New coach hopes to help Northgate end playoff drought

By: Brennan Valladares
Thursday, August 21, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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When Mark Fratangelo first joined the Northgate football staff in 2022, the school struggled to field a team with enough players. Now, with two consecutive seasons of having 30-plus players, Fratangelo, entering his first year as head coach, and his staff have their eyes set on the WPIAL postseason.

“When we first arrived, the goal was to kind of get the program back up and build numbers and get the roster up higher, and then just get that consistency in building a culture of football here and accountability and things like that,” Fratangelo said.

“And then it’s transitioned into making the playoffs. … So I think the goal this year stays the same. We want to compete for a playoff spot, get Northgate back to playing competitive football into November.”

Northgate has missed the playoffs for the last nine seasons. Last year, the Flames were 1-5 in the Class A Big Seven, with three of those losses being by seven points or fewer. To earn that elusive playoff berth, crunch-time execution is an area Fratangelo hopes to improve this year, and he believes his team has the experience to do so.

“I think some of the things that were biggest challenges last year were kind of playing in close games,” Fratangelo said. “… We now have the experience and how to play in close games.”

That experience comprises seven seniors, who Fratangelo believes are ready to lead the Flames back into the Class A playoffs.

“I think the current seniors have kind of learned from that previous senior group that just graduated last year,” Fratangelo said.

“… They kind of really set the tone of kind of what it takes to build a good football program. And I know we haven’t reached the playoffs yet, but I think this senior group now has the leadership kind of taught to them by those guys previously and are ready to kind of step into that role.”

Among those returning seniors, Kaden Stiger, Anthony Barron and Nick Ward should be among the top playmakers for the Flames.

“The big one I think of is our tight end and defensive end, Kaden Stiger,” Fratangelo said. “He was an all-conference D-lineman last year, and he played injured the entire season, so I expect big things from him.”

Stiger’s injury limited his offensive production in his junior season to six catches for 56 yards. Barron then stepped up his game on that end, elevating to a team-high 22 catches and 312 yards.

“We also have like, an offensive athlete and outside linebacker Anthony Barron — catches anything that comes his way,” Fratangelo said. “He’s an instinctual player and just a general playmaker.”

In the backfield, Westminster commit Ward, who ran for 230 yards and four touchdowns last year, is expected to be a “home run hitter” for the Flames. He will be joined by fellow senior Nick Rawlings, who will also anchor Northgate’s defense at the middle linebacker position.

While Fratangelo believes those seniors will be key to the team’s success, his underclassmen will need to be prepared to take on significantly larger roles. Players such as 2024 Flames’ leading tackler Christian Tamburri and sophomore Braylon Mosley will maintain the integrity of the offensive and defensive lines, while second-year quarterback Devontae Smith will be arguably the most important returner.

“… He kind of was just kind of thrown into the fire, I think, a little bit too early as a ninth-grade kid, but he’s shown flashes,” Fratangelo said.

“… This offseason, he’s been working every single day to kind of get better — doing multiple quarterback camps, going out to different college camps, stuff like that. (He’s) been working on his release, his mechanics, just trying to shore things up so his accuracy is a little bit tighter. And then just kind of working with our skill positions and trying to develop that chemistry with each receiver, tight end and running back as well as the offensive line, just to make sure that we’re all on the same page together. And he’s kind of stepping into that leader role that we’re kind of looking for there.”

Key leaders and rising underclassmen are a good place to start for a team working toward ending a nearly decade-long playoff drought. But when asked what would have gone right if Northgate were to end up making the Class A playoffs, Fratangelo noted accountability and a simplified game plan as key factors for actualizing that goal. Most importantly, though, will be the Flames’ ability to close in tight games.

“And then just overall, I think just better execution when pressure is tight,” Fratangelo said.

“… If we can execute when there’s pressure, when we’re tired, when the game’s on the line, I think that’ll push us into making the playoffs.”

Northgate

Coach: Mark Fratangelo

2024 record: 4-6, 1-5 in Class A Big Seven

All-time record: 221-257-7

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 Fort Cherry, 7

8.29 Riverside, 7

9.5 New Brighton, 7

9.12 at Shenango*, 7

9.19 at Neshannock*, 7

9.26 Laurel*, 7

10.3 at South Side*, 7

10.10 Summit Academy*, 7

10.17 at Rochester*, 7

10.24 at Chartiers-Houston, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Sonteon Layne*

49-93, 631 yards, 7 TDs

Rushing: Darius Fields*

97-761 yards, 10 TDs

Receiving: Anthony Barron

22-312 yards

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Fratangelo is entering his fourth season at Northgate. He previously served as the strength and conditioning coach as well as the defensive line coach.

• Northgate graduated 14 seniors in 2024, including all five starting offensive linemen.

• Northgate’s last playoff game was a loss in 2016 in the Class A semifinals against eventual WPIAL champion Clairton.

• Chris Lucas previously served as the Flames’ head coach from 2021-24. After stepping down, he rejoined Fratangelo’s staff as assistant, coaching the tight ends and linebackers.

Tags: Riverside