Notaro, Defense come up big in 18-14 win over Penn Hills
Alabama commit Peter Notaro made three field goals, including a school-record 53-yarder, and the NA defense produced crucial plays late to secure North Allegheny’s 18-14 victory over Penn Hills in a non-conference game at Yuhas-McGinley Stadium on Friday night.
Penn Hills came out hot on the opening drive of the football game, converting on a pair of long third down conversions to set up senior Naytel Mitchell for a 3-yard touchdown run and a 7-0 lead 3:51 into the game. The Mitchell touchdown capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive to pay dirt.
The teams exchanged punts before North Allegheny started a drive on Penn Hills’ 38-yard line. The Tigers only got two yards on the possession, but Notaro hit a 53-yard field goal, cutting the lead to 7-3 with 1:06 left in the first quarter. The 53-yard field goal is a North Allegheny program record.
After getting Penn Hills to go three-and-out to start the second quarter, the Tigers put together their best drive of the day, going eight plays for 67 yards. The drive was capped off when Brady Brinkley found the end zone on a 1-yard quarterback sneak, and NA had the 10-7 lead with 7:11 to play in the second quarter.
It didn’t take Penn Hills long to respond. On the next offensive play, quarterback Devin Harris found Martel Palmer for an 80-yard touchdown on a wide receiver screen and the Indians jumped back ahead, 14-10, with 6:59 to go before halftime.
The next Tiger drive stalled. However, a 58-yard punt by Notaro pinned Penn Hills back at their own 12-yard line. On third and 10, North Allegheny put pressure on Harris, who retreated to his own end zone. Mason Hartung earned the sack, resulting in a safety for the Tigers and cutting the score to 14-12.
Penn Hills responded with a solid drive but missed a field goal. North Allegheny got the ball back with 1:18 to play in the half and drove to the Penn Hills 35-yard line to set up another Notaro field goal, this time from 51 yards out. The Tigers had a 15-14 lead at the half.
The defenses made adjustments at halftime and both had the answers in the third quarter. The only points came on a Notaro 29-yard field goal with 2:52 left in the quarter to extend the Tigers lead 18-14.
NA’s four-point lead was threatened on Penn Hills final drive of the game. With 2:18 remaining in regulation, Penn Hills needed to go 80 yards to take the lead. The Indians got halfway there before an interception at NA’s 40-yard line by Nicholas Humphries sealed the 18-14 win for the Tigers.
With three field goals made, two from 50+ yards while breaking the program record for longest field goal, Notaro was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. Luke Rohan led North Allegheny in rushing with 72 yards on 14 carries. Brady Brinkley had 56 rushing yards, 34 passing yards and a touchdown. Jackson Failla had 33 passing yards. Brady Meyer had two catches for 27 yards.
Kyle Langdon led the defense with 10 tackles, two of them for loss. Dylan Langdon added eight tackles while Humphries and Lincoln Hoke each had six tackles. Hoke also added a sack.
North Allegheny improves to 3-0 overall. Penn Hills falls to 0-3. The Tigers will begin conference play next Friday when they travel to Hempfield to take on the Spartans at 7:00 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on the NA Sports Network.
Football Summary at Penn Hills, 9-6-24
| GAME SUMMARY | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCORE BY QUARTERS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | FINAL |
| North Allegheny | 3 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Penn Hills | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
