High School Football

North Allegheny, Clairton win state football championships

HERSHEY, Pa. — WPIAL football teams North Allegheny and Clairton won their PIAA championship games in Hershey, Pa. this weekend.

Class AAAA North Allegheny dominated Coatesville, winning 63-28 on Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium.

Art Walker’s powerhouse team broke the record for the most points scored in a PIAA championship game and became the fifth WPIAL team to hold at least three state titles. Clairton has four.

Two fumble returns for touchdowns by Brendan Coniker and Kevin Edwards were part of the record-setting performance.  Zach Lyon and Jeremy Gonzales were also part of the Tigers’ strong defensive performance.

Alex DeCiantis rushed for 115 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Composed and confident quarterback Mack Leftwich completed 16 of 20 passes and threw two touchdown passes to Skylar Cox and Gregg Garrity.  Leftwich also rushed for 90 yards.

Leftwich, who was expected to go to Stephen F. Austin next year, has reportedly made a verbal commitment to UTEP.

Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler, whose son, Patrick Kugler, plays for North Allegheny, was just hired as UTEP’s head coach.  Kugler reportedly chose Tiger Leftwich as his first recruit.

NA senior Patrick Kugler is expected to play at the University of Michigan next year.

On Friday in Hershey, Clairton won its fourth consecutive PIAA Class A football championship.  The Bears became the third school in Pennsylvania history to win four consecutive titles.

Tom Nola's impressive team beat Dunmore 20-0, marking the team's 63rd victory in a row.

Standout players included Armani Ford, Terrish Webb and our Skylights Player of the Year Tyler Boyd.

Ford completed 10 of 18 passes for 150 yards

Boyd played with an injured shoulder and rushed for 117 yards, claiming fifth place on the WPIAL's rushing list.

Last month, Clairton won its fifth consecutive WPIAL A title at Heinz Field.

On Saturday afternoon, Aliquippa lost to Wyomissing Area in the PIAA Class AA championship game.  The score was 17-14.