Norwin uses strong ground game to defeat Kiski Area

By: Bob Orkwis
Friday, August 30, 2024 | 10:21 PM

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For the second straight week, Kiski Area played out of conference, hosting Class 6A Norwin on Friday night to open a four game homestand.

The Cavaliers, who jumped in front 7-0, trailed 20-7 at halftime. Kiski Area went back in the lead 21-20 before the Knights scored the game’s final 13 points for a 33-21 win at Richard A. Diltz field.

“We wanted to start off fast, especially in the second half,” Norwin coach Mike Brown said. “But these kids, they battle, and that’s what we preach, too. Hats off to our kids, and hats off to Kiski as well as they battled to the end.”

Kiski Area had an impressive first drive, going 93 yards in 15 plays and using up 7 minutes, 17 seconds, with Landon Kucic finishing the drive with a 1-yard scoring run.

Norwin came back with three unanswered second-quarter scores, all on the ground: Gio Rothrauff scored on a 9-yard run, Jake Sincak on a 10-yard carry and, with 22 seconds left, quarterback Tristyn Tavares on a keeper from 3-yards to put the Knights up by 13 at halftime.

The Cavaliers retook the lead with two big passing plays in the third quarter. Senior Carson Heinle found junior Aven Shirley behind the secondary for a 44-yard touchdown.

They hooked up again on the ensuing drive, this time from 35-yards, and, with just over six minutes remaining in the quarter, Kiski Area took the lead 21-20.

Kiski Area coach Sam Albert was disappointed with the result but not his team’s effort.

“We made enough plays to win, but we made enough mistakes to lose, and that’s what happened,” he said.

The Knights again had the answer, scoring on back-to-back drives.

With 46 seconds left in the third quarter, Jackson Huss scored from a yard out. The 2-point conversion pass failed, but Norwin led 26-21.

Tavares added his second touchdown run of the game four minutes into the fourth quarter for a 33-21 lead.

Kiski Area was able to put together a nice drive deep into Norwin territory on its next possession, but it stalled at the 4-yard line, and the Knights have two wins to start the season to go 2-0 for the first time since 2014.

Norwin rushed for 221 yards and five touchdowns. Tavares had two rushing scores and completed 14 of 22 passes for 125 yards.

“Our plan is always to run the ball and stop the run, and we did that tonight,” Brown said.

Heinle, threw for 236 yards and a pair of touchdowns and added 35 yards on the ground for Kiski Area (1-1).

Kucic, who ran for 182 yards and four scores last week against Knoch, was held to 44 yards but did have the opening touchdown for the Cavaliers.

Brown said the Knights stuck to their defensive game plan against the senior running back.

“We were just trying to plug up as many holes as possible, but they also had a heckuva night from their quarterback (Heinle),” he said. “Now we have to shore some things up in our secondary.”

It will be 5A vs. 6A again next week for Kiski Area, which will host Hempfield.

“It’s an exhibition game early in the year, so there are going to be mistakes,” Albert said. “We just have to eliminate the mistakes and keep working to get better.”

Norwin returns home next week to face Latrobe.

Tags: Kiski Area, Norwin