North Allegheny Rolls After Slow Start, Crushes McDowell

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Saturday, December 1, 2012 | 12:03 AM


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Erie McDowell scored on their opening possession of the game, but it would be their last points of the night as the North Allegheny Tigers routed the Trojans 56-6 in the Quarterfinals of the PIAA playoffs. 

The Trojans opened the contest with a methodical 14 play drive that ate up eight minutes of the clock and culminated on a 4-yd rushing touchdown by Khyre Drayer.  The extra point was blocked and the Trojans held a 6-0 lead. 

North Allegheny scored on its opening possession with a 4-yd touchdown pass from Mack Leftwich to tight-end Skyler Cox to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead with 11:55 to go in the second quarter. 

After a three-and-out by McDowell, the Tigers drove 72 yards on six plays and scored on a 1-yd Leftwich QB sneak to grab a 14-6 advantage. 

The game began to unravel for the Trojans on the next two plays.  McDowell’s Casey Richardson fumbled the ensuing kickoff and the Tigers needed only one-play to take advantage.  Leftwich hit Gregg Garrity on a 23-yd touchdown pass for a 21-6 lead and the rout was on. 

Leftwich was near perfect on the night, connecting on 14 of 15 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns through the air and one more on the ground. 

Garrity was the top target for Leftwich as he collected seven receptions for 128 yards and two scores. 

For the Trojans, moving the football became a futile effort after their opening drive.  After traversing through the Tigers for 65 yards on that march, McDowell gained only 90 yards the rest of the night. 

Pitt recruit James Conner was held to 36 yards rushing and quarterback Jake Tarasovich completed more passes to the Tigers than he did to his own teammates, going 1 of 4 for 20 yards and two interceptions. 

McDowell’s season ends with a 7-6 record. 

The Tigers remain undefeated with a 14-0 mark and will await their PIAA Semifinal round opponent, the winner of the Wilson-Harrisburg game to be played on Saturday night.

 

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