Tigers Romp Raiders To Cap Regular Season, 49-14

Posted on: by Randy Gore

North Allegheny jumped out to a 35-0 lead and cruised to a 49-14 win at Seneca Valley on Friday night in the regular season finale at NexTier Stadium. Senior quarterback Logan Kushner rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns, and added another 128 yards and a touchdown through the air to earn Wright Automotive Player of the Game honors.

After North Allegheny’s first drive ended on a turnover on downs in Seneca Valley territory, the Tigers defense forced a three-and-out and senior Evan Lyon returned the ensuing punt 29 yards to the SV 6-yard line. One play later, senior running back Tyree Alualu toted the football into the end zone from six yards out and the Tigers grabbed a 6-0 lead with 7:56 to play in the first quarter. Alualu finished the night with seven carriers for 73 yards. The extra point kick following the Alualu touchdown was blocked, keeping the score at 6-0.

Following another three-and-out by Seneca Valley, North Allegheny put together a six-play, 60-yard drive that culminated on a 19-yard touchdown run by Kushner for a 12-0 lead. The Tigers’ two-point conversion pass from Kushner to senior Khiryn Boyd increased the NA lead to 14-0 with 4:02 left in the second quarter.

North Allegheny continued to add onto the lead in the second quarter when Kushner heaved a 61-yard touchdown pass to Boyd in stride for a 21-0 lead with 7:51 left before intermission. After Kushner passed over the Seneca Valley defense, he ran through and away from the Raiders for an 80-yard rushing score with 5:31 on the clock and the Tigers lead swelled to 28-0.

Seneca Valley started the second half with the football but their initial possession of third quarter ended in disaster as Boyd intercepted a Sean O’Shea pass and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown and a 35-0 lead. The interception was Boyd’s second of the season.

With the mercy rule in effect, Seneca Valley broke the shutout with a 22-yard touchdown pass by O’Shea to tight end Cayden Parker to cut the NA lead to 35-7 with 29 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Parker was a bright spot for the Raiders, who finished the night with six receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.

In the fourth quarter, senior running back Nelson Branch scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 9-yard jaunt to pay dirt with 8:17 left in the game and the Tigers lead grew to 42-7.

Senior safety Connor Frank made a diving interception at the NA 43-yard line to end the next Raiders possession. The turnover led to a nine-play, 57-yard scoring drive that was punctuated on a 13-yard rushing touchdown by sophomore quarterback Jackson Failla to increase the lead to 49-7 with 2:23 to play. Seneca Valley capped the scoring with 11 seconds left when senior quarterback Parker Brugos tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to DaJaun Webb to bring the score to its eventual final, 49-14, Tigers.

North Allegheny outgained Seneca Valley, 445-221, and sacked O’Shea four times. Junior linebacker Dylan Langdon tallied 1.5 sacks and senior linebacker Liam Flaherty led the team in tackles with seven stops on the night.

With the win, North Allegheny improves to 9-1 overall and 3-1 in the Tri-County Five Conference. Seneca Valley ends the season with a 3-7 record and 0-4 mark in conference play. The Tigers will host Canon-McMillan in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals on Friday, Nov. 10. The game will be broadcast live by the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Football Summary vs. Seneca Valley, 10-27-23

GAME SUMMARY
SCORE BY QUARTERS1234FINAL
North Allegheny141471449
Seneca Valley007714