North Allegheny answers questions with victory over top-ranked Central Catholic

By: Chris Harlan
Friday, September 25, 2020 | 11:33 PM

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North Allegheny’s Khalil Dinkins knew there were questions about his untested football team entering Friday’s game with rival Central Catholic.

Now, they’ve got answers.

Dinkins scored two touchdowns in a little more than a minute Friday night, the second on a 40-yard interception return as the second-ranked Tigers pulled away from No. 1 Central Catholic in a 35-21 victory at Graham Field in Wilkinsburg. The defense led the way with three interceptions and held Vikings running back Eddy Tillman to just 17 yards on 15 carries.

Covid-19 cancellations erased matchups with Seneca Valley and Baldwin in Weeks 1 and 2, but NA showed those setbacks weren’t serious.

“This definitely gives us a confidence boost,” Dinkins said, “because everyone was saying that Central was the best team. We basically showed that if we play hard enough, we can beat every team we play.”

NA coach Art Walker admitted he had concerns.

A week ago, his Tigers spent Friday alone on the practice field after their opponent canceled a day before kickoff. No disrespect to Penn Hills, their Week 1 fill-in opponent, but they hadn’t played a “meaningful” game, Walker said. Yet, after this win, he could praise everybody involved, from the players on the field to the coaches in the press box.

Running back J.R. Burton led North Allegheny with 108 rushing yards and a touchdown and fullback Brady Leczo also found the end zone.

Combined, the Tigers rushed for 173 yards on 41 carries.

“When you’re conditioning on Friday night at 4:30 instead of playing at 7:30, it’s tough,” Walker said. “You don’t have film. You don’t have evaluations. Our kids made the most of an opportunity. I tell you, they were excited to play after having it taken from them last week. They left it all out here.”

The win gives North Allegheny (2-0, 1-0) an early edge in WPIAL Class 6A. Turnovers, ill-timed penalties and missed connections in the passing game doomed Central Catholic (2-1, 2-1).

With North Allegheny’s defense keyed on Tillman, the senior’s longest run was just 5 yards. The standout tailback was kept out of the end zone until the final minute of the fourth when he scored on a 1-yard run.

Seeing Tillman stalled, the Vikings tried to spark their passing attack. Junior quarterback Branndon Pezzelle went 5 for 14 passing for 63 yards and two interceptions. Senior backup Adam Obrin replaced Pezzelle after halftime and completed 8 of 11 for 129 yards and an interception.

Their timing on deep throws wasn’t there.

Dinkins, Leczo and Mason Kress had North Allegheny’s three interceptions. Dinkins’ was the most dramatic. About 60 seconds after scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run, Dinkins got in front of a Pezzelle pass and returned it 40 yards to the end zone. Their 14-7 halftime lead grew to 28-7 entering the fourth.

“When he picked that off and I saw the green in front of him, I knew he was gone,” Walker said. “You get that little sigh of relief. … (A three-touchdown lead) changes what they have to do to get back in it.”

North Allegheny played without linebacker Nate Hoke, a BYU recruit. Leczo, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound linebacker and fullback, solidified the middle of NA’s defense, but he also rushed for 46 yards on eight carries. His tackler-dragging runs just after halftime set up Dinkins’ first touchdown.

“Brady Leczo was a complete warrior tonight,” Walker said. “If people haven’t noticed him, they can notice him now. What he does inside on defense and what he does offensively, he’s a hard-nosed throwback football player. He’s the kind of kid we rely on.”

A 9-yard touchdown run by Burton gave North Allegheny a 7-0 lead less than 3 minutes into the first quarter. The junior almost scored again later in the quarter but fumbled near the goal line. Offensive lineman Ben Witherow recovered Burton’s fumble in the end zone for a 14-7 lead that lasted into the third quarter.

In between NA’s touchdowns, Central Catholic’s Brandon Jackson returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score. The Vikings added a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Obrin had a 4-yarder and Tillman added his 1-yarder with 45 seconds left.

“Defensively, we were phenomenal,” Walker said. “To hold Tillman, to keep him in check. … We didn’t give him a big run. And if you don’t give him a big run, that’s an accomplishment in itself.”

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