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