The WPIAL postseason kicked off last week and all 22 games took place as scheduled. Due to the PIAA playoff brackets, the WPIAL 6A Champion is slated to enter the state tournament at the quarterfinal level. The other WPIAL Champions all enter the state tournament at the semifinal level. This means that the WPIAL 6A Championship is this weekend while the rest of the classifications have their semifinals. A full preview of all of the semifinal games can be found here. Last week, North Allegheny and Central Catholic both flexed their muscles defensively and shut down Seneca Valley and Mt. Lebanon, respectively. Check out this week’s edition of the WPIAL Blitz Show for a rundown of all of last week’s games and a preview of this weekend’s matchups. Follow our WPIAL Twitter account @WPIAL_Blitz where we will be tweeting score updates and other information throughout the night.
“Small Player Big Play”
This year, our WPIAL coverage is sponsored by the Small Player Big Play App, which provides schools the opportunity to fundraise by live-streaming their games and events. Check out their Twitter page and get the app for free on Apple or Android devices.
This game will be broadcast live on KDKA/Pittsburgh’s CW from Martorelli Stadium in the North Hills. Interestingly, North Allegheny and North Hills are historical rivals even though they have not faced each other since the move to six classifications in 2016. The return to Martorelli Stadium may bring back some memories (either good or bad) for the North Allegheny faithful who are able to attend the game.
1. North Allegheny (6-0) vs 3. Central Catholic (5-2)
Friday, November 6 7:00pm
Martorelli Stadium, North Hills
North Allegheny: @nafootball_tfl, @NATigerAthletic, @northallegheny
Central Catholic: @PCC_Football, @studsect, @centralvikings
How They Got Here
North Allegheny has boasted the top defense in 6A, holding opponents to just 9.7 points per game. This is a matchup of strength on strength as Central Catholic has the highest-scoring offense in 6A, averaging 35.9 points per game. The other side of the ball is also a matchup of statistically strong units as North Allegheny was the second-highest scoring team in 6A (30.2 points per game). Central Catholic’s defense ranked third at 18.6 points against per game, but is coming off a shutout of a good Mt. Lebanon team that scored 37 against them just a few weeks ago.
After missing their season-opener against Seneca Valley was cancelled, North Allegheny was able to schedule a game against Penn Hills at the last minute. The following week the Tigers also had the misfortune of having Baldwin cancel on them. Heading into the Week 3 game against Central Catholic, the Vikings were seen as the favorites based on being the defending WPIAL Champions. North Allegheny came out and flexed their muscles on defense, shutting down Central’s rushing attack and coming out with a 35-21 victory. From there, North Allegheny topped Mt. Lebanon in a game that was not as close as the final 14-11 score. The Tigers then cruised through their next two games before Hempfield canceled the season finale. They got the top seed in 6A as the only undefeated team and topped Seneca Valley 21-7 in the semifinals in revenge for losing to the Raiders in the semis in 2016 and 2018.
Central Catholic is the defending WPIAL 6A Champions and was the presumed favorite heading into this season. Their defense had to overcome the loss of Pitt-commit Elliot Donald (nephew of Aaron Donald), who opted out of the season. After a strong 2-0 start, the Vikings were upset by North Allegheny in Week 3 as their running game was stifled. Central was able to survive an injury to star running back Eddy Tillman thanks to the efforts of Gannon Carothers and inserting Adam Obrin at quarterback after the North Allegheny game. After a dominant performance against Seneca Valley, Central Catholic looked back on track before blowing a 30-17 second-half lead against Mt. Lebanon. Central finished the season by pounding Baldwin and got revenge on Mt. Lebanon in the semifinals. The Vikings defense seems to have finally hit their stride, holding Mt. Lebanon to negative offensive yards after giving up 37 points to the Blue Devils 3 weeks earlier.
Recent History
Central Catholic is the defending WPIAL 6A Champions while North Allegheny is making their first championship game appearance since the year of the Ross Morgan Rager. North Allegheny’s last decade has been defined by streaks. The Tigers won three straight WPIAL AAAA titles from 2010-2012 then lost in the quarterfinals each of the next three years. In two of those championship years (2010 and 2012), North Allegheny went on to win the State title. After the move to six classifications, North Allegheny lost in the semifinals four straight years before breaking through to reach the WPIAL final this season.
Central Catholic is making their 7th WPIAL Championship game appearance in the last 8 years. The Vikings won last year’s title by defeating Pine-Richland 10-7 in a defensive struggle that was defined by their punter continually flipping the field on Pine-Richland. Central Catholic has won 4 of the last 7 WPIAL titles, winning the AAAA title in 2013 and 2015. After the move to six classifications, Central won the crown in 2016 and 2019. The Vikings only have one state title in the last decade, coming in 2015.
This is the 6th playoff meeting between the two schools but the first time they have met in the Championship Game. Central Catholic holds a 3-2 edge in the all-time postseason series. The first meeting came in 1988 when Central Catholic topped North Allegheny in the semifinals. Central would lose to Upper St Clair in the WPIAL final that year but go on to win the state title (more on that below). The teams would not meet again in the postseason until the turn of the century. North Allegheny beat Central Catholic in the 2000 quarterfinals but Central got their revenge the following year in the semifinals. North Allegheny would tie up the series again in 2010, beating Central in the semifinals en route to the WPIAL and PIAA titles. Central would return the favor in 2015, topping North Allegheny in the quarterfinals en route to winning the WPIAL and PIAA crowns.
Championship Pedigree
These are two of the most storied programs in 6A. North Allegheny has won 4 WPIAL titles and 3 PIAA titles while Central Catholic has won 7 WPIAL titles and 4 State titles. North Allegheny won the WPIAL AAAA Championship in 1990, 2010, 2011, and 2012. The Tigers went on to win PIAA Championships in 1990, 2010, and 2012.
Central Catholic has won 7 WPIAL titles in 2003, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2019. Central also won the PIAA title in 1988, 2004, 2007, and 2015. Interestingly, Central Catholic did not win the WPIAL title in 1988 (they lost the Championship Game to Upper St Clair) but because Upper St Clair School District decided not to compete in the PIAA Championships, Central Catholic took their place and won the title.
Dramatis Personae
Both of these teams are loaded with talented players all over the field. North Allegheny is a run-heavy team and will deploy a number of different backs to run behind a sturdy offensive line led by Mike Dorn. In the first meeting North Allegheny’s line controlled the game on both sides of the ball, plowing the road on offense and shutting down Central’s running game on defense. Penn State-commit Khalil Dinkins is one of the top wide receivers in the state but the Tigers will use him all over the field and get the ball in his hands any way they can. Dinkins has accounted for 236 receiving yards, 200 rushing yards, and scored 8 total TDs between offense, defense, and special teams. In the first meeting between these teams Dinkins broke the game open with a second-quarter touchdown run then pick-six in less than a minute of game time. BYU-commit Nate Hoke is the anchor of the defense in the middle at linebacker. The son of former Steelers Nose Tackle Chris Hoke also plays fullback and scored twice in the semifinal victory over Seneca Valley last week. JR Burton (303 yards, 3 TDs) and Mason Kress (157 yards, 4 TDs) have also factored into the backfield rotation. Hoke missed the first meeting between these teams but Brady Leczo filled in admirably with a touchdown run on offense and an interception on defense. North Allegheny relies heavily on their running game and does not take to the air often, but when they do QB Greg Phillips has been efficient, throwing for 578 yards and 7 TDs.
Central Catholic came into the season intending to rely on their defense and running back Eddy Tillman, who led 6A in rushing last season. However, the game against North Allegheny exposed their lack of a passing attack and inability to come from behind. The Vikings made a change at quarterback, inserting Adam Obrin mid-season and it has paid off with Obrin throwing for 705 yards and 5 TDs. Tillman has still been the workhorse in the backfield, running for 850 yards and 7 TDs, including 150 yards and a score last week in the semifinal victory over Mt. Lebanon. Tillman did miss some time in the middle of the year with an injury and Gannon Carothers (205 yards, 3 TDs) was able to step in and shoulder the load. Anderson Cynkar has been a dynamic offensive weapon for the Vikings with a team-high 375 receiving yards, 185 rushing yards, and 4 total TDs. Eric Benson (335 yards, 4 TDs) and Matt Schmitt (245 yards, 2 TDs) have also been factors in the receiving corps. In the trenches, despite star lineman Elliot Donald opting out of the season, DE Bralen Henderson and two-way lineman Adam Kozera have both had strong seasons. Henderson is coming off a monster semifinal performance where he had four sacks in the shutout of Mt. Lebanon. The X-factor in this game may be Brandon Jackson, who has returned 4 kicks for touchdowns this season, including one in the first meeting with North Allegheny. Jackson is a junior Olympian sprinter and has been clocked under 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. Speed of that nature is rare at the high school level and Jackson has the talent to make teams pay for kicking him the ball.
