend-but-don’t break style against McDowell, surrendering a career-high 325 yards to junior quarterback Blayze Myers, but also standing tall for three crucial red zone stops. The Tigers intercepted Myers twice, one leaping pick in the red zone by senior Daniel Sellers, and another by junior Colman Craft that helped put the game away in the second half.

The Tigers enter tonight’s game winners of seven in a row and atoned for their only blemish of the season last week by winning a 44-41 thriller over Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. In one of the all-time performances ever seen in a WPIAL championship, senior quarterback Logan Kushner rushed for a career-high 240 yards and four touchdowns. He finished with 347 total yards and six total scores, dialing up to long-distance passing strikes to senior receiver Khiryn Boyd. The NA defense forced three critical turnovers in the victory, including fumble recoveries by Alualu and senior lineman Ryan Ranallo. Junior safety James Donaldson had a diving interception in a tide-turning second quarter.

McDowell, meanwhile, has tested itself with a tough non-conference schedule and has won six of the last seven games coming into to tonight’s contest. Last week, McDowell defeated State College in the PIAA first round by a 47-20 decision. Senior running back Dominick Berarducci rushed for a career-high 229 yards and three touchdowns, while junior Stephon Porter added another 80 yards and a rushing score. The victory snapped a six-game losing streak for McDowell against State College in the head-to-head series. Last season, State College eliminated both McDowell and North Allegheny in the PIAA playoffs.

Berarducci is a speedy wing-back that lines up all over the field and has an offer from NCAA Division III powerhouse Mount Union. Porter is a bruising back that compliments Berarducci with his punishing style. The rushing duo has amassed 1,320 combined yards and 20 combined touchdowns. Myers, a first-team All-District quarterback, has passed for 2,632 yards and 32 touchdowns. The headliner for McDowell is 6-7, 315-pound center and defensive lineman, Cooper Cousins. Cousins is a Penn State commit and was named the Region Co-Player of the Year in Erie for this season.

The last time North Allegheny and McDowell met in the PIAA playoffs was in quarterfinal round of the 2012 postseason. The Tigers won that contest, 56-6, on their way to a state championship. Quarterback Mack Leftwich, who was later named Pennsylvania’s Class 4A Player of the Year, threw for five touchdowns and rushed for another. The Tigers defense held future NFL running back James Conner to just 36 yards on nine carries. Elijah Ziese also had a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown in the win.

Kickoff for tonight’s PIAA quarterfinal contest is set for 7:00 p.m. at Newman Stadium. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network. Join Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina for the call with the pregame show set to begin at 6:40 p.m., including a pregame chat with Tigers head coach Art Walker. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.  

Four Tigers Named To PG’s Prestigious Fabulous 22 Team

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Four members of the WPIAL Class 6A championship North Allegheny football team have been named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 team for the 2023 season. Senior receiver/cornerback Khiryn Boyd, senior linebacker/running back Tyree Alualu, senior quarterback Logan Kushner and senior lineman Jack Yatchenko were selected to the 43nd annual all-star team honoring players in the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League.

For Boyd and Alualu, its the second consecutive season they have received recognition on the PG’s prestigious Thanksgiving Day list of all-stars. Earlier in the month, all four players were named first-team all-conference in Class 6A by the Big 56 Conference.

For more on the 2023 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous 22 Team, click here.

Tigers and Vikings Lock Horns With WPIAL Class 6A Title At State

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For the third time in the last four season, the WPIAL Class 6A championship will come down to North Allegheny and Central Catholic.

Astonishingly, these two perennial powers in the largest classification had not met with WPIAL gold on the line until 2020, when the Vikings defeated the Tigers, 38-24, at Martorelli Stadium. Last season, the Tigers and Vikings locked horns again but with NA coming out on top, 35-21.

Tonight marks the 29th all-time meeting between the two programs when they do battle for the WPIAL crown at 6:00 p.m. tonight at Norwin High School. The Tigers hold a 14-13-1 edge in the all-time series. This will be ninth playoff meeting between the two schools with postseason series tied at 4-4.

North Allegheny is seeking its second consecutive WPIAL title and sixth overall, having previously won the district in 1990, 2010-2012 and in 2022. Central Catholic is appearing in the WPIAL championship game for the 10th time in the last 11 years. The Vikings are seeking their ninth WPIAL crown, having won titles in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020.

Earlier this season, Central Catholic defeated North Allegheny, 50-22, at Newman Stadium on Sept. 22. Vikings running back Elijah Faulkner rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns and the PCC defense forced four turnovers in the win. Central Catholic is coming off a 42-7 win in the WPIAL semifinals over Mt. Lebanon and Faulkner again led the way with 183 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 13 carries.

Since their loss to the Vikings earlier in the season, the Tigers have won six in a row, including a 49-7 blowout of the Big Macs of Canon-McMillan in the WPIAL semifinals. In last week’s victory, NA jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game on a 71-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Logan Kushner and a 59-yard punt return touchdown by senior Khiryn Boyd. Kushner totaled 125 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and added another 101 passing yards and a touchdown. The NA defense forced four turnovers in the rout.

Kickoff for tonight’s championship game is set for 6:05 p.m. at Norwin High School. The pregame show hits the air at 5:45 p.m., including an interview with Tigers head coach Art Walker. Join Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina for the broadcast by clicking here.

NA Ready To Rumble With Canon-McMillan in WPIAL Class 6A Semifinals

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For the third consecutive year and fourth time in the last five season, the North Allegheny Tigers (9-1) and the Canon-McMillan Big Macs (6-4) will face off in the WPIAL Class 6A playoffs. The Tigers have won all four of the previous playoff matchups, while the Big Macs are searching for their first playoff win since a 22-0 win over Belle Vernon in 2004.

The second-seeded Tigers and third-seeded Big Macs met back in week one, with North Allegheny earning a 30-6 win at Newman Stadium. NA jumped out to a 23-0 lead with 2:53 left in the third quarter thanks to a 171-yard rushing performance from quarterback Logan Kushner. The senior signal caller rushed for three touchdowns and added one passing score to go along with 107 yards through the air. In last year’s WPIAL Class 6A semifinal, Kushner scored the game’s only touchdown with a 1-yard rushing tote with 6:44 left in the fourth quarter in a 7-0 victory for the Tigers.

Since week one, both teams have steadily improved throughout the season. North Allegheny has won five in a row entering tonight’s contest, including a 49-14 win at Seneca Valley in the regular season finale. Again, it was Kushner who had the big night with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed a 61-yard touchdown pass to Khiryn Boyd in the second quarter. Senior running back Tyree Alualu carried the ball seven times for 73 yards and a touchdown.

Despite an injury to quarterback Mikey Evans midway through the season, Canon-McMillan still won its most games since joining Class 6A and played tough against upper-tier teams in Class 5A. Following a hard-fought loss to Peters Township, 23-10, in week eight, Canon-McMillan capped the regular season with a dominant 41-28 win over Mt. Lebanon that wasn’t even as close as the final score would indicate. The Big Macs ran away from the Blue Devils thanks to a 133 yard, two touchdown rushing effort from senior tailback Zachary Welsh. The transfer from Wash High has been impressive this season, posting six 100-yard rushing days and carrying the ball for a total of 1,291 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

The Big Macs defense is also stout, likes of Delaware commit Kaeden Singleton and sophomore sensation T.J. Sabatucci a defensive end. Junior Matt McMahon adds defensive strength and senior linebacker Geno Calgaro is a physical player and the team’s leading tackler (125) for the third consecutive season.

Since Canon-McMillan joined the WPIAL’s largest classification, North Allegheny has won nine consecutive games against the Big Macs. The Tigers are hoping to extend that streak tonight for a second straight appearance in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game.

Kickoff for tonight’s WPIAL semifinal is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Newman Stadium. As always, the game will be broadcast live and will be FREE to listen to, with the pregame show set for 6:40 p.m. Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina will have the call on the North Allegheny Sports Network. To listen to tonight’s game, click here. 

Big 56 Tabs 19 Tigers To All-Conference Team, 10 First-Team Honorees

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The Big 56 Conference announced its all-conference teams on Thursday and 19 North Allegheny Tigers were named Class 6A All-Conference, including 10 First Team All-Conference.

Earning first-team all-conference laurels in the Tri-County Five Conference in Class 6A were sophomore guard Lincoln Hoke, senior tackle Cameron Chmura, junior tackle, Jack Yatchenko, senior quarterback Logan Kushner (At-Large) and junior kicker Peter Notaro. On defense, first-team honorees were senior defensive end Daniel Sellers, senior linebacker Tyree Alualu, senior defensive back Khiryn Boyd, senior defensive Aidan Buggey (At-Large) and senior punter Nick Van Winkle.

Second-Team all-conference accolades went to senior center Ryan Ranallo, junior linebacker James Donaldson, junior linebacker Liam Flaherty, senior defensive back Evan Lyon and junior defensive back Nick Humphries.

Big 56 honorable mention recognition went to senior guard Joseph Booth, junior tight end Kyle Langdon, senior defensive end Brody Thomas and junior linebacker Dylan Langdon.

For a full list of the Class 6A All-Conference Teams, click here.

North Allegheny will return to the gridiron on Friday, Nov. 10 in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals against Canon-McMillan at 7:00 p.m. at Newman Stadium.

NA Travels To Penn-Trafford For Non-Conference Contest

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The North Allegheny Tigers (7-1) will look to extend their current three-game winning streak on the road tonight in a non-conference matchup with the Penn-Trafford Warriors (4-4). In a rare visit to Harrison City, tonight marks the first time the Tigers will visit the Warriors for a regular season game in the Art Walker era of North Allegheny football.

Last week, North Allegheny earned a 53-25 win on Senior Night at Newman Stadium against another Westmoreland County team, the Norwin Knights. The Tigers raced to a 44-6 lead in the second quarter and cruised to the win in the second half. On a night of big plays, senior Khiryn Boyd started the game with an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff and the rout was on. Boyd also reeled in two receptions for 68 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Quarterback Logan Kushner completed 3 of 7 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard scoring strike to tight end Daniel Sellers. Senior running back Tyree Alualu scored on a 54-yard run, junior running back Liam Flaherty rushed into the end zone from 11 yards out and senior Evan Lyon recovered an offensive fumble for a touchdown as well. Senior kicker Peter Notaro connected on a 32-yard field goal to cap off the win.

Penn-Trafford, meanwhile, is 4-4 on the season and coming off an important conference win last week at Plum, 21-6. Despite the .500 overall record, Penn-Trafford is 3-1 in the Big East Conference and tied with Franklin Regional, who the Warriors will play next week in the regular season finale for sole possession of second place in the standings.

Typically a physical and well-disciplined team under 14th-year head coach John Ruane, the Warriors are a physical team that runs behind a big and burly offensive line. Headlining the Warriors strength in the trenches is Army commit, Zach Tomasovich, who stands at 6-5, 310 pounds. Penn-Trafford boasts three more returning starters on the front line, including all-conference selections Matthew Sarnowski and Vito Scarcelli.

Junior quarterback Jonny Lovre operates behind that mammoth O-Line and has passed for 924 yards and six touchdowns. While the Warriors are a capable passing team, they hang their hat on the running game which is led by junior tailback Tasso Whipple. Whipple has already surpassed the 1,000-yard mark and has rushed for 1,143 yards and nine touchdowns. He ran for a single-game school-record 300 yards against Hempfield earlier this season. Making this running game a two-headed monster is freshman Ben Grabowski, who has rushed for 599 yards and nine touchdowns.

On defense, Penn-Trafford allows 20 points per game and is led by first-team all-conference defensive back Carmen Metcalfe. Whipple and Dom Smith are Big 56 honorable mention selections at linebacker from a season ago.

Last season, North Allegheny and Penn-Trafford played each other for the first time in eight years with the Tigers coming out on top 20-3 at Newman Stadium. With NA leading 6-3 at intermission, Boyd returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a 98-yard touchdown and later added an interception and touchdown catch in the third quarter to put the game away.

Prior to last season, the last time NA and PT met was in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals in 2014. In 2014, second-seeded Penn-Trafford rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat the seventh-seeded Tigers, 35-31, in a playoff classic. PT quarterback Brett Laffoon (Grove City) led the comeback with 280 yards passing and five touchdowns, connecting with Timmy Vecchio (Robert Morris) for 197 yards and three ariel scores. The Tigers were paced by running back Josh Bergman with 62 yards and two touchdowns, and Ethan Maenza added a 55-yard touchdown run on a reverse. Maenza would later go on to become the Class 6A Player of the Year in 2016 for the Tigers and had a terrific collegiate career at Dartmouth.

Kickoff for tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Penn-Trafford is set for 7:30 p.m. in Harrison City. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show slated for 7:10 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

NA To Tangle With Norwin On Senior Night

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In their final home game of the regular season, the North Allegheny Tigers (6-1) will host the Norwin Knights (2-5) for a non-conference game and Senior Night at Newman Stadium.

While tonight will be the final home regular season game for NA, it certainly won’t be the last home game overall of 2023 thanks to last week’s 43-7 win at Mt. Lebanon. By beating the Blue Devils, the Tigers secured the No. 2 spot in Class 6A and will host a WPIAL semifinal next month.

In the win at Mt. Lebanon, North Allegheny stormed out of the gates thanks to a 63-yard touchdown run by Tyree Alualu on the first play from scrimmage and the rout was on. Alualu caught a touchdown pass later in the game, one of three scoring strikes from senior quarterback Logan Kushner, who completed 6-of-7 passes for 118 yards. Senior Khiryn Boyd was Kushner’s favorite target, hauling in three passes for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Boyd added a 35-yard punt return for a touchdown as well.

For the second consecutive week, North Allegheny will face a team that is led by a new head coach. Norwin’s new head man is Mike Brown, who turned Hempfield into a winner last season with a 6-4 overall mark in 2022. As he did at Hempfield, Brown has brought an up-tempo style of offense to Norwin that is facilitated by sophomore quarterback Tristyn Tavares, who is the second-leading passer in the WPIAL with nearly 1,700 passing yards and 15 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. Junior wideout Luke Denny is the leading receiver with 523 yards and six touchdown passes, while Miami of Ohio commit Jackson Pons has 462 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Last season, Pons was named first-team All-Big East Conference twice in Class 5A as a receiver and as a defensive back. Pons is widely considered to be one of the top defensive backs in the WPIAL.

Norwin has vastly improved on offense this season compared to last year, averaging 23 points per game. However, the Knights defense has been gashed on the ground and permitting 31 points per game. On offense, North Allegheny averages 44 points per game and allows just 14 points per contest, which is best in Class 6A.

Following a 2-2 start to the season, Norwin has lost three in a row entering tonight’s game. The Knights suffered a 37-29 conference loss to Franklin Regional last week.

This will be the sixth consecutive year that these teams have met in the regular season with NA winning all five of the prior meetings. Last year, North Allegheny traveled to Westmoreland County and came away with a 38-13 win. Starting at quarterback that night, Evan Lyon, passed for 51 yards and a touchdown, along with 18 rushing yards. Alualu rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Boyd had three carries and rushed for 96 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown run.

Back in 2015, North Allegheny and Norwin also faced off in a WPIAL playoff game back in the days of four classifications. In the WPIAL Class 4A first round contest, the Tigers prevailed at Newman Stadium, 56-17. The Tigers gained 423 total yards in the game with 405 coming on the ground. Six different players scored rushing touchdowns against Norwin, including a surprise starter at running back, Ijhad Bonner. An all-conference linebacker at NA, Bonner capitalized on the first five carries of his varsity career for 93 yards and two touchdowns. He later played Ivy League football at Cornell University.

Kickoff for tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Norwin is slated for 7:30 p.m. at Newman Stadium. As always, the game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

Tigers Set To Visit Blue Devils For Important Conference Matchup

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The North Allegheny Tigers (5-1) will visit the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (4-2) tonight for an important Tri-County Five Conference matchup. With Central Catholic locking up the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Class 6A playoffs last week, the No. 2 seed and a home playoff game is at stake when the Tigers take on the Blue Devils this evening.

Bouncing back from a Week Four loss to Central Catholic, North Allegheny dominated neighborhood rival Pine-Richland last week, 45-10, on Homecoming Night at Newman Stadium. For the second time this season, senior quarterback Logan Kushner delivered a five-touchdown performance with two rushing touchdowns and three passing scores. Kushner passed for 264 yards and rushed for 132 more yards. Senior wideout Khiryn Boyd had his best day of the season thus far, hauling in five passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns, including a spectacular 65-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter to open the scoring, Senior running back Tyree Alualu scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Kicker Peter Notaro added a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, accounting for the longest field goal during the Art Walker era at North Allegheny.

Under new head coach Michael Collodi, Mt. Lebanon opened some eyes with a Week Zero win against Class 5A powerhouse Gateway, 28-7. Like the Tigers, the Blue Devils have a conference loss to Central Catholic and are 1-1 in the Tri-County Five Conference. The Blue Devils are coming off a 42-27 non-conference defeat to South Hills rival Upper St. Clair last week. Junior receiver Noah Schaerli was a bright spot in the loss with five receptions for 135 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown catch.

The Mt. Lebanon roster is highlighted by two Division I commits. Senior lineman Connor Young, who is headed to Navy where he’ll join former teammates Eli Heidenreich and Alex Tecza. Senior linebacker and H-back Beckham Dee is committed to the Air Force Academy. Both are hard-nosed players and senior leaders for the Blue Devils.

Coach Collodi arrives at Mt. Lebanon after eight successful seasons at Elizabeth Forward, where he led the Warriors to six playoff appearances and a WPIAL Class 3A title game appearance in 2020. Collodi posted a record of 56-24 while at Elizabeth Forward.

North Allegheny has won 12 of the last 14 meetings against Mt. Lebanon, including a 20-6 win at Newman Stadium last season. The NA defense allowed just 94 total yards, forced three turnovers and sealed the game late in the fourth quarter when Jack Yatchenko recovered a fumble for a touchdown. Boyd and Kushner each rushed for touchdowns in the win.

North Allegheny leads the all-time series, 18-17, and at one point had won 11 in a row from 2006-2020.

Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:00 p.m. in the south hills. As always, the game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 6:40 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.  

NA Hosts Pine-Richland In Battle Of Champions On Homecoming Night

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It will be a battle of champions on Homecoming Night at Newman Stadium as the North Allegheny Tigers (4-1) play host to the Pine-Richland Rams (3-2) in a non-conference matchup tonight. North Allegheny, the reigning WPIAL champions in Class 6A, will face off against the reigning PIAA champions in Class 5A, Pine-Richland.

The Tigers are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season last week to Central Catholic, 50-22, after going 4-0 to begin the season. Junior receiver James Donaldson was one of the bright spots for NA last week, hauling in six passes for 74 yards. Senior Tyree Alualu rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown, to go along with 11 tackles on defense. Junior linebacker Liam Flaherty led the team in tackles with 17 stops.

After a 1-2 start to the season, Pine-Richland has won two straight games, including a 50-0 Northeast Conference win against Fox Chapel. The Rams are hoping for a repeat of last season when the team got off to a 1-3 start before rattling off 12 consecutive victories en route to a PIAA crown. The beginning of the Pine-Richland winning streak came at the expense of North Allegheny with a 28-17 win over the Tigers in Gibsonia.

There are several holdovers from last year’s title team, including senior running back Ethan Pillar, who rushed for 1,309 yards and 16 touchdowns last season. Pillar remains a key cog on offense with 535 yards and seven rushing touchdowns this season. Pine-Richland’s headliner is two-way lineman Ryan Cory. The University of Wisconsin commit stands at 6-4, 285 pounds and was a first-team All-Northeast Conference selection by the Big 56 last season.

North Allegheny rekindled its rivalry with Pine-Richland last season, after a three-year hiatus. However, the Tigers haven’t fared well against the Rams, having lost seven of the last nine games against their neighborhood rival. North Allegheny’s last win against PR came in the regular season finale in 2018, resulting in a 27-7 victory at Newman Stadium. Ben Maenza rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown, while Cade Hoke led the charge for NA on defense with 10 tackles and two sacks.

Kickoff for tonight’s game North Allegheny and Pine-Richland is set for 7:30 p.m. at Newman Stadium. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show beginning at 7:10 p.m. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here. 

NA Hosts Central Catholic In Class 6A Clash of Titans

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It’s a rematch of the 2022 WPIAL Class 6A championship game tonight at Newman Stadium as the North Allegheny Tigers host the Central Catholic Vikings. The top two-ranked teams in the largest classification have rolled through opponents so far this season and have been on a collision course for this week four matchup. Both teams enter this contest with identical 4-0 records and a 1-0 mark in the Tri-County Five Conference.

Under first-year head coach Ryan Lehmeier, Central Catholic boasts the highest scoring offense in all of the WPIAL, averaging over 50 points per game. This prolific attack is facilitated by the leading passer in the WPIAL, Payton Wehner, who has thrown over 1,000 yards with 15 touchdowns and just 1 interception. The Vikings also feature four major Division I commits, including wide receiver Peter Gonzalez and linebacker Anthony Speca, who are both headed to Penn State; tight end and linebacker Cole Sullivan who will go to Michigan, and defensive lineman Ty Yuhaus, who is committed to the University of Pittsburgh. The Vikings are coming of an impressive 49-0 win at Mt. Lebanon last week and have scored no less than 43 points in any game this season.

North Allegheny, meanwhile, boasts the best scoring defense in Class 6A allowing a paltry eight points per game. Linebacker Tyree Alualu, a Trib Terrific 25 pick from a season ago, headlines the defense and has 12 D-I offers. But the NA offense can score some points too, averaging 49 points per game and coming off a game against Baldwin in which it scored 61 points in the first half.

Tigers quarterback Logan Kushner is a dual-threat QB, who leads the team in rushing with 316 yards and five rushing touchdowns, to go along with eight arial scores. Kushner rushed for a career-high 195 yards against Central Catholic in last year’s WPIAL championship game, which resulted in a 35-21 victory for North Allegheny. The Class 6A Player of the Year from a season ago, Khiryn Boyd, hauled in two long touchdown passes from Kushner in the title win.

Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. as North Allegheny hosts Central Catholic from Newman Stadium. The contest will be featured by the Trib Live High School Sports Network as the Big 56 Class 6A Game of the Week. To watch tonight’s game, click here. 

NA Takes On Baldwin In Non-Conference Matchup Tonight

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The North Allegheny Tigers (3-0) will play their second consecutive road game tonight with a visit to Baldwin (1-2) to take on the host Fighting Highlanders in a non-conference contest.

The reigning WPIAL Class 6A champions are coming off an impressive 43-24 win at McDowell, a perennial power in the largest classification out of District 10. Senior running back Tyree Alualu rushed for a career-high 154 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Senior wideout Evan Lyon also reached the end zone three times, twice on receiving scores and another on a pivotal 95-yard kickoff return in the third quarter and that swung the momentum decidedly toward the Tigers. Senior quarterback Logan Kushner completed 7-of-9 passes for 117 yards and two scores, while adding another 39 rushing yards on 11 carries. Defensively, junior linebacker Liam Flaherty tallied a team-high 14 tackles and accounted for a first quarter safety. Junior defensive back James Donaldson posted double figures in tackles with 12 stops on the night. Three times McDowell drove inside the NA 20-yard line but came away with only three points out of those opportunities in the red zone. Senior defensive end Daniel Sellers made a leaping interception that ended one drive at the end of the first half, and he sacked McDowell quarterback Blayze Myers to thwart another in the second half. Junior defensive back Colman Craft notched his first career interception with a pick in the fourth quarter.

Baldwin, meanwhile, is off to a 1-2 start this season and dropped a 42-34 decision last week to Upper St. Clair to begin conference play in the Allegheny Six Conference. Prior to their loss to USC, the Fighting Highlanders shutout Brashear 56-0 in Week Zero but was handled by Class 4A powerhouse Thomas Jefferson in a week one loss, 49-3.

The Fighting Highlanders went 1-9 last season and have qualified for the WPIAL playoffs only twice in the last decade. Baldwin hasn’t had a winning season since going 6-4 in 2003 and has not won a playoff game since 1991. Looking to inject new life into the program is first-year head coach Dana Brown Jr. Brown is an Assistant Athletic Director at McKeesport High School and was an all-state and all-conference defensive lineman during his playing days at McKeesport. He also started at defensive tackle for four years at Kent State.

Key returnees this season for Baldwin include senior tailback and linebacker Andrew Sharp. Sharp was a first-team all-conference running back in the Allegheny Six last season, accounting for 794 yards and nine touchdowns. In Week Zero, he rushed for over 200 yards and four touchdowns against Brashear. Defensively, Sharp was also a second-team all-conference pick at linebacker a season ago. The leading tackler for the Fighting Highlanders last season, and so far this year, is senior Keith Mincin. A hard-nosed linebacker and wrestler at Baldwin, Mincin totaled 62 tackles last season and has made 26 stops so far this year, to go along with two sacks and one interception in 2023. Offensively, Mincin was the team’s leading receiver last season at tight end with 22 receptions for 303 yards. The Tigers will need to account for both Sharp and Mincin if they hope to leave Route 51 with a victory tonight.

Last season, North Allegheny defeated Baldwin at Newman Stadium, 53-7. Kushner accounted for four touchdowns in the win, two rushing and two passing, and receiver Khiryn Boyd totaled 120 yards with once receiving score and an interception. The NA defense tallied seven sacks, including three by defensive end Aidan Buggey. NA’s last visit to Baldwin in 2021 resulted in a 61-14 victory. Prior to that, the Tigers and Fighting Highlanders had not met since the opening round of the 1998 WPIAL playoffs, a game NA won 40-0 en route to a WPIAL title game appearance at Three Rivers Stadium.

Kickoff for tonight’s game is set for 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 6:40 p.m. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here. 

NA To Visit McDowell For First Time Since 2010

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The North Allegheny Tigers (2-0) travel to Erie tonight to face off against a perennial District 10 power, the McDowell Trojans (1-1) in a non-conference clash at Gus Anderson Field. It will be the first road trip of the regular season for the Tigers and the first home game of the campaign for the Trojans.

The Tigers are coming off a 30-6 conference win last week against Canon-McMillan. Senior quarterback Logan Kushner led the charge by rushing for 172 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 107 passing yards and one arial score. Junior Nicholas Humphries had a break out game on both sides of the ball, including a leaping 26-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter and four pass break ups at defensive back. The NA defense’s streak of seven consecutive scoreless quarters was snapped in the fourth by Canon-McMillan, but the Big Macs produced only 148 total yards for the game. Senior defensive end Aidan Buggey produced two sacks and senior Khiryn Boyd logged his first interception of the year. University of Richmond commit, Daniel Sellers, recovered a fumble in the first quarter that set up the game’s first touchdown.

McDowell, meanwhile, has stacked its non-conference slate with premier opponents in the first two weeks. Following a 49-28 loss at Walsh Jesuit (OH) in Week Zero, the Trojans bounced back last week with an impressive 52-20 victory against Barberton (OH). Junior quarterback Blayze Myers is in his first year as a starter but has played like a savvy veteran in the first two games, passing for eight touchdowns with just one interception. Junior tailback Stephon Porter is the leading rusher for McDowell with 141 yards and two touchdowns on the year. Senior running back Bobby Blue splits time evenly with Porter and has rushed for 82 yards and a score. The top receiver for the Trojans is the highly efficient Leo Whitaker, who has caught three passes for 97 yards and three touchdowns. The most notable college recruit on the McDowell roster is senior center, Cooper Cousins, who stands at 6-7 and 315 pounds. Cousins will play next season at Happy Valley for Penn State.

North Allegheny and McDowell will duel for the second consecutive season after having not faced each other in a decade prior. In last year’s contest at Newman Stadium, the Tigers rallied from an 11-point deficit late in the third quarter for a 29-18 win. Kushner accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for 202 yards and three scores, while adding another rushing touchdown. The key play came the fourth quarter when Ian Zahorchak delivered a sack and forced fumble that was recovered by Buggey. On the very next play, Boyd hauled in a screen pass and took it 74 yards for a touchdown with 8:29 left in the game to give NA a 22-18 lead. The Boyd touchdown proved to be the game-winning score.

Tonight’s game will mark the first time since Sept. 24, 2010, that North Allegheny will play at McDowell. On their way to a WPIAL and PIAA championship in 2010, the Tigers defeated a tough Trojans squad, 21-10. Running back Alex Papson rushed for 275 yards and quarterback Mike Buchert tossed a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dan Slivka in the win. McDowell running back Greg Garmon gave the Trojans a brief 10-7 lead in the third quarter with a 44-yard touchdown run. Garmon navigated his way to 95 yards in the game and finished his high school career with 2,859 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. In 2010, Papson rushed for 2,482 yards and 32 touchdowns before his season ended with an injury in the WPIAL championship game. His single-season yardage and touchdown total remains the most of any running back at North Allegheny in the Art Walker era.

Kickoff for tonight’s game is slated for 7:00 p.m. at Gus Anderson Field. The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 6:40 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here. 

 

NA Hosts Canon-McMillan In Conference Opener

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The North Allegheny Tigers (1-0) open conference play tonight in WPIAL Class 6A with a home date against the Canon-McMillan Big Macs (1-0). The game is a rematch of last year’s WPIAL semifinal, a game in which the Tigers prevailed, 7-0, in a torrential downpour as a result of the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicole. In a defensive struggle, North Allegheny quarterback Logan Kushner scored the game’s only touchdown on a 1-yard run with 6:44 remaining in the game to send the Tigers on to the WPIAL championship.

Tonight, weather will not be a factor on what should be a perfect night for football. However, two stingy defenses will remain a part of the story line. Both North Allegheny and Canon-McMillan are coming off Week Zero victories where the defenses blanked their opponent. The Tigers scored 42 points in the first quarter against Allderdice en route to a 61-0 drubbing of the Dragons. Kushner scored the first touchdown of the season on a 51-yard jaunt, while running backs Tyree Alualu and Liam Flaherty rushed for two touchdowns apiece. The defense forced three turnovers in the first quarter, including a fumble recovery and interception by junior defensive back James Donaldson. Senior safety Evan Lyon added an interception and 45-yard return that set up one of Flaherty’s rushing scores.

Canon-McMillan, meanwhile, was involved in a much more competitive game that resulted in a 14-0 win at Penn-Trafford. The game was scoreless until the third quarter when sophomore defensive back Jayden Baxter recovered a fumble and raced 93 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter with Penn-Trafford driving toward a game-tying touchdown, the Big Macs defense once again turned away the Warriors with a goal line stand. Moments later, senior running back Zachary Welsh put the game on ice with a 93-yard touchdown run with 1:42 remaining to secure the victory.

Welsh, a transfer from Wash High, takes over at running back for Jake Kasper who graduated after posting over 1,400 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns. The Big Macs will also need to fill a hole at wide receiver, where Austin Winkleblech, now a freshman pitcher at the University of Pittsburgh, was the top target in the passing game for the past three seasons. Last year, Winkleblech accounted for over 800 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

While two key skill players have graduated, Canon-McMillan returns a three-year starter at quarterback in the form of southpaw Mikey Evans, a first-team All-Conference signal caller from a season ago. Evans has thrown for over 3,000 yards in his career and has displayed more accuracy to go with his good mobility in and out of the pocket. The offensive line boasts several returning starters, including Liam Reamer, Mason Williams and junior center Matt McMahon. Senior tight end Kaeden Singleton is a Delaware commit and could arguably be the top receiving threat in the passing game.

On the other side of the football, Singleton is also a defensive end who has led the Big Macs in sacks the past two seasons. He already posted two sacks last week against Penn-Trafford. Senior linebacker Geno Calgaro has been the team leader in tackles the past two years, including 102 stops in 2022. Calgaro notched a team-best 18 tackles against the Warriors in Week Zero.

Since Canon-McMillan made the jump to the largest classification in the WPIAL in 2018, North Allegheny has won seven in a row against the Big Macs. That winning streak includes three playoff wins over the last four seasons.

Kickoff for tonight’s conference opener at Newman Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. in Wexford. The game will be broadcast live on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10 p.m. Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina will have the call for tonight’s contest. To listen to tonight’s game, click here. 

Reigning WPIAL Class 6A Champs Open 2023 Tonight, Host Allderdice

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The 2022 season saw the North Allegheny football team win its fifth WPIAL Championship and first since 2012. The Tigers are in prime position heading into the 2023 season as a lot of key pieces return from last year’s title team.

Starting quarterback Logan Kushner returns for his senior year in 2023. Kushner’s favorite target, Khiryn Boyd, is also back and will garner a lot of attention from opposing defenses. A season ago, Boyd was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 team, the TribLive HSSN Terrific 25 team and was tabbed the WPIAL Class 6A Player of the Year. Junior Jack Yatchenko and senior Cameron Chmura return on the offensive line for the Tigers. A big hole to fill will be at the running back position as all-conference performer Andrew Gavlik is now at Mercyhurst. The Tigers will open the season with a running-back-by-committee approach, including senior Tyree Alualu and junior Liam Flaherty, who both saw time at running back last season.

Seven players return to the Tigers’ ferocious defense, which ranked No. 1 in Class 6A last season, allowing a paltry 13 points per game. The entire front four is back, including edge rushers Daniel Sellers, a University of Richmond commit, and Aidan Buggey. The duo of Sellers and Buggey wreaked havoc on the edge a year ago and combined for 13 sacks. Alualu, another member of the PG’s prestigious Fabulous 22 and the Trib’s Terrific 25, will anchor the linebacking corps. He ranked second on the team last year with 77 tackles and added 3.5 sacks. The biggest hit the Tigers took in graduation was in the secondary but they believe they have the pieces to keep it together. The unit is bolstered at cornerback where Boyd resides after leading the team in interceptions with seven in 2022. Evan Lyon, a second-team All-Conference defensive back, will return at safety. Junior James Donaldson is a player the coaching staff is hoping to step up in the secondary along with Nicholas Humphries

The Tigers will have the target on their back entering the season as the reigning WPIAL champions. Head coach Art Walker, the WPIAL Class 6A Coach of the Year, and the 2023 Tigers will try to reclaim their crown as WPIAL champions and take the next step toward a state championship.

The 2023 season kicks off tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Newman Stadium as North Allegheny plays host to Allderdice in a Week Zero non-conference battle. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network with broadcasters Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

Daniel Sellers Commits To University of Richmond

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North Allegheny senior defensive lineman/tight end Daniel Sellers will continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Richmond. Sellers announced his verbal commitment via social media on Saturday.

A key member of the North Allegheny defense in 2022, Sellers led the team in sacks with 7.5 during NA’s run to a WPIAL Class 6A title. Sellers ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 52 stops. He also recovered a fumble and returned it 15 yards of a touchdown for the opening score in a 35-21 win over Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game. As a tight end in a run-oriented offense, Sellers hauled in nine receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

At the University of Richmond, Sellers will join a program that went 9-4 last season and reached the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.

Sellers and the reigning WPIAL Class 6A champion Tigers will open the 2023 season Aug. 25 at home against Allderdice.