Norwin gets another shot at North Allegheny with championship berth on the line
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Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | 4:35 PM
Norwin running back Giovanni Rothrauff cuts up on Mt. Lebanon’s Sam McAuley on Oct. 24, 2025 at Norwin Knights Stadium.
Norwin’s Tristyn Tavares scores a touchdown over Mt. Lebanon’s Sam McAuley on Oct. 24, 2025 at Norwin Knights Stadium.
Norwin’s Potter Brozeski pulls in a pass over Mt. Lebanon’s Jacob Zaber on Oct. 24, 2025 at Norwin Knights Stadium.
Norwin quarterback Tristan Tavares looks to throw a touchdown pass to Zack Pawling against Mt. Lebanon on Oct. 24, 2025 at Norwin Knights Stadium.
North Allegheny’s Luke Rohan plows into the end zone past Norwin defenders for the game-winner Sept. 19, 2025 at Norwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Mason Brown pulls in a touchdown pass over Norwin’s Jake Knight on Sept. 19, 2025 at Norwin High School.
When North Allegheny rallied to defeat Norwin, 20-17, in Week 4, the Tigers used five big plays to secure victory.
They blocked a punt, got two long touchdown passes, a fourth-quarter interception and a stop by defensive tackle Lincoln Hoke.
Those plays prevented Norwin from earning its first win over the Tigers in program history.
Hoke stopped Norwin running back Giovanni Rothrauff a yard short of a first down in the final minutes.
Now No. 3 Norwin (7-3) gets another shot at No. 2 North Allegheny (7-3) when the teams meet in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinals Friday at North Allegheny’s Newman Stadium.
No. 4 Canon-McMillan (4-6) faces No. 1 Central Catholic (9-1) in the other semifinal at West Mifflin.
“Norwin is a good football team,” North Allegheny coach Art Walker Jr. said. “It is going to be another great battle.”
Norwin coach Mike Brown said his team learned a lot during that last meeting with the Tigers, who moved to 16-0 in the all-time series.
“We learned that we could play physical football with anyone we play,” Brown said. “Now we get a second chance. That is what the team has been looking for.”
After defeating Mt. Lebanon, 14-7, to clinch the No. 3 spot, Brown gathered his team and talked about making history, saying “so let us go make some.”
Norwin jumped to a 10-0 lead against North Allegheny in the second quarter when quarterback Tristyn Tavares tossed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Jake Knight, and Tristan Josephic booted a 24-yard field goal.
Then, the Tigers’ Caden Petro blocked a punt, and three plays later quarterback Brady Brinkley tossed a 31-yard touchdown pass to Mason Brown.
The Knights stretched their lead to 17-7 in the third quarter when Zack Pawling caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tavares.
But the Tigers made it 17-14 during the final play of the third quarter when Ben Kern caught a 63-yard slant pass from Brinkley.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Cameron Kushner caught a tipped pass for an interception to set up the winning score for NA: Luke Rohan’s 8-yard touchdown run.
Norwin got to the NA 23, but on fourth down Rothrauff was stopped by Hoke.
Both coaches agreed the blocked punt was the difference.
“We needed something big to happen, and we got the block,” Walker said. “Lincoln is the best defensive lineman in the WPIAL.
“He played a great game. Our defense bent at times, but we did not break.”
Rothrauff rushed for 102 yards, and Tavares added 82. Tavares also completed 8 of 18 passes for 108 yards.
Brinkley completed 10 of 19 passes for 132 yards for the Tigers.
“You never want to feel good about a loss,” Brown said. “The kids are going to continue to work hard, and we will move on. We must fix our mistakes and hopefully get back on the right track.”
Brown said he is counting on Tavares to have a big game.
“Tristyn does not have to do everything because he has talented players around him,” Brown said. “We just want to let him be himself. If he goes, we go.”
Brown said his defense did a great job in the first meeting. But he knows controlling the Tigers quarterback is the key.
Both coaches said the bye week came at a good time, especially for North Allegheny, which had dropped consecutive games to Pine-Richland and Seneca Valley.
“We were able to get some players needed rest,” Walker said. “We have been in this situation before. Getting a week off is nothing new.
“Things do not change much when you play a team for a second time. They know our players better, and we know theirs. Their quarterback is what makes them go. He is the player we must contain.”
This is Norwin’s second time in the semifinals. The Knights lost to McKeesport, 43-16, in 1999.
Norwin’s last playoff win came in 2007, a 29-14 victory against Woodland Hills.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: North Allegheny, Norwin
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