Tigers and Vikings Lock Horns With WPIAL Class 6A Title At State

Posted on: by Randy Gore

For the third time in the last four season, the WPIAL Class 6A championship will come down to North Allegheny and Central Catholic.

Astonishingly, these two perennial powers in the largest classification had not met with WPIAL gold on the line until 2020, when the Vikings defeated the Tigers, 38-24, at Martorelli Stadium. Last season, the Tigers and Vikings locked horns again but with NA coming out on top, 35-21.

Tonight marks the 29th all-time meeting between the two programs when they do battle for the WPIAL crown at 6:00 p.m. tonight at Norwin High School. The Tigers hold a 14-13-1 edge in the all-time series. This will be ninth playoff meeting between the two schools with postseason series tied at 4-4.

North Allegheny is seeking its second consecutive WPIAL title and sixth overall, having previously won the district in 1990, 2010-2012 and in 2022. Central Catholic is appearing in the WPIAL championship game for the 10th time in the last 11 years. The Vikings are seeking their ninth WPIAL crown, having won titles in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020.

Earlier this season, Central Catholic defeated North Allegheny, 50-22, at Newman Stadium on Sept. 22. Vikings running back Elijah Faulkner rushed for 229 yards and four touchdowns and the PCC defense forced four turnovers in the win. Central Catholic is coming off a 42-7 win in the WPIAL semifinals over Mt. Lebanon and Faulkner again led the way with 183 rushing yards and five touchdowns on just 13 carries.

Since their loss to the Vikings earlier in the season, the Tigers have won six in a row, including a 49-7 blowout of the Big Macs of Canon-McMillan in the WPIAL semifinals. In last week’s victory, NA jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first four minutes of the game on a 71-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Logan Kushner and a 59-yard punt return touchdown by senior Khiryn Boyd. Kushner totaled 125 yards and two touchdowns on the ground and added another 101 passing yards and a touchdown. The NA defense forced four turnovers in the rout.

Kickoff for tonight’s championship game is set for 6:05 p.m. at Norwin High School. The pregame show hits the air at 5:45 p.m., including an interview with Tigers head coach Art Walker. Join Randy Gore and Jonathan Spina for the broadcast by clicking here.