Mt. Lebanon hosts North Allegheny
After battling the third-ranked team in Class 6A of the WPIAL before losing to Seneca Valley (3-1) on the final play, 17-14, Mt. Lebanon returns home to host No. 2 ranked North Allegheny at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 21 in scholastic football action.
Noting the Tigers beat the Blue Devils twice on their home turf last season, Mike Melnyk doesn’t think NA will be “intimidated” when it arrives in Lebo’s den.
“NA is difficult to play anywhere,” he said, “but I know our kids love the support of our home fans and get energized by them.”
Lebo will need more than enthusiasm to beat the Tigers as NA is off to a 4-0 start, having defeated COF Academy of Ohio, Norwin, Central Catholic and Canon-McMillan.
“NA is on top of the division and has beaten some quality opponents,” Melnyk said. “They are well-coached, always prepared, and big, strong, and fast.”
Art Walker, Jr., whose father coached Mt. Lebanon to prominence and won four WPIAL titles between 1980-84, leads the talented Tigers into town.
Among the players to watch are the offspring of Pittsburgh Steelers. Joey Porter, a senior wide receiver and defensive back, is a Penn State commit. Cade Hoke, whose father, Chris, played 11 seasons with the Steelers, is a senior linebacker. Justus Gildon also plays linebacker like his dad, Jason, did for the Steelers. Justus is a junior.
But there is more.
Ben Maenza ranks among the top tailbacks in the district. He rushed for 165 yards and three TDs in NA’s 45-21 win last week against Canon-McMillan. Additionally, Gunnar Fisher completed 6 of 13 passes, including a scoring strike to Porter.
The Blue Devils can take some solace in the fact that NA only led the Big Macs, 17-14, at halftime. Lebo, too, was deadlocked with C-M, 7-7, before scoring a victory. Plus, the Blue Devils played Seneca Valley to the wire. That contest, too, was tied at halftime, 7-7.
The Raiders capitalized on a Lebo fumble to start the second half. They scored on the next play to grab the lead for good.
Though Seth Morgan tossed TD passes of 47 and 53 yards to Carter Davidson and Tim Walters respectively and Casey Sorsdal converted the extra points, the Blue Devils were stymied by the Raiders’ defense on a fourth-down play to end the game.
“I thought our kids played extremely hard on both sides of the ball against Seneca Valley,” Melnyk said. “Both teams laid it out on the line. Seneca Valley just made one more play than we did. I was proud of our effort, but obviously not happy with the outcome.”
To gain a positive outcome against NA, the Blue Devils must control the five keys that determine all verdicts.
“The keys to the game will be much like every other contest: limit the turnovers, win the field position game with great special teams, negate big plays, and match their physical style of play. To win, we have to win the five key plays of the game…just not sure what five plays they will be,” Melnyk concluded.