Tigers Kickoff Conference Schedule At Norwin Tonight
Following a dominant win in Week Zero, the North Allegheny Tigers (1-0) open the Class 6A conference schedule with a road game against the Norwin Knights (1-0). The Tigers torpedoed the maiden voyage of the COF Academy Ironmen last Friday by a 45-20 decision. The Knights began the year with an exciting 44-36 victory over neighborhood rival Penn-Trafford.
There’s a lot of excitement in the Norwin camp for the 2018 campaign thanks to a new quick-paced, spread offense and the man who leads it, quarterback Jack Salopek. The junior signal caller was offered a scholarship by the University of Pittsburgh in June and passed for 296 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s win.
Other key returnees for the Knights include senior running back and defensive back Jayvon Thrift, who has offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Syracuse and Indiana as a safety. Senior wideout Gianni Rizzo is a Youngstown State recruit and hauled in a 78-yard touchdown pass against Penn-Trafford.
North Allegheny will try to slow down the Norwin quick-paced attack with a power running game, led by running back Ben Maenza. The senior tailback was the Wright Automotive Player of the Game last Friday against COF Academy with 137 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
The last time these teams met was in the first round of the 2015 WPIAL playoffs. In that postseason game, North Allegheny throttled Norwin, 56-17, at Newman Stadium. It’s been over a decade since the Tigers played the Knights on the road. In 2005, North Allegheny won at Norwin, 27-7, in a week two matchup.
Kickoff for tonight’s game is slated for 7:00 p.m. The North Allegheny Sports Network will broadcast the game live, beginning with the pregame show at 6:40 p.m. Listen to tonight’s broadcast by clicking here.