North Hills notebook: Bounce-back season for football team ends in dramatic loss

By: Josh Rowntree
Saturday, November 16, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The North Hills football team experienced a strong, bounce-back season this fall, but unfortunately for the Indians, it was a season that ended a bit sooner than they hoped.

The Indians fell in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs Nov. 1, dropping a heartbreaking contest to Franklin Regional, 17-16, at Martorelli Stadium.

North Hills clung to a 16-10 lead late in the game. But Franklin Regional’s Chase Lemke completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cole Devola for the go-ahead score.

The loss was undoubtedly a painful one for North Hills, which was looking for a first playoff victory since 2010 and was attempting to snap a nine-game postseason losing streak.

That said, the 2024 season was a step forward for the Indians, who went 8-3 and doubled their win total from a 4-6 season a year prior.

North Hills sported one of the better defenses in Class 5A, giving up 10 points or less in six games.

The Indians will return some key pieces of that defense, as well as the team’s starting quarterback, junior Kelly McCarthy, who passed for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for five more scores this season.

Breakthrough season

One of the most productive seasons for the North Hills boys soccer team in recent memory came to an end Oct. 26.

The Indians fell to rival North Allegheny, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 4A quarterfinals, just four days after pulling off one of the stunning victories of the 2024 season.

North Hills picked up the 3-2 win over Norwin thanks to an own goal by the Knights right before the end of regulation.

“It says so much about our guys to battle back and stay with it,” North Hills coach Kyle Boggs said. “I have never seen a game end like that. I thought for sure we were taking it to OT. At the end, we wanted to get wide and get it across.”

The win broke a 25-year playoff victory drought for the Indians, who closed the season 11-9 overall and 4-6 in Section 3-4A — a massive turnaround for a program that had gone 1-50-1 in section games in the last four seasons.

Success at Oakmont

Kasey Toia put together a nice performance at the WPIAL Class 3A golf championships Sept. 24 at Southpointe Golf Club and Oct. 1 at Oakmont Country Club.

The senior shot an 81 at Southpointe, but followed that with an impressive 77 at Oakmont, one of the country’s most challenging courses that is preparing to host the U.S. Open this coming summer.

The two-round score was good for an 18th overall finish in the 44-player field.

Toia’s performance left him just a stroke outside of a playoff for the final PIAA golf championship qualifying spot.

Tough seasons

The North Hills girls soccer team picked up a much-needed win in its final game of the season, a 3-0 victory over Chartiers Valley.

The Indians closed the year with a 4-14 record, but failed to win a section game at 0-8.

Despite a lack of wins in the section, North Hills did manage to snap an 18-game losing streak this season.

On the volleyball court, the North Hills girls team wrapped up a difficult year with a 3-13 overall record and a 0-10 mark in Section 2-4A.

North Hills managed victories over Fox Chapel, Bethel Park and Avonworth.

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