Football News

North Allegheny head coach Art Walker and the football coaching staff hosted the annual NA Youth Football Camp this week.  The Tigers are proud to have worked with a fantastic group of young football players at this year’s camp. Coach Walker would like to thank all of the coaches and players who worked the camp and made the 2017 event a memorable one.

After successful tenures as members of the North Allegheny football team, 10 seniors are going to continue their playing career at the collegiate level. Those seniors are Ethan Maenza (Dartmouth), Namgyu Kang (University of Toronto), Matt Binz (John Carroll), Griffin Sestili (Temple), Josh Lugg (Notre Dame), Carlos Blanco (Robert Morris), Caleb Karsh (Marietta), Michael Pope (Marietta), Niko Mermigas (Dartmouth) and J.Q. Littlejohn (Hudson Valley Community College.)

Proving to be one of the most dangerous players in the WPIAL, Maenza finished with over 1,000 yards rushing and passing last fall and was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 6A Player of the Year, among many other laurels for the senior quarterback. For his career, Maenza totaled 2,074 yards passing and 2,235 yards rushing and accounted for 49 total touchdowns. Kang was a reliable place kicker for the Tigers and connected on 29 of 31 extra point attempts last season.

Binz, Sestili, Karsh and Lugg controlled the line of scrimmage and plowed open plenty of rushing lanes for Maenza and the NA running backs on the offensive line. Lugg, an all-state selection, participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl last January. Binz, Sestili and Lugg bolstered the defensive line as well. Binz was the defensive leader of the group with 42 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

At linebacker, Blanco wreaked havoc on opposing pass pockets and ranked second on the team last season with six sacks. Blanco added 32 tackles, 21 solo stops, averaging 3.2 tackles per game. Littlejohn added depth to the defensive front and hauled down opposing ball carriers 15 times last season.

Pope was the top ground gainer from the running back position last fall, posting 678 yards rushing and eight touchdowns. A big-play threat every time he touched the ball, the speedy Pope averaged 5.3 yards per carry and finished his career with 1,859 yards and 23 rushing scores.

Mermigas was a dual threat who could haul in the deep pass, and equally as effective, burn defenses with his rushing ability on the ground. North Allegheny’s leading receiver, Mermigas pulled in 40 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 224 yards rushing and seven touchdowns. Also a lightning bolt on kick returns, Mermigas accounted for 1,400 all-purpose yards in 2016.

Best of luck to our 10 Tigers who will be playing college football next season!

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In photo above:

Back Row:  Ethan Maenza [Dartmouth] / Namgyu Kang [Univ. of Toronto] / Matt Binz [John Carroll] / Griffin Sestili [Temple] / Josh Lugg [Notre Dame].

Front Row:  Carlos Blanco [Robert Morris] / Caleb Karsh [Marietta] / Michael Pope [Marietta] / Niko Mermigas [Dartmouth].

Missing From Photo:  JQ Littlejohn [Hudson Valley Community College]

It was recently announced that North Allegheny head coach Art Walker Jr. will be inducted to the Football Coaches Hall of Fame on April 1. Not only one of the best coaches in the WPIAL, Walker was a dazzling football standout at Clarion University and will be one of seven new members inducted into the university’s 2017 Hall of Fame Class.

Clarion University’s 29th Annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies are scheduled for Friday, May 5, 2017 at Clarion’s Eagle Commons Dining Facility located at the corner of Wood and Arnold.  Dinner will be served at 7:00pm. The event is open to the public.

Below is a biography on Walker courtesy of Clarion University athletics:

Art Walker, an outstanding wide receiver and return specialist on the gridiron from 1988 through 1991 under head coach Gene Sobolewski, plus one year on the track at Clarion University, has also had a great career as a high school football coach in Pittsburgh. Walker, a 1988 graduate of Baldwin High School, played football for the Golden Eagles from 1988-91. As a senior and captain on the 1991 team, Walker led the Eagles with 44 catches for 673 yards and 4 td’s. He was named a Third Team FB Gazette All-American, along with first team PSAC-West honors. His top game included 9 catches for 167 yards, a td and a two-point conversion at New Haven. Art also led Clarion’s receiving corps with 22 catches for 372 yards and 3 td’s in 1990. In 1989 he latched onto 14 passes for 210 yards and 1 td, plus returned 7 kickoffs for 118 yards, while as a freshman in 1988 he grabbed 2 aerials for 61 yards and 1 td, while returning punts and kickoffs. Walker caught 86 career passes (7^th all-time) for 1,316 yards (8^th all-time) and 9 td’s. Captain of the 1992 track team, Art ran to 100 and 400 hurdles and two relay events, and briefly was part of the school record for the 4 x 100 relay. Since graduating in 1992, Walker has put together an outstanding high school football coaching career.

First a head coach at Central Catholic High in Pittsburgh from 1998 – 2004, Walker led his teams to a record of 61-23 with 2 WPIAL Crowns and 1 PIAA Title. Moving on to North Allegheny from 2005 through 2016, Walker has a record of 118-30 at North Allegheny with 3 WPIAL and 2 PIAA titles. His 2012 team went 16-0 and Walker was named the National High School Coach of the Year by the National Sports News Service, one of only 3 PA. coaches to receive the award since 1970. Art and wife Nikki reside in Wexford, Pa. Children include Brody, Bryce, Brady, Casey and Derek.

The North Allegheny Athletic Department is proud to announce that head coach Art Walker Jr. will be enshrined into the Football Coaches Hall of Fame on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:30 am in the Great Hall of the Senator John Heinz History Center and Sports Museum. A reception and buffet at the Rivers Casino Banquet Room (2nd floor) will begin at 2:00 pm. Pennsylvania State Law requires all attendees of the River Casino to be 21 years of age or older to enter the Casino, including the buffet. Click here for an order form for your convenience.

Walker recently concluded his 20^th season as a head football coach and 12^th season at North Allegheny. Walker has a career coaching record of 179-53 overall, with five WPIAL titles and six championship game appearances. Since coming to North Allegheny, he’s led the Tigers to three WPIAL crowns and two PIAA titles with the most recent coming in 2012. At North Allegheny, Walker’s coaching record is 118-30. His father, Art Walker Sr., is a Hall of Fame coach as well and won six WPIAL championships during a 26-year career, capturing five titles at Mt. Lebanon and one at Shady Side Academy.

In what is a highly anticipated day for college football coaches and parents alike, national signing day saw five North Allegheny football players ink their names on their letters of intent. Continuing their football careers at the collegiate level will be quarterback Ethan Maenza (Dartmouth), kicker Namgyu Kang (University of Toronto), tight end Griffin Sestili (Temple University), lineman Josh Lugg (Notre Dame) and receiver Niko Mermigas (Dartmouth.)

One of the most dynamic players in the WPIAL, Maenza finished with over 1,000 yards rushing and passing last fall and was named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 6A Player of the Year, among many other laurels for the senior quarterback. Kang was a reliable place kicker for the Tigers and connected on 29 of 31 extra point attempts last season.

Sestili and Lugg were pivotal to the offense’s success and used their muscle to mow down the opposing defensive line throughout their careers. Lugg, an all-state selection, also participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl last month. Mermigas was a dual threat who could haul in the deep pass, and equally as effective, burn defenses with his rushing ability on the ground. North Allegheny’s leading receiver, Mermigas pulled in 40 passes for 771 yards and six touchdowns, while adding 224 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.

Best of luck to our North Allegheny football players in their future collegiate endeavors.

(In photo above from left to right, Ethan Maenza, Namgyu Kang, Griffin Sesitli, Josh Lugg and Niko Mermigas. Top is head coach Art Walker.)

Adding to the many accolades received by Ethan Maenza this fall, the North Allegheny senior quarterback was recently named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Class 6A Player of the Year. One of the most dynamic players in the WPIAL, Maenza played a pivotal role for a Tigers team that reached the WPIAL semifinals with a 9-3 record.

“Maenza (6 feet, 185 pounds) was terrific on offense and defense for North Allegheny. As a quarterback,  he finished with 1,258 yards rushing on 156 carries and also completed 69 of 120 for 1,199 yards. In addition, Maenza was one of the best defensive backs in WPIAL Class 6A.

Maenza has not decided on a college yet, but will most likely attend an Ivy League school. Stanford also has offered him a position as a walk-on.”

North Allegheny senior offensive lineman Josh Lugg recently received first-team all-state laurels for an outstanding 2016 season. Lugg, a Notre Dame recruit, anchored the left tackle position for an offense that averaged 35 points per game. In particular, the North Allegheny rushing attack was bolstered by Lugg’s blocking, a unit that churned out 275 yards rushing per contest.

On defense, Lugg was an imposing presence as well. The senior lineman made 18 tackles, four for a loss, and collected three sacks. Lugg was a two-year starter for the Tigers and instrumental in the team’s 9-3 season and appearance in the WPIAL semifinals this fall.

On January 7, Lugg will participate in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. The All-American Bowl features 90 of the best players in the country in a classic East vs. West matchup. The game will be played at San Antonio’s Alamodome and will be broadcast live on NBC.

Fourteen North Allegheny Tigers have been selected to the Big 56 All-Conference Team, including five First-Team picks. Receiving First-Team All-Northern Seven Conference laurels were quarterback Ethan Maenza, wide receiver Niko Mermigas, tight end Griffin Sestili, offensive tackle Josh Lugg and defensive lineman Matt Binz.

Earning Second-Team recognition were running back Mike Pope, offensive guard Dillon Wall, linebacker Alex Mesaros and defensive back Josh Sanders. Honorable mentions included multi-purpose back Turner White, offensive tackle Derick Devine, offensive center Dino DeNillo, punter Luke Trueman and defensive lineman Canyon Tuman.

All of these players played a pivotal role in North Allegheny’s 9-3 season and second-place finish in the always tough Northern Seven Conference.

It’s an all Northern Seven Conference final four in the Class 6-A playoffs. In one contest, the Central Catholic Vikings take on the Pine-Richland Rams. In the other, the second-seeded North Allegheny Tigers (9-2) battle the sixth-seeded Seneca Valley Raiders (7-3) at Martorelli Stadium. It’s the first time since 2012 that either team has reached the WPIAL semifinals. That season the Tigers beat the Raiders in the semifinals, 47-17, en route to a WPIAL and PIAA championship.

These conference rivals met most recently in week seven of the regular season at NA’s Newman Stadium and the Tigers prevailed, 49-14. Since that game, Seneca Valley has rolled off three straight wins, including a 49-43 victory at Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Senior quarterback Jack Cook completed 17 of 19 passes in the win for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Cook also added three rushing scores. The Raiders are seeking their first trip to the WPIAL championship game since 1989 when SV fell to Aliquippa in the Class AAA title tilt, 17-9, at Three Rivers Stadium.

North Allegheny enters tonight’s game having won eight in a row and have scored 42 points or more in each of its last four games. Junior Turner White rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 42-7 triumph over Hempfield in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Defensively, Niko Mermigas broke open a close game in the second quarter with a tide-turning 99-yard interception return for a touchdown. Sophomore Cade Hoke recorded 13.5 tackles and three sacks to help shut down a talented Spartans offense. Tonight’s appearance in the WPIAL semifinals is the sixth since coach Art Walker’s arrival in 2005. The Tigers are vying for their fourth trip to the WPIAL championship in the last seven years.

Kickoff for tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Seneca Valley is set for 7:30 p.m. from Martorelli Stadium. The pregame show on the North Allegheny Sports Network is slated for 7:10 p.m. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

The North Allegheny Tigers (8-2) begin their trek in the WPIAL playoffs tonight with a quarterfinal game against the Hempfield Spartans (5-5) at Newman Stadium. These team met just two weeks ago with North Allegheny punished the Spartans, 42-7. In the win, North Allegheny racked up 440 yards of total offense while limiting Hempfield to just 191 yards, with most of that coming with the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Of the offensive yardage for NA, 384 yards came on the ground with four different players scoring rushing touchdowns. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza needed to throw only seven passes in the game and completed four of them for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Maenza also rushed for team-high 98 yards and a score.

The Tigers hope for a repeat performance in tonight’s quarterfinal contest. The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show beginning at 7:10 p.m. Kickoff is slated for 7:30. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

The WPIAL released its football playoff pairings on Monday night and the North Allegheny Tigers (8-2) received the No. 2 seed and will host the seventh-seeded Hempfield Spartans (5-5) in the quarterfinals of the Class 6-A playoffs this Friday. The Tigers and Spartans met just two weeks ago in Westmoreland County with NA prevailing, 42-7. Friday’s game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. For a look at the entire Class 6-A bracket, click here.

It’s a battle for second place in the Northern Seven Conference tonight as the North Allegheny Tigers (7-2) will visit the Pine-Richland Rams (6-3). The game holds major seeding implications for the postseason as the winner is the likely favorite for the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Class 6-A playoffs.

North Allegheny enters tonight’s game on a six-game winning streak and is coming off a 42-7 drubbing of Hempfield in a non-conference game last week. The Tigers out-possessed and heavily outgained Hempfield with a ball-control offense and stingy defense that didn’t allow a point until the game was well at hand. North Allegheny looks to continue that philosophy tonight against a Pine-Richland defense that has allowed 24 points per game. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza is NA’s leading rusher with 915 yards and 15 touchdowns, while throwing for 797 yards and nine touchdowns. Senior running back Mike Pope averages 5.6 yards per carry and has totaled 533 yards and six scores on the season. Junior tailback Turner White has complemented Pope with 276 yards and four touchdowns. The leading receiver in the NA offense is senior Niko Mermigas who has hauled in 30 passes for 534 yards and five touchdowns. For highlights of last week’s blowout win over Hempfield, see video below.

The Pine-Richland defense hopes to limit the Tigers with a unit that boasts several top-notch linebackers, including sophomore Tyler King who has collected a team-high 83 tackles. Senior linebacker Jesse Meckler has 77 stops and two sacks on the season. Ryan Duran, an Army recruit, is the best pass rusher for the Rams with a team-leading 5.5 sacks and has collected 38 tackles. Pine-Richland owns a ball-hawking secondary that has reeled in 16 interceptions, led by Tanner Douglas with four picks on the year.

Rebounding from a two-game losing streak at midseason, Pine-Richland has won back-to-back games and defeated the Butler Golden Tornado on the road last week, 28-13, in a hard-fought contest. Tonight will be PR’s fourth game without star quarterback Phil Jurkovec. The Notre Dame recruit was lost to a season-ending thumb injury in a week five loss to Pittsburgh Central Catholic, 48-35. Senior quarterback Max Divinney has taken over as the PR signal caller and has thrown for 852 yards and five touchdowns since the injury to Jurkovec. Playing behind Jurkovec and Ben DiNucci during his high school career, Divinney finally has his time to shine and passed for 364 yards in the win over Butler last week. The injury to Jurkovec has changed the dynamic of the Rams’ offense, but PR will continue to utilize a short-passing game that boasts three players with 30 receptions or more. Junior receiver Raymond Falcone has 953 yards receiving and nine touchdowns on 40 receptions. Fellow junior Jason DeFrancisis has hauled in 30 passes for 425 yards, and running back Jordan Crawford is a threat in the passing game with 32 catches for 425 yards and three scores. Similar in stature to last week’s opposing running back for the Tigers, Hempfield’s Jordan Kempka, the diminutive Crawford has carried the ball for 670 yards and 13 touchdowns. Even without Jurkovec, the Rams have plenty of playmakers in an offense that averages 37 points per game.

The North Allegheny defense has permitted 18 points per game this season and has gotten increasingly more stingy in recent weeks. The Tigers are paced in tackles and interceptions by Mermigas who has collected 50 tackles and two picks. Linebacker Ryan Langdon has racked up 45 tackles and four sacks this season. Brennan McCauley and Matt Binz have assisted in pillaging opposing pass pockets with four sacks each. Carlos Blanco is NA’s team leader in sacks with six.

The last meeting between North Allegheny and Pine-Richland was a week two contest last year that resulted in a 28-14 victory for the Rams. The PR defense forced two key turnovers in the red zone and Jurkovec totaled 328 yards of offense in the game. The Tigers fell behind 21-0, but rallied to make it a close game thanks to receiver Matt Sell who caught seven passes for 186 yards. Including last year’s win, Pine-Richland has won two straight games against the Tigers.

Tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Pine-Richland will kickoff at 7:00 and will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. The pregame show is set for 6:40 p.m., including a pregame chat with Tigers head coach Art Walker. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

Winners of five in a row, the North Allegheny Tigers (6-2) look to extend their winning streak tonight with a non-conference visit to Westmoreland County to face the Hempfield Spartans (4-4). The Tigers are coming off an impressive 49-14 demolition of the Seneca Valley Raiders last week. Hempfield has lost four of its last five games, including a 55-37 defeat at Penn Hills last Friday.

The Spartans have been a bit of an enigma in 2016, opening the year with a 3-0 record. During the early hot streak, Hempfield earned an impressive 41-38 victory over Mt. Lebanon. While it’s been a roller coaster ride for the Spartans thus far, one thing that has been consistent is an offense that averages 28 points per game. Strong up the middle, Hempfield has a Division I recruit at center in Bussy Remaley, a 1,500-yard passer in junior Justin Sliwoski and the leading rusher in Class 6-A in senior tailback Jordan Kempka. A workhorse in the running game, Kempka has posted back-to-back 200-yard games entering tonight’s contest with North Allegheny. For the season, Kempka has rushed for 1,150 yards and five touchdowns.

The defense has been an area of concern for the Spartans, a unit that has allowed 38 points or more to an opponent five times this season. The Tigers will hope to capitalize on that with an offense that averages 33 points per game. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza has rushed for 817 yards and 14 touchdowns, while throwing for 741 yards and seven scores. Senior Mike Pope, who rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns last week against Seneca Valley, has 471 yards on the campaign and six total touchdowns. The top receiver for the Tigers is Niko Mermigas with 28 receptions, 526 yards and four touchdowns.

The North Allegheny defensive unit is anchored by linebacker Ryan Langdon who has posted 39 tackles, four sacks and one interception return for a touchdown. Along with Langdon, Carlos Blanco is tied for the team lead in sacks with four. Mermigas has a team-high 44 tackles and two interceptions from his defensive back position.  The NA defense has allowed an average of 20 points per game.

The last time North Allegheny faced Hempfield was in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, a game the Tigers won 35-7. NA quarterback Geoff Greco totaled 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the win. Running back Karl DiCiantis racked up 145 yards and two touchdowns.

Tonight’s meeting between North Allegheny and Hempfield will kickoff at 7:00. The pregame show on the North Allegheny Sports Network begins at 6:40 and includes a pregame interview with Tigers head coach Art Walker. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

In a prime matchup in Class 6-A tonight, the North Allegheny Tigers (5-2) host the Seneca Valley Raiders (4-2) at Wright Field at Newman Stadium. The Tigers are riding a four-game winning streak entering tonight’s contest. The Raiders are also on a hot streak and are coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Bethel Park last week, 25-21.

Seneca Valley trailed 21-3 to the Black Hawks before scoring 24 unanswered points to claim a road win against the first-place team in the Southeastern Conference. Senior running back Hank Royal was pivotal to the rally with 115 yards and three total touchdowns, including a game-winning 27-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass with 18 seconds remaining. Royal is a downhill runner with good size at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, and has rushed for 706 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

Seneca Valley senior quarterback Jack Cook is the facilitator of the offense and a second-team All-Conference selection from a season ago. Cook has thrown for 1,103 yards and nine touchdowns, and has rushed for 409 yards and six scores. The top threats in the SV passing game are receivers Payton Skalos and Jake Bunofsky. Skalos, who is also a return man in the kicking game, has hauled in 34 passes for 400 yards and three touchdowns. Bunofsky has reeled in seven receptions for 165 yards and three touchdowns.  The Seneca Valley offense averages 30 points per game.

On defense, the Raiders permit an average of 25 points per game and are led by senior linebacker Jake Holl and strong safety Brock Gresock who both have collected 25 tackles this season. Holl has a team-leading five sacks. Junior Gabe Miller has had a successful transition from defensive lineman to linebacker and has made 22 tackles. In the secondary, Cook starts at free safety and has the only interception created by the Raiders this year. The Raiders are coached by second-year head coach Dave Vestal. In his first year as head man at Seneca Valley, the team posted a 5-5 record and reached the playoffs before a first round exit against the McKeesport Tigers.

North Allegheny, coached by Art Walker Jr., is coming off a 28-21 win at Penn Hills in week five. The Tigers defense keyed the victory with four forced turnovers, including a game-clinching interception by Matt Binz in the waning minutes of the game. Binz has racked up 26 tackles and four sacks from his defensive line position and is joined by Ryan Langdon as the team leader in sacks. Langdon, who posted a team-best 11.5 tackles last week, has posted 37 tackles and is just two stops behind team leader Niko Mermigas who has 39. Mermigas also had two interceptions in last week’s win, the second of which set up an important fourth-quarter score by the offense. (For a highlight video of the Tigers’ victory over Penn Hills, watch below.)

The North Allegheny defense has allowed 20 points per game, while the offense has scored an average of 30 points per game. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza notched another 100-yard rushing day last week, rolling to 160 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Maenza has piled up the yardage this season with 744 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns, while throwing for 548 yards and five touchdowns. Along with Maenza’s ability to run the ball, the Tigers boast a formidable duo in the backfield with tailbacks Mike Pope and Turner White. Pope has toted the ball for 324 yards and four scores, while White has rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns. Mermigas is the leading receiver for NA with 392 yards and four touchdowns.

The last meeting between these two teams was a week one contest last season in which North Allegheny rallied from a 14-0 deficit for a 34-24 win. Maenza, who entered the game in the third quarter for an injured Riley Trueman, took over at quarterback and orchestrated three fourth-quarter scoring drives en route to the win. Maenza totaled 115 yards rushing in the game.

Kickoff for tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Seneca Valley is slated for 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10, including a pregame interview with Tigers head coach Art Walker. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

North Allegheny senior offensive lineman Josh Lugg was recently selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on January 7. This honor features 90 of the best players from the United States in a classic East vs. West matchup. The game is played in San Antonio’s Alamodome and will be broadcast live on NBC.

Lugg, a Notre Dame recruit, is a two-year starter and has been a pivotal part of the North Allegheny offensive and defensive line. Thanks in part to the efforts of Lugg, the Tigers running game averages 248 yards per contest. For a video player profile on Lugg, courtesy of Ryno Productions, click below.

Congratulations to North Allegheny senior quarterback Ethan Maenza on being named the Athlete of the Week by Varsity Views. Maenza had 23 carries for 219 yards and three touchdowns in a 22-15 win over Mt. Lebanon on Friday, September 30.

This has a been a season of well-deserved recognition for Maenza. Earlier in the season, Maenza received the Baierl Scholar Athlete of the Week Award on September 6. Maenza is a two-way star for the North Allegheny football team as a quarterback and defensive back. Last season he had over 1,700 total yards and 15 touchdowns, being named one of the Pittsburgh North Fabulous 22. Maenza is a team captain this season and has been a Light of Life volunteer since 2013, as well as a volunteer for Animal Friends. Maenza has always been recognized as a leader, both on and off the field. Maenza is a member of the National Honor Socierty and maintains a 4.43 GPA.

Winners of three in a row, the North Allegheny Tigers (4-2) visit the Penn Hills Indians (3-3) tonight for an important battle in the Northern Seven Conference. The Tigers are coming off an exciting come-from-behind win over Mt. Lebanon, 22-15, in non-conference action last week. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza rushed for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the win. For look at last week’s highlights, watch the video below.

The Penn Hills Indians fell to Seneca Valley last week, 32-7, and were held in check by the Raiders defense. The seven points by the Indians was easily the lowest scoring output of the season for an offense that averages 36 points per game. Last week’s game aside, the Penn Hills offense has been an aerial showcase that’s piloted by junior quarterback Cam Tarrant. In the season opener at the Western Pennsylvania Legends Football Classic at Newman Stadium, Tarrant passed for 530 yards and six touchdowns in a 50-42 loss to Canada Prep Academy in week zero. His 530 yards was the second most in WPIAL history, behind only Jason Dambach of Riverside who passed for 551 yards last season.

Tarrant’s debut was only the beginning of what’s been a terrific season for the Penn Hills signal caller. Tarrant has thrown for 1,673 yards and 23 touchdowns to just six interceptions. His top receiving threats are pair of Division I recruits, wideouts Julian Majors and Rick Squires. Majors has 396 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Squires, who’s a returning all-conference linebacker on defense, has hauled in 18 passes for 282 yards and three scores. While the Indians spend most of their time in four-wide receiver sets, they will run the ball with sophomore Terry Smith who has rushed for 365 yards and three touchdowns. The leading ground gainer for Penn Hills is Tarrant, rushing for a team-best 416 yards and two touchdowns.

After years of running a ground-oriented offense, Penn Hills went to the spread offense this season. The offense was installed by first-year assistant coach Harvey Smith, one of the offensive coordinators for the team. The Indians’ head coach is John Peterman, in his 5^th season. Peterman is a member of the Penn Hills Hall of Fame for his time as a football player and wrestler in the early 1980’s. Peterman played football collegiately at Clarion University where he was a teammate of North Allegheny’s head coach, Art Walker Jr. A defensive standout, Peterman remains third all-time at Clarion in tackles with 395.

With a quick-strike offense opposing them, the North Allegheny objective will be to control the ball and to keep the Penn Hills offense on the sideline. The Tigers will try to accomplish that feat with a running game that’s led by quarterback Ethan Maenza. The senior signal caller has rushed for 584 yards and nine touchdowns this season, while passing for 500 yards and five more scores. Joining Maenza in the running game is senior tailback Mike Pope who has 324 yards and four touchdowns. Junior Turner White is a fine complement to Pope and has carried the ball for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Not to be outdone, receiver Niko Mermigas can contribute in the running game as well as the passing attack. Mermigas has reeled in 23 passes for a team-high 392 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 157 yard rushing and two scores. North Allegheny’s offense averages 31 points per game.

The last time North Allegheny faced Penn Hills was in 2009 on the road. The Tigers came away with a week four victory over the Indians, 24-7. Running back Grant Huckestein rushed for 138 yards and three touchdowns in the win.

Tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Penn Hills will kick off at 7:00. The pregame show on the North Allegheny Sports Network will begin at 6:40, including a pregame interview with North Allegheny head coach Art Walker. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

After rushing for 219 yards and three touchdowns on Friday night in North Allegheny’s 22-15 win over Mt. Lebanon, senior quarterback Ethan Maenza has been nominated for the National Athlete of the Week by Varsity Views. Six athletes are chosen to compete each week for the national honor and Maenza is one of six candidates for this week’s Athlete of the Week Award. You can cast your vote for Maenza by clicking here.

On homecoming night, the North Allegheny Tigers (3-2) welcome the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (3-2) to Wright Field at Newman Stadium this evening. The Tigers and Blue Devils enter tonight’s non-conference clash each riding a modest two-game winning streak and holding 2-1 records in their respective conferences.

After suffering back-to-back losses to Pine-Richland and Hempfield in weeks one and two, the Blue Devils bounced back with convincing conference wins over Canon-McMillan, 32-7, and Altoona, 49-14. Mt. Lebanon is led by fifth-year head coach Mike Melnyk who has taken the Blue Devils to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. Melnyk played for the University of Michigan as a placekicker from 1980-84 and was a teammate of current Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh.

Mt. Lebanon boasts an effective offense that averages 39 points per game and is quarterbacked by junior signal caller James Stocker. Stepping in for talented three-sport athlete Eddie Jenkins who graduated and is currently playing “Sprint Football” at the University of Pennsylvania, Stocker has proven to be a more-than-capable replacement. Stocker has completed 79 of 131 passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns this season while throwing four interceptions. Stocker has plenty of complimentary talent around him, including senior running back David Harvey. Harvey is receiving Division I interest from Ivy League schools, among others, and has toted the football for 510 yards and six touchdowns. Receiver Jack Young, another Division I recruit, is the top target in the passing game with 32 catches for 449 yards and two touchdowns. Young is receiving interest from Air Force, Army, Navy, Bucknell, Columbia and Dartmouth. Senior receiver Edgar Parilla is another threat in the passing game with 287 yards and three touchdowns and is also a dangerous return man on special teams.

On defense, the Blue Devils allow an average of 23 points per game. The top tackler for Mt. Lebanon is Eric Kraus with 50 tackles on the year. Kraus led the team in stops in 2015 as well. Cam Haley and Patrick Werkmeister are tied for the team lead in sacks with two each. In the defensive backfield, Harvey, Parilla and Mason Ventrone have one interception apiece for the Blue Devils.

After falling to top-ranked Pittsburgh Central Catholic in week two, North Allegheny picked up back-to-back blowout wins over Shaler, 49-0, and Butler, 49-7. Perhaps more important than the wins, the Tigers have been getting healthier in recent weeks and are hoping to jump on Mt. Lebanon with an offense that averages 32 points per contest. Returning from injury two weeks ago, quarterback Ethan Maenza is the sparkplug of the offense and leads the team in passing and rushing. Maenza has completed 24 of 39 passes for 438 yards and five touchdowns, while running for 365 yards and six touchdowns. In the backfield, running back Michael Pope has churned out 277 yards and four touchdowns and is joined by senior Turner White who has rushed for 93 yards and two touchdowns. White returned from injury last week after a two week absence. The versatile Niko Mermigas is the first option in the passing game, having hauled in 346 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, Mermigas has rushed for 129 yards and two scores.

The North Allegheny defense has yielded 21 points per game and is paced by Mermigas’ 22 tackles. The Tigers top sack man is Matt Binz who has collapsed the opposing pass pocket for three sacks. Linebacker Ryan Langdon has two sacks and one interception return for a touchdown. Joshua Sanders, Dante Caputo and Nikko Rankin also have interceptions this season.

The last time North Allegheny and Mt. Lebanon met was on opening day in 2013 with the Tigers prevailing with a convincing 55-7 win. Running back Josh Bergman rushed for 121 yards and two touchdowns in that victory three years ago. Tonight’s game is set for kickoff at 7:30 from Newman Stadium. The game can be heard live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

After two weeks on the road, the North Allegheny Tigers (2-2) return to the friendly confines of Newman Stadium tonight for a home meeting with the Butler Golden Tornado (1-2). The Tigers are coming off their first win in the Northern Seven Conference last week, delivering a 49-0 drubbing to the Shaler Titans. Senior quarterback Ethan Maenza made his return to the lineup since week two and rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another in the win.

While the Tigers were more than happy to have their starting signal caller back under center last week, the Butler Golden Tornado will likely be without theirs this evening. Junior quarterback Brandon Fleeger missed last week’s 42-6 loss to Seneca Valley with a sprained foot and is doubtful for tonight’s contest. Junior John Michalek got the start last week and is the leading candidate to get the nod against North Allegheny. Fleeger is the stronger thrower between the two quarterbacks but Michalek is an elusive runner who can be a challenge to bring down. John Michalek’s brother, Luke, is the top receiver for the Golden Tornado and will also line up at quarterback on occasion in the wildcat formation. Luke Michalek leads Butler with 140 yards receiving and one touchdown and has another 86 yards rushing and one score. Along with the Michalek brothers, fullback Logan Dubyak is a hard runner who has toted the ball 17 times for 74 yards. The Golden Tornado are led by third-year head coach Rob Densmore. Butler’s lone this season was a 21-12 win at Altoona in week two.

North Allegheny, led by 12^th-yead head coach Art Walker, will look to wear down Butler with a big and burly offensive line that is headlined by Notre Dame recruit Josh Lugg. Others on the offensive front that will see action include Dylan Wall, Ian Truesdell, Caleb Karsh and Derek Devine, along with tight ends Canyon Tuman and Brennan McCauley. The muscle up front hopes to plow open rushing lanes for Maenza and running back Mike Pope. Maenza is NA’s leading rusher with 251 yards and four touchdowns, followed closely behind by Pope with 245 yards and three touchdowns. In the passing game, Niko Mermigas is the top target with 16 receptions for 285 yards and four touchdowns.

Mermigas, a talented defensive back as well, is the Tigers leader with 20 tackles. Linebacker Ryan Langdon, who had an interception return for a touchdown last week, has 16 tackles and a team-best two sacks. Senior Matt Binz has also tallied 16 tackles and two sacks this season to help pace the defensive front. Junior Joshua Sanders and sophomore Nikko Rankin are ball hawks who have one interception apiece.

The last time these teams met on October 9, 2015, it resulted in a 41-7 win for the Tigers. North Allegheny’s Mike Pope had three touchdowns in that game, including a 65-yard punt return for a score. Tonight’s game between North Allegheny and Butler is set for kickoff at 7:30 at Newman Stadium. The game will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show beginning at 7:10 p.m. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

Following a tough loss last week to Central Catholic in the conference opener, North Allegheny (1-2) looks to rebound tonight with a road contest against the Shaler Titans (0-3).

Due to injury, the Tigers played with a short-handed starting lineup in last week’s loss to the top-ranked Vikings and NA will likely be without several starters at Shaler. Starting quarterback Ethan Maenza was injured in NA’s week one win over Bethel Park and his status for tonight is uncertain. Maenza has completed 13 of 25 passes this season for 211 yards and three touchdowns. On the ground, Maenza has rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns.  Regardless of Maenza’s status for tonight, look for the Tigers to get the ball in the hands of senior running back Mike Pope who rushed for 126 yards and a touchdown last week at Central Catholic. The quick-footed Pope can bust off a big play at any time, made evident by his 60-yard sprint to paydirt last Friday.

Led by head coach Jon LeDonne, the Shaler Titans posted a 2-8 record last season and ended a 34-game losing streak in the process. LeDonne’s Titans are hoping to continue the uphill climb in 2016 but have been outscored 112-14 in three losses so far this season. Shaler returns three starters on the offensive line, sophomore Jeffrey Bonnette, senior Christian Henning and senior Josh Wickert. Senior tight end Austin Sites is perhaps one of Shaler’s most talented players on the line who has also had a strong season thus far at defensive end.  The Titans are coming off a 36-0 loss to Norwin last week in a non-conference affair.

Tonight’s game will be played at an alternative field at Shaler High School with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. The game is slated for broadcast on the North Allegheny Sports Network, pending Shaler’s facilities, with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10 p.m.

North Allegheny faces its first WPIAL opponent of 2016 when the Tigers (0-1) host the Bethel Park Black Hawks tonight in a non-conference affair. Coming off a narrow 30-29 loss to Olentangy Liberty at the Western Pennsylvania Football Classic last weekend, the Tigers look to bounce back against a Bethel Park team that’s playing in its first regular season game of the year. The Black Hawks soared to the playoffs last season with a 7-4 record and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to the Woodland Hills Wolverines, 40-20.

A lot has changed for the Black Hawks since last season. Bethel Park brings back only four starters on offense and five on defense and will have a new face at quarterback and an entirely fresh set of offensive linemen. While inexperienced, the O-line has good size in the form of 6-foot-6, 245 pound left tackle Connor Wholey and 6-foot-4, 305 pound right tackle James Gmiter.  Senior signal caller Cole Rodgers will try to replace four-year starter Levi Metheny at quarterback who is now a freshman at the University of Albany. Rodgers, also a catcher on the Bethel Park baseball team, is eager to step into the role of leader. Perhaps the biggest threat for Bethel Park is the diminutive Terron Murphy. Standing just 5-foot-6, Murphy is lightning quick and rushed for 1,225 yards last season and scored nine touchdowns. Averaging 8.4 yards per carry a year ago, Murphy is a big play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball.

North Allegheny will try to counter Bethel Park with its own quick-strike offense, spearheaded by senior quarterback Ethan Maenza who accounted for 241 yards and four touchdowns last week against Olentangy Liberty. Maenza’s top threat in the passing game is senior Niko Mermigas who reeled in six passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Alex Mesaros is the team leader in tackles for the Tigers with 10. Defensive back Joshua Sanders hauled in an interception last week versus Olentangy Liberty, while five different players collected sacks for the Tigers in week one. It’ll be the task of the defensive front and linebackers to try and contain Murphy and the Black Hawks.

The last time these teams met was in 2013 in the opening round of the WPIAL playoffs when the Tigers defeated Bethel Park, 28-0, on the road. Running back Isaac Weaver rushed for 120 yards and three touchdowns in the post-season win.

Kickoff for tonight’s game at Wright Field at Newman Stadium is slated for 7:30 p.m. The contest will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network with the pregame show getting underway at 7:10. Randy Gore and Rick Meister have the call. To listen to tonight’s game, click here.

For many teams in Western Pennsylvania, this weekend marks the beginning of the high school football season. For the North Allegheny athletic program and its football team, it also signals the dawn a premier annual event that kicks off tonight at Wright Field at Newman Stadium. The Western Pennsylvania Legends Football Classic opens with the host North Allegheny Tigers facing off against Ohio powerhouse Olentangy Liberty High School. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network. To listen to tonight’s broadcast, click here.

North Allegheny’s clash with Olentangy Liberty serves as the commencement for a weekend filled with action with some of the best talent in the northeast taking the field. Let’s take a look at Saturday’s tripleheader.

Pittsburgh Central Catholic vs. St. John’s (D.C.) – 12:00 p.m.
Since 2000, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings have the third highest win total in the WPIAL with 177 wins, which includes five WPIAL titles and three PIAA championships. The Vikings are coming off another state championship season (15-1 in Class AAAA) in 2015 and are considered one of the favorites in the WPIAL’s new 6-A classification. Central Catholic has six players receiving interest from major colleges and one of the top recruits in the nation at linebacker in senior David Adams. Lineman Kurt Hinish is headed to Notre Dame and fellow lineman C.J. Thorpe is a four-star recruit who has chosen Penn State as his next stop. Central Catholic’s opponent, St. John’s of Washington D.C., will not be in awe of the powerful Vikings since the Cadets boast a roster with several high-profile transfers. St. John’s is coming off a 7-4 season in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and reached the semifinals in the WCAC playoffs. The most notable transfer for the Cadets is senior quarterback Kasim Hill, a Maryland recruit. Freshman linebacker Shane Lee already has offers from seven schools and senior defensive tackle Cam Spence is another Maryland recruit who stands 6-foot-6, 310 pounds. With the arrival of these new reinforcements for this season, St. John’s is hoping this transfer of power will result in its first league title since 1989.

McGuffey vs. Frazier – 3:30 p.m.
The middle game in Saturday’s tripleheader pits a pair of Western Pennsylvania teams in a head-to-head duel. The McGuffey Highlanders  play in Class AAA and are regarded as one of the top contenders in the Interstate Conference this season. McGuffey went 6-4 last season and reached the WPIAL playoffs for the second consecutive year. With the return of all-conference quarterback Marcus Czulewicz, who threw for over 1,000 yards and led the team in rushing last season, the prospects for a third straight trip to the playoffs looks promising. Junior Spencer Gillespie was all-conference pick at linebacker a year ago for the Highlanders and senior Teague Nicolella is regarded as one of the best kickers in the Interstate Conference. The Frazier Commodores bump up to Class AA this season after winning Class A’s Tri-County South in 2015 with an 11-1 overall record. The Commodores brought some thrills to their fans last year with two one-point playoff victories before eventually bowing out to Clairton in the semifinals. Frazier hopes to have another lengthy playoff run and will pose a formidable threat in the Century Conference. A key player for the Commodores is quarterback Chris Pierce who tossed 14 touchdowns while throwing only one interception as a junior. Other significant returnees include receivers Damon Lovis and Joshua Cox.

Penn Hills vs. Canada Prep Academy (Welland, Ontario) – 7:00 p.m.
Similar to North Allegheny and Pittsburgh Central Catholic, the Penn Hills Indians will play in the imposing Northern Seven Conference in Class 6-A this fall. Unlike the Tigers and Vikings, the Indians are in a rebuilding phase after posting a sub-par 3-7 record in 2015. Senior receiver Rick Squires and junior receiver Julian Major both have FBS scholarship offers and could provide some electrifying plays if they get their hands on the football. Penn Hills will have a stiff test against Canada Prep Academy, a school that has been a literal Division I football player factory in its three years of existence. The boarding school in Welland, Ontario, now in its fourth year, primarily serves as a preparatory stop for high school athletes bound for post-secondary football careers. Of this year’s crop of talent, receiver Brandon Brown is a Division I recruit who received All-Western New York laurels while playing for Bennett High School in Buffalo last season. Another intriguing player for Canada Prep Academy is 19-year old tight end Blake Williams who missed his junior year of football at Mustang High School in Oklahoma because of a condition called dysautonomia, a term used to describe several different medical conditions that cause a malfunction of the Autonomic Nervous System. Now fully recovered, Williams is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end with soft hands and drawing attention from Syracuse University.

For the NA vs. Olentangy Liberty preview, click here.

Advanced tickets for the Western Pennsylvania Football Classic can be purchased in the North Allegheny athletics office and any respective school participating in the event. For Friday’s game, tickets are $9 for adult reserve seats, $8 for adult general admission and $5 for students. Ticket prices for Saturday are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Saturday’s tickets will be good for all three games played that day.

The first annual Western Pennsylvania Football Classic is just weeks away with great anticipation and excitement. Wright Field at Newman Stadium will play host to the event, a four-game extravaganza on August 26-27. The kickoff for the classic is a battle between the host North Allegheny Tigers and the Olentangy Liberty Patriots (Columbus, Ohio) at 7:30 p.m. on August 26.

North Allegheny is coming off a 9-2 season a year ago and is expected to be one of the top contenders in the new alignment in Class 6-A. The Tigers reached the WPIAL quarterfinals last season before falling to the eventual WPIAL and PIAA champions, the Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings. The black and gold hope to go even deeper into the postseason in 2016 thanks to a deep roster that includes a couple Division I recruits and an electrifying playmaker at quarterback.

NA senior quarterback Ethan Maenza.

On the offensive line, North Allegheny boasts Notre Dame recruit Josh Lugg at left tackle and Temple recruit Griffin Sestilli at tight end. A formidable blocker, Sestilli also displays soft hands which reeled in seven passes for 100 yards and three touchdowns last season. Versatile senior quarterback Ethan Maenza will facilitate the offense with a dynamic ability to beat opponents with his arm or his legs. Maenza was NA’s leading rusher last season with 834 yards and eight touchdowns. Through the air, Maenza passed for 875 yards and seven touchdowns. A threat on special teams as well, Maenza returns kicks and scored on a 55-yard punt return against Latrobe last season.

Other notable returnees include running back Michael Pope who toted the ball 119 times for 629 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior receiver Niko Mermigas could be a major factor in the passing game this fall. Mermigas pulled in eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, to go along with 74 yards and one score on the ground.

North Allegheny’s opponent on opening night, Olentangy Liberty, is a perennial power from central Ohio. Playing in the Ohio Capital Conference’s Central Division, Olentangy Liberty qualified for the playoffs last season with a 7-4 record. The Patriots began the year with a 6-1 mark but stumbled down the stretch before being eliminated by Solon High School in the first round, 19-9. A school that opened in 2003, Olentangy Liberty has reached the state playoffs eight times.

The Patriots will return their top pass catcher from last season in the form of junior receiver Johnny Wiseman who posted 59 receptions for 813 yards and two touchdowns in 2015. In addition to Wiseman, senior receiver Brendon White is an athletic target who hauled in 26 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. White also plays defensive back and is an Ohio State recruit. Adding to the bounty of options in the passing game, senior tight end Drew Rosi is a Toledo recruit who delivered three touchdowns and 347 receiving yards last year. There is a major question mark at quarterback, however, as the Patriots will have to replace Alex Lando and his 1,640 passing yards and nine touchdowns.

On defense, junior linebacker Edward Warriner is a headliner for Olentangy Liberty. Warriner is garnering plenty of Division I attention and has scholarship offers from Rutgers, Army, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Colorado State, Kent State, Ohio and Toledo. Warriner is the son of Ohio State offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Ed Warriner.

Olentangy Liberty is led by long-time head coach Steve Hale. North Allegheny is coached by Art Walker, Jr., winner of five WPIAL titles with North Allegheny and Pittsburgh Central Catholic. Walker is entering his 12^th season as Tigers head coach and 20^th season overall and boasts a career record of 170-50. The Tigers have also won two PIAA crowns under Walker’s command.

Advanced tickets for the Western Pennsylvania Football Classic can be purchased in the North Allegheny athletics office and any respective school participating in the event. For Friday’s game, tickets are $9 for adult reserve seats, $8 for adult general admission and $5 for students. Ticket prices for Saturday are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Saturday’s tickets will be good for all three games played that day.

The WPLFC schedule will be as follows:

Friday, August 26, 2016
7:30 pm – Olentangy Liberty (Columbus, Ohio) vs. North Allegheny

Saturday, August 27, 2016
12:00 pm – St. John’s (Washington D.C.) vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic
3:30 pm – Frazier vs. McGuffey
7:00 pm – Canada Prep Academy (Welland, Ontario) vs. Penn Hills

The new state-of-the-art scoreboard and videoboard is now in place at Wright Field at Newman Stadium. The 26-foot videoboard is one of several updates that are taking place at the facility this summer. Take a look at our photo gallery below to see the latest progress at Newman Stadium.

The PIAA’s decision to increase the composition of classifications from four to six has changed the landscape of high school football in the WPIAL. At North Allegheny, the Tigers football team and athletic department are hoping to make an equally indelible impression with the creation of the Western Pennsylvania Legends Football Classic on August 26-27 at Wright Field at Newman Stadium.

The concept of a football classic was under consideration by North Allegheny Athletic Director Bob Bozzuto nearly a decade ago. However, when the PIAA made the switch to six classifications in high school football for the 2016 season, it gave the possibility of an opening weekend extravaganza at Newman Stadium a great deal of momentum. The PIAA and the WPIAL decided to allow football programs the option of playing a Week Zero game which solidified the creation of a season-opening event that will feature multiple games in which local teams will face off against schools from outside the state.

“Western Pennsylvania has an outstanding football tradition from the pro football Pittsburgh Steelers, the collegiate Pitt Panthers, to the abundantly talented high school football teams in the area,” said Bozzuto. “North Allegheny, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Penn Hills, McGuffey and Frazier are outstanding teams and we are proud to have them take part in this event. We are equally excited to welcome Olentangy Liberty, St. John’s and Canada Prep Academy to North Allegheny. “

The conception of the football classic will not only bring an exciting weekend of high school football to Wexford but also lends a helping hand to a great cause. The Western Pennsylvania Legends Football Classic has partnered with the Autism Society of Pittsburgh for the event with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the non-profit organization. Autism, a complex developmental disability, affects the normal functioning of the brain typically in children during their first three years of life. There are approximately 1.6 million Americans living with autism and there is no known cure for the disability.

“We are delighted to partner with the Autism Society of Pittsburgh to raise money and awareness through this event,” said Bozzuto.

The Western Pennsylvania Football Classic will also be a good opportunity for North Allegheny to showcase Wright Field at Newman Stadium and the new renovations to the facility that took place over the summer. Updated features that fans will see at the stadium include a new entrance, track, turf field and a state-of-the-art video board and scoreboard. The scoreboard will stand five stories high and includes a 26-foot video board.

Advanced tickets can be purchased in the North Allegheny athletics office and any respective school participating in the event. For Friday’s game, tickets are $9 for adult reserve seats, $8 for adult general admission and $5 for students. Ticket prices for Saturday are $10 for adults and $7 for students. Saturday’s tickets will be good for all three games played that day.

The WPLFC schedule will be as follows:

Friday, August 26, 2016
7:30 pm – Olentangy Liberty (Columbus, Ohio) vs. North Allegheny

Saturday, August 27, 2016
12:00 pm – St. John’s (Washington D.C.) vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic
3:30 pm – Frazier vs. McGuffey
7:00 pm – Canada Prep Academy (Welland, Ontario) vs. Penn Hills