North Allegheny rolls into PIAA semifinals with rout of McDowell
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Friday, November 24, 2023 | 10:20 PM
North Allegheny’s Liam Flaherty celebrates with Logan Kushner after Kushner’s touchdown run in the first quarter against Erie McDowell during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Logan Kushner stiff-arms Erie McDowell’s Gavin Magorien during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Lincoln Hoke takes down Erie McDowell quarterback Blayze Myers during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
Erie McDowell’s Blayze Myers avoids North Allegheny’s Tyree Alualu during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Tyree Alualu defends on a pass intended for Erie McDowell’s Jackson Johns during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
Erie McDowell’s Benny Whitaker defends on a pass intended for North Allegheny’s Khiryn Boyd during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Evan Lyon beats Erie McDowell’s Benny Whitaker for a touchdown in the first quarter during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Daniel Sellers reaches for a pass against Erie McDowell’s Jacob Hower during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
Erie McDowell’s Blayze Myers avoids North Allegheny’s Liam Flaherty during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Brady Myer celebrates with Evan Lyon after Lyon’s touchdown against Erie McDowell during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Logan Kushner beats Erie McDowell’s James Zigler and Gavin Magorien for a first-quarter touchdown during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
North Allegheny’s Khiryn Boyd beats Erie McDowell’s James Zigler for a first-quarter touchdown during a PIAA Class 6A quarterfinal game Friday, Nov. 24, 2023, at North Allegheny High School.
WPIAL champion North Allegheny defended its home turf Friday, defeating McDowell, 41-7, in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.
Last season, the Tigers had an early exit in the first round of the state playoffs, but with a talented core of seniors, they wouldn’t let that happen again.
The Tigers came out firing on all cylinders as they posted 196 yards total offense in the first quarter and tallied 358 yards in the first half.
North Allegheny held a 35-0 lead at halftime.
Quarterback Logan Kushner, who sat out the second half, spearheaded the pack of hungry Tigers as he completed 6 of 9 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns. He also had eight carries for 87 yards and another score.
Khiryn Boyd started the game with a 74-yard kickoff return, which set the Tigers up in the red zone.
Kushner ran one in from 12 yards out two plays later. After a Nick Van Winkle extra point, the Tigers were up 7-0 one minute in and there was no looking back.
“It was so important getting the momentum and getting our team going,” Kushner said.
Linebacker Tyree Alualu echoed how important it was to get the early score.
“It was really important to us,” Alualu said. “Once we got the ball rolling, we knew we had to just step on their throat.”
The Tigers’ defense also had themselves a game as they held the McDowell offense to under 100 yards in the first half.
Alualu played a role in filling the gaps and stopping the run.
“First and foremost, I’d love to give all the credit to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Without him I wouldn’t be in this position,” Alualu said. “It starts with the D-line. They give the quarterback no time, and it makes it easier to read and hit the hole. It’s as simple as that.”
The defense held star quarterback Blayze Myers to just 110 yards passing. He left the game early in the fourth quarter with an injury.
The Tigers’ defensive backs were a huge part in their success, holding the Trojans receivers in check.
“The defense is great man,” said Boyd, who is NA’s top corner. “We just do our stuff every week. I feel like that’s why we win games, because our defense is amazing. We’re just so close and have a great relationship with each other.”
Boyd also did his part offensively as he had a 67-yard touchdown reception for a score and a 25-yard touchdown run on a reverse.
Kushner’s top target was Evan Lyon, who caught three passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns.
“We went into the game knowing we already beat them earlier in the season, but we didn’t want to hold back,” Lyon said. “It was great. I was feeling confident from last week, so we got to keep rolling.”
He added that Kushner is one of the best quarterbacks in the state who connects with his teammates on and off the field.
Liam Flaherty led the Tigers in rushing, carrying the ball 16 times for 90 yards.
Alualu said that the team was motivated after losing last year in the state playoffs.
“It meant everything to us,” Alualu said. “We came in with a chip on our shoulder, and we wanted to make it further than the first round. That’s simply what we did.”
After its early score to go up 7-0, NA forced a three-and-out.
The Tigers mustered another quick score when Kushner threw a dime to Boyd on a post route for a 67-yard touchdown to go up 14-0.
Kushner and the Tigers, however, wanted more. Kushner found Lyon on a post for 21 yards for a score, increasing their lead to 21-0 before the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the Tigers went up 28-0 when Kushner rolled out right and found Lyon on a crossing route for a 34-yard touchdown.
On their next drive, Kushner connected with Daniel Sellers for 36 yards, which put the Tigers in Trojan territory. Boyd ran in a 25-yard touchdown to go up 35-0.
The second half had a running clock, so McDowell’s first drive took nearly 10 minutes. Nevertheless, the Trojans came up short on a missed field goal.
The Trojans notched their first score on a Stephon Porter 1-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat formation. Alex Sontheimer hit the extra point, making it 35-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Luke Rohan put up one more score late on a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 41-7.
NA is moving on and takes on Harrisburg in the semifinals next week. Kushner and the team are using last year as motivation.
“Last year was the worst feeling ever, so we’re trying to make it farther and win states,” he said.
Tags: North Allegheny
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