Football News

The second-seeded North Allegheny Tigers hosted No. 3 seed Mt. Lebanon on Friday night at Newman Stadium in the WPIAL Semifinals. The Tigers used four turnovers on defense and a 20-0 fourth quarter to run away from the Blue Devils in a 48-14 win to advance to the WPIAL Championship for the third consecutive season.

Things could not have started better for NA. On the third play from scrimmage, Luke Rohan ran the ball 45 yards for a touchdown, and a little over 90 seconds into the game, North Allegheny led 7-0. The Tiger defense forced a three-and-out. The NA offense drove 38 yards in seven plays before the drive stalled out, but Peter Notaro hit a 32-yard field goal to expand the North Allegheny lead to 10-0. Mt. Lebanon responded quickly on the second play of the next drive. Blue Devil quarterback Patrick Smith had a 73-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 10-7. The Tigers put together another good drive but stalled as they entered the red zone. After a penalty, Notaro kicked a 47-yard field goal to make the score 13-7.

In the second quarter, with a fourth-and-three from their own 39-yard line, Mt. Lebanon tried a fake punt. This play did not fool the Tigers who stuffed it at the line of scrimmage and gave the NA offense great field position. The Tigers took advantage of the opportunity as Rohan found the end zone again, this time from three yards out. Dylan Langdon converted the two-point conversion and North Allegheny led 21-7. On the second play of the next drive, Patrick Smith was intercepted by Nick Humphries who returned it 31 yards to put the Tigers back in business. It took only one play as Brady Brinkley found Dylan Langdon from 24 yards out and NA had all the momentum leading 28-7 at the half.

Mt. Lebanon started the third quarter with a bang as Smith hit Noah Schaerli for an 80 yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage, cutting the North Allegheny’s lead to 28-14. The next Tiger drive ended in a punt and it looked like the Blue Devils had all the momentum. On the first play of Mt. Lebanon’s drive, a pass was tipped by Kyle Langdon and intercepted by Dylan Langdon. On Mt. Lebanon put together a nine-play, 36-yard drive on the next possession before Owen Urschler intercepted an attempted screen pass to keep the score where it was heading into the final frame.

In the fourth, North Allegheny’s defense earned a fourth down stop to start the quarter. Two plays later, Dylan Brokos found pay dirt from five yards out and the Tigers led 35-14. On Mt. Lebanon’s next drive, an overthrown pass fell right into the hands of Humphries for his second interception of the day, this one he took 57 yards to the house. The rout was on as NA led 41-14. Jackson Failla put the finishing touches on the game, scoring from one-yard out and North Allegheny rolled to a 48-14 victory.

With two interceptions, one of them going to the house, Humphries was named the Wright Automotive Player of the Game. Rohan finished with 83 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Brokos had 65 rushing yards and a touchdown. Brinkley was 8/17 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

Kyle Langdon led the North Allegheny defense with 17 tackles. Lincoln Hoke made six tackles with one of them coming in the backfield. Connor Frank and Dylan Langdon each had six tackles as well.

North Allegheny advances to the WPIAL Championship where they will take on top-seeded Central Catholic, next Saturday at 6:05 p.m. at Norwin High School. This will be the third straight year the Tigers and Vikings meet for the WPIAL Championship. You can listen to the game live and for free on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Football Summary vs. Mt. Lebanon, 11-8-24

GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY QUARTERS	1	2	3	4	FINAL
Mt. Lebanon	7	0	7	0	14
North Allegheny	13	15	0	20	48