Pick-6 propels Central Catholic past rival North Allegheny in WPIAL finals rematch
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Saturday, September 28, 2024 | 12:54 AM
Central Catholic’s Colsen Gatten returns an interception for a touchdown against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic kicker Billy Lech watches his 54-yard field goal with teammates during the second quarter against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner carries for a touchdown over the North Allegheny defense on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner is hoisted into the air after scoring against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
The Central Catholic student section cheers on the Vikings at the start of their game against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Roman Thompson prepares to play North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Roman Thompson celebrates after stopping North Allegheny on fourth down on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic quarterback Jy’Aire Walls hands off to Elijah Faulkner during their game against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Ashton Blatt (left) celebrates with Bradley Gompers after stopping North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s James Donaldson makes a diving catch in front of Central Catholic’s Chrys Black on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s James Donaldson is wrapped up by Central Catholic’s Chrys Black on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School
Central Catholic kicker Billy Lech kicks an extra point against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic kicker Billy Lech celebrates his 54-yard field goal with teammates during the second quarter against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Elijah Faulkner carries through the North Allegheny defense on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Da’Ron Goodwine celebrates after North Allegheny turned the ball over on downs during their game on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Zac Gleason intercepts a pass against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Colsen Gatten intercepts a pass and returns it for a touchdown against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Colsen Gatten (left) celebrates his interception return for a touchdown against North Allegheny with teammates on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Dylan Brokos celebrates with teammates after scoring against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic’s Chrys Black celebrates after breaking up a pass against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Dylan Brokos carries past Central Catholic’s Roman Thompson on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Liam Flaherty celebrates after picking up a first down against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Colman Craft catches a pass over Central Catholic’s Zac Gleason on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Brady Brinkley (4) leads the Tigers onto the field before their game against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Kyle Langdon (20) takes the field with his brother, Dylan, before their game against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Dylan Langdon plays against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny’s Kyle Langdon sacks Central Catholic quarterback Jy’Aire Walls on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny head coach Art Walker Jr. reacts from the sideline during a game against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Central Catholic head coach Ryan Lehmeier waits for a ball placement ruling against North Allegheny on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
North Allegheny head coach Art Walker Jr. and his staff react from the sideline during a game against Central Catholic on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, at Baldwin High School.
Against an offense with a sophomore at quarterback and a banged-up running game, Central Catholic didn’t allow them any stress relief in Friday’s second half.
The Vikings picked off a pair of passes about two minutes apart, one returned by linebacker Colsen Gatten for a touchdown that propelled Central Catholic to a 27-14 victory over rival North Allegheny at Baldwin.
In a rematch of the past two WPIAL 6A finals, the pressure only built.
“Tonight, we had the physical advantage and the mental advantage,” said Gatten, who returned a third-quarter interception 30 yards to the end zone. “I think we took over mentally, and that really changed the game for us.”
No. 1 North Allegheny (5-1, 2-1) was shut out after halftime.
This was the second regular-season win in a row for No. 2 Central Catholic (4-2, 3-0) against its rival. But North Allegheny has won the past two WPIAL titles, leaving the Vikings still wanting more.
“It means a lot,” Gatten said of the win. “But it doesn’t mean everything. It’ll mean more 50 days from now.”
North Allegheny quarterback Brady Brinkley was under pressure and sacked five times in the second half alone. The Tigers rushed for only 11 yards after halftime, so the offense became more reliant on him.
The first-year starter completed 13 of 23 passes for 141 yards and two interceptions.
Three plays before Gatten’s pick-six, teammate Zac Gleason ended North Allegheny’s previous possession with an interception in Tigers territory. Those two turnovers in the third quarter swung momentum to Central Catholic.
“Any time you can create turnovers in a game of this magnitude, it’s going to be important,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier said. “I thought our ability to push the pocket a little bit and keep some of those rush lanes closed … forced him into some unadvised throws.”
Central Catholic had trailed 14-11 at halftime before shutting out North Allegheny in the second half. The Tigers were outscored 16-0 over the final two quarters.
Ashton Blatt led the Vikings with three sacks. He had two in the fourth quarter.
“They were giving us problems,” North Allegheny coach Art Walker said. “We knew they were good. A couple of plays changed the dynamics of a game and momentum and all of those things. It’s a big learning process for us.”
The go-ahead touchdown for Central Catholic was a 17-yard run by senior Elijah Faulkner in between the two third-quarter interceptions. Faulkner rushed for 127 yards on 27 carries.
North Allegheny lost its top running back to injury in the first quarter. Senior Liam Flaherty scored on his first carry — a 15-yard touchdown to lead 7-0 — but he carried only three more times before exiting.
The Tigers turned to senior running back Dylan Brokos, who scored a second-quarter touchdown, before cramps slowed him down after halftime. Juniors Luke Rohan and Nate Orlando also spent time in the backfield out of necessity.
“That’s the way it goes sometimes,” Walker said. “That’s why we tell guys to always be ready. You’ve got to step up if something happens.”
North Allegheny had used two quarterbacks earlier in the season, with junior Jackson Failla also seeing snaps. But the team relied mostly on Brinkley in last week’s win and coaches stayed with him for all four quarters this time.
They decided against making any late change.
“There was a little bit of a talk about it,” Walker said. “But there’s a fine line where you don’t want to show one kid that you don’t have faith in him. And you don’t want to have the other think … possibly we’re going to give him more quality minutes.”
North Allegheny held a 14-11 lead at halftime after taking advantage of good field position to score twice.
The Tigers moved 30 yards in two plays on their first possession, ending with a 15-yard run by Flaherty for a 7-0 lead. Their second touchdown drive covered 40 yards in six plays, ending with a 7-yard run by Brokos and a 14-8 lead.
Central Catholic answered NA’s first touchdown with a scoring drive of its own.
The Vikings upped the tempo with a hurry-up offense and moved 80 yards in seven plays, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run by Jy’Aire Walls. Walls added a two-point run for an 8-7 lead.
Central Catholic’s Billy Lech kicked a 54-yard field goal in the second quarter that narrowed NA’s advantage to three. Lech’s lengthy kick was only 1 yard short of the WPIAL all-time record of 55 yards.
The Vikings’ special teams also earned a fourth-quarter safety on a North Allegheny punt from its own end zone.
A year ago, Central Catholic won the regular-season matchup against North Allegheny but later lost to its rival in the WPIAL finals. That’s an outcome the Vikings intend to avoid this time.
“This year in particular, we have a 24-hour rule,” Lehmeier said. “We’re going to enjoy this for 24 hours and then we’re getting back to work.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: Central Catholic, North Allegheny
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