–October 28, 2023– “Winner will be: Central Catholic. The Vikings are loaded with talent on offense and defense and don’t appear to be lacking in any area. You need two hands to count the future major-college players on this team” Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Favorite: Central Catholic reached the WPIAL finals in nine of the past 10 seasons, winning five titles in that span. This year’s team outscored conference opponents 190-35, led by senior QB Payton Wehner (2,300 yards, 31 TDs)” Chris Harlan, Trib HSSN, October 28th, 2023
–December 2, 2023 — “The win puts North Allegheny into a state championship game for the fourth time in school history and the first since 2012.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“North Allegheny is headed to the PIAA finals for the first time since 2012, and waiting for the Tigers will be a team that’s dominated the state for the past decade.” Chris Harlan, Trib HSSN
“After waiting for 11 years, North Allegheny is finally headed back to play for the PIAA championship.” Brad Rosemas, Pittsburgh Sports Now
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The North Allegheny Football Team has a shot at winning it all this Saturday when they face the powerhouse St. Joseph Prep Hawks. While some may doubt the Tigers against the 9th-ranked national team, the NA squad has shown that being underestimated pushes them further. This team, once overlooked, has shown that they are a force to be reckoned with, proving that determination and teamwork can triumph over the expectations of others.
“We will be the underdog, but we have been there before,” Head Coach Art Walker said.
The Tigers came into the season roaring, going a perfect 4-0 and outscoring opponents 201-38 throughout those games. However, that record came to a screeching halt when they played Central Catholic. While the game was close at first, the Vikings ended up running away with it towards the end of the second quarter and winning, 50-22.
Despite the setback, the Tigers’ resilience wouldn’t let their season end there, and that game proved to be a turning point in their season. As the regular season progressed, the Tigers showed remarkable improvement as they continued to win critical games. They ran the table for the rest of the season and secured the 2nd seed in the WPIAL playoffs. They practically silenced the Canon-McMillan Big Macs in the semifinals with a convincing 49-7 victory, paving the way to the WPIAL Championship again. Deja vu settled in as they faced their toughest competition: Central Catholic.
However, the Tigers were not the same team they were in week 4. After their previous loss, they were hungry. Both sides fiercely battled, but the Tigers held strong. The score remained neck and neck for the entire game with extreme anticipation. When the final whistle echoed, the Tigers had made history: back-to-back WPIAL champs.
They again played a familiar foe in the first round of states. They had already beaten McDowell 43-22 at the beginning of the season, so this win came as no surprise. They proceeded to win, 41-7. Next came Harrisburg, a tough competitor from the eastern half of the state. This would be no easy battle as Harrisburg was 12-1 heading into the game. But the Tigers showed how unstoppable they were, winning 24-12, and advancing to the state finals.
Nerves are high for the championship tomorrow. The Tigers are underdogs again, but clearly that just makes them hungrier.
“Anything is possible through hard work, preparation, and believing in each other,” Walker said. “Again, we are presented with a great opportunity, and we will make the most of every second of that opportunity on Saturday.”
This is also the seniors’ last game suiting up in black and gold, motivating them even more.
“Our senior leadership has done a remarkable job maintaining focus,” Walker added. “They are determined and have kept every member of the team accountable and motivated. This is their team and they are outstanding leaders. We owe it all to them,” Walker said.
The Tigers, once underdogs and now underdogs again, have the opportunity to grasp state glory. Win or lose, they have proven that anything is possible through belief, teamwork, and undying determination.