Football News

The North Allegheny Tigers outlasted the Norwin Knights, and a 1 hour and 22-minute lightning delay, for a 42-24 victory at Homecoming at Newman Stadium. Sophomore wide receiver Khiryn Boyd led the way for North Allegheny with 155 total yards and four touchdowns, including two rushing and two receiving. Boyd hauled in four receptions for 106 yards and added 49 yards rushing on six carries to capture Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

Friday’s game represented the first time since Sept. 21, 2018, that North Allegheny had to wait out a lightning delay. The previous occasion also resulted in a North Allegheny victory as the Tigers rolled to a 34-3 win at Mt. Lebanon, paced by Percise Colon who rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns.

Against Norwin, North Allegheny got off to a quick start and raced to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. An 11-play, 65-yard opening drive culminated on a 19-yard touchdown reception by Boyd from sophomore quarterback Logan Kushner for a 7-0 lead.

On Norwin’s first possession, senior linebacker Dominic O’Barto intercepted a Nicholas Urey pass and returned it 10 yards to the Knights’ 20-yard line. Three plays later, senior running back J.R. Burton scored on a 10-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 4:19 left in the first quarter.

In the second quarter, it was a Norwin interception that swayed the momentum toward the visitors. Knights’ linebacker Nate Harris picked off a Kushner pass at midfield, and three plays later, senior quarterback Luke Levandosky rushed 42 yards for a touchdown to trim the NA lead to 14-7 with 8:36 to play in the second period. Levandosky, the team’s leading passer and rusher, didn’t start the game due to illness but was able to come off the bench and sparked the Knights.

With 5:43 left in the second quarter, Harris rushed into the end zone on a 20-yard scoring jaunt to tie the score at 14-14. On the ensuing possession, North Allegheny was faced with a 3^rd and 12 at its own 25-yard line. Kushner and Boyd connected for a 75-yard touchdown scoring ariel to return North Allegheny to the lead at 21-14 with 4:14 left before halftime.

Norwin started the second half with the football but a three-and-out gave North Allegheny an opportunity to extend the lead. The Tigers embarked on an eight-play, 53-yard drive that was punctuated on a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Boyd for a 28-14 advantage with 7:18 to go in the third quarter.

During Norwin’s ensuing drive, a lightning delay halted the action for one hour and 22 minutes. When the drive resumed, the Knights stalled at the NA 19-yard line. Norwin salvaged the drive with a 36-yard field goal by Joey Castle, trimming the NA lead to 28-17 with 3:03 on the third quarter clock.

Following the lightning delay, the Tigers running game put a damper on the Knights’ comeback hopes. Responding to the Castle field goal, North Allegheny used seven consecutive running plays for a 70-yard scoring drive. Boyd capped the drive with his second rushing touchdown, an 8-yard run to pay dirt, five seconds into the fourth quarter for a 35-17 lead.

After Norwin was forced to punt on its next possession, the Tigers put the game out of reach with a 40-yard touchdown pass by Kushner to senior receiver Dwayne Taylor for a 42-17 lead with 10:01 remaining in the fourth quarter. Norwin managed to reach the end zone one last time on a 12-yard fumble recovery and return for a touchdown by Anthony Petrulo with 3:04 left to play to bring the score to its eventual final, 42-24, Tigers.

Along with Boyd’s big night, Burton rushed for 74 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Kushner completed 8 of 14 passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns with just one interception. North Allegheny outgained Norwin, 413-206.

North Allegheny improves to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Quad County Conference, while Norwin falls to 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the conference. The Tigers will visit Canon-McMillan next week.

Football Summary vs. Norwin, 10-8-21

GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY QUARTERS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Norwin	0	14	3	7	24
North Allegheny	14	7	7	14	42