Behind 8 new starters, North Allegheny defense wraps up solid 1st half

By: John Grupp
Saturday, September 27, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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North Allegheny’s defense had nearly as many shutouts in the first half of the season as it had returning starters.

The Tigers’ new-look defensive unit answered a bunch of offseason questions by allowing a Class 6A-low average of 11.2 points through five weeks while blanking Gateway and Penn Hills in back-to-back games.

“I think as a unit, they are doing fantastic,” coach Art Walker said. “I think they are growing together, and the coaches are doing a phenomenal job with them.”

The No. 2 Tigers (5-0, 2-0) were scheduled to host No. 1 Central Catholic (4-1, 2-0) on Friday in a showdown between two programs that have met in the WPIAL finals each of the past three seasons.

North Allegheny returned only three defensive players who started in last year’s WPIAL title-game loss. Seven of the eight graduates earned all-conference recognition on one side of the ball or the other.

Despite its defensive inexperience, NA blanked Gateway (41-0) for the first time since 1996 and shut out Penn Hills (35-0) for the first time since the 1998 WPIAL Class 4A semifinals. It had been six years since the Tigers posted back-to-back shutouts.

They also limited No. 3-ranked Norwin, averaging 41 points, to a season-low point total in a 20-17 come-from-behind victory Sept. 19.

“One of the great positives that our defense has is that we are hungry and we are ready to go hunt,” said senior free safety Cam Kushner, a first-year starter whose fourth-quarter interception set up NA’s go-ahead touchdown at Norwin. “We’ve seen success and we’ve seen failure, so we are ready to make our mark and show what we can do as a class.”

Pitt-bound senior defensive tackle Lincoln Hoke, who had a game-high 11 tackles against Norwin, is having another all-state caliber season.

“He’s the constant,” Walker said. “He’s the leader of the front four, for sure. I know we can’t handle him in practice. He’s that good. … The guys who don’t have experience in the secondary, and the linebackers, have continued to develop and get better every week.”

Another returning starter, all-conference senior cornerback Korry Pitts, had a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown in a 28-26 season-opening victory at Woodland Hills. The other returnee is senior linebacker Luke Rohan, who doubles as the Tigers’ No. 1 running back.

“Everybody has really stepped up into their role and held their own,” said Kushner, who added 10 pounds during the offseason to his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame. “Our mentality is that as long as we do our job and shut them out, there is no way we can lose.”

The defense didn’t have the best start to the season. Woodland Hills’ Scoop Smith raced 60 yards for a touchdown on the third play. But defensive coordinator Doug Brinkley’s unit regrouped and has made key plays sprinkled throughout the Tigers’ 5-0 start.

“They have faced a different group of athletes every single week,” Walker said, “and they have responded extremely well.”

• Hoke stuffed Norwin running back Gio Rothrauff on fourth-and-3 at the NA 21 with 2:00 to play to help seal the win.

• The Urschler brothers, senior Owen and junior Aidan, made several huge plays at defensive end in the second half at Norwin as the Tigers rallied from a 17-7 deficit.

• Kushner forced a fumble against Penn Hills and returned an interception 35 yards for a TD against Hempfield.

• Senior linebacker Eli Janowiak intercepted a pass against Hempfield in a lopsided win that featured six sacks and made a key pass deflection at Norwin.

• Junior linebacker Mason Brown forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball against Gateway, and senior defensive lineman Ryan Logan recovered one against Penn Hills.

The biggest test of the first five weeks came at upset-minded Norwin.

“That fourth quarter was pretty special, how they played,” Walker said of his defense. “Even when things aren’t going our way, we are going to fight and continue to do our best and battle and overcome. When you start believing in that, and then it comes true, there is a lot of trust involved, and a lot of positive outcomes occur.”

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