Allison Park, PA - North Catholic won a significant section matchup 28-16 over the Hampton Talbots last Friday, the 6th, at Fridley Field in Hampton. The Trojans came back from being down at halftime to beat the Talbots and propel themselves into the 2nd spot in the Greater Allegheny section of 4A on yet another tremendous night for football in Western PA.
Some Background: North Catholic entered this contest 3-3 on the year overall, with a 2-1 record in section. They were coming off a 21-20 loss to section opponent Armstrong the previous week, which was a game that left a lot to be desired for the Trojans at every position group. The offense couldn't finish a drive in the second half after scoring 20 in the first two frames, while the defense had trouble defending the pass, and to make matters worse, the special teams unit was losing the field position battle. This week, North Catholic was hoping to bounce back, especially against a 2-0 section opponent like Hampton, one of the two teams (Mars) that knocked them out of the playoffs last year despite finishing with the same record, and the Trojans beating them in overtime at home. The Trojans also made a couple of position changes offensively, giving senior Kaden Sarvar the nod to start his first game at quarterback this season, while Jason Siket, who was the previously starting quarterback, moved to wide receiver for the first time in his high school career.
Hampton entered this game 2-4 on the year, with both wins coming in section play, while all four losses coming to non-section opponents. The Talbot defense has struggled to stop a nosebleed so far this year, as before the opening kickoff, they were giving up an average of 37 points per game. Their offense has fared better and has been explosive at times. Led by sophomore quarterback Jack Shaunnessey, the Hampton offense can move up the field with pace, primarily through the passing game. That was a key component to their wins over Kiski and Armstrong. The North Catholic secondary had a rough outing against the Riverhawks just the previous Friday after weeks of success shutting down opposing teams' passing games. That is the weakest spot on this Trojans team. They have had games where they have been great, but they have been subpar when going up against a better-than-average quarterback. A lot was riding on this game for North Catholic because if they were to lose to Hampton, they would fall to 2-2 in section, behind three teams with Highlands right behind them. Having 4 wins in the section is the ticket to clinching a playoff berth in 4A. Which group would get a step closer in this one?
The Game: Hampton started with the ball at their own 35 and methodically worked their way down the field. They had the ball for over six minutes until on a 4th and 5 from the North Catholic 20, Shaunnessey threw an incomplete pass causing a turnover on downs. It was an 11-play drive that took 6:14 off the clock, ending in 0 points—an excellent start for the Trojan defense. The Trojan takeover had early promise; after two passes to Jack White got them the first down, Jack Fennell got the ball and ran with it for 34 yards to the Hampton 36. However, just 4 plays and a high snap later, North Catholic turned the ball over on downs at the 47 after losing 20 on 4th and inches because of the snap. Hampton made quick work of the excellent field positioning, as Shaunnessey dropped back and threw a 49-yard touchdown pass, that was just out of the reach of North Catholic safety Jason Siket, to sophomore wideout Willy Haselrig for early lead (7-0 H). It took the Trojans two drives to respond, and they did with a quick and efficient 8 play, 3 minute and 5 second drive that went 73 yards, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown run by Jack Fennell to tie it at 7. The following drive by Hampton fizzled out because of multiple tackles for loss by Gavin Kamody and Brady O'Hara, giving North Catholic the ball back, but they gave it right back off a punt after a 3 and out. This gave Hampton the ball at the North Catholic 42, with 2:20 remaining in the first half. On a 3rd and 8 from the 30 with under 30 seconds remaining, the Trojans were called for pass interference, giving the Talbots the ball at the 15-yard line, with an opportunity for a field goal attempt, which was converted, giving Hampton a 10-7 lead at the end of the half.
The majority of this second half was North Catholic taking the boots to the Talbots, starting with a blocked punt by Trey Purnsley at the 8:22 mark of the third quarter, which Jack Fennell recovered at the Hampton 23. Just 5 plays later, he ran into the endzone from 2 yards out for the touchdown to give the Trojans the lead for the first time in the game. North Catholic never looked back. They scored again at the outset of the fourth quarter after a 36-yard punt return by Gavin Kamody, which gave the Trojans the ball with a first and goal at the 2-yard line. The next play, stop me if you have heard this before, Jack Fennell punches it in from the 2 to put his team up 21-10. On the next drive, Hampton started at their own 6 after a great kickoff by Sarvar and went 3 and out. North Catholic got the ball at the Hampton 30-yard line for yet another drive with outstanding starting field positioning. The drive's first play was a 27-yard pass to Jason Siket, who brought the ball down to the 3, where Fennell finished the job for his 4th time in the game. The Trojans were leading 28-10. Hampton scored a touchdown quickly after an 80-yard drive; 64 yards came through the air. Hampton tried for the 2-point conversion to make it a 10-point game but failed, with North Catholic still leading 28-16. Both teams had long drives following that touchdown, but none manifested in points. Hampton had another 90 yards through the air in the final 6 minutes, but the Trojans' defense stood firm when their back was against the wall, and North Catholic became victorious for the 4th time of this season, with a 28-16 win over the Hampton Talbots.
Offensive Takeaways: The offense for North Catholic finally found their grove in the second half by capitalizing on their opportunities and not making panic plays. Sarvar was poised under center and had a stellar performance, throwing for over 100 yards and completing 64% of his attempts. Jason Siket showed the kind of man and competitor he is with his game on Friday, as he was the Trojans' number-one receiver on the night, catching 4 balls for 64 yards, all in big situations. He was dependable when they needed him to be and played his heart out, even in a position he was not as fond of. Fennell was excellent once again. He had 15 carries for 87 yards and 4 touchdowns on the night. Simply sensational once again. Unfortunately, center Oliver Gibson sustained a potentially severe foot injury during the contest, but we pray for the best results possible in the days ahead. Overall, this will probably be the look of the offense moving forward, and if the second half is a snapshot of what that might look like, then the Trojans will be a tough out, come November.
Defensive Takeaways: The defense was solid in their win over the Talbots, especially in the second and third quarters. Gavin Kamody was excellent, causing multiple incompletions and tackles for loss. Sarvar added 7 tackles on the defensive side of the ball to add to an already impressive night for him. Brady O'Hara was also great for the Trojans, with 4 tackles, including 2 for a loss. Trey Purnsley had another superb night for North Catholic with 5 tackles, 2 of which were also for a loss. The Trojans shut down the run to 30 yards in this contest but gave up 167 yards through the air. However, 90 of it was in the last 6 minutes of the game, but it still is a problem for the North Catholic defense. The pass rush must be better to minimize the stress on the secondary. They have to have consistent, forceful pressure on the opposing quarterback. If that happens, this defense will be fine. Look for an improvement in that department this upcoming Friday.
Moving Forward: It is a great time to be a North Catholic Football fan. This team is fun, they are exciting, and most importantly, they are winning. They have a top-notch coaching staff and exceptional skill players who are tremendous leaders on this team. The offense has a new look, and it worked out great against Hampton, and the defense is winning games without the secondary play they are capable of. The improved performance defensively will come in terms of the passing D, but the majority of 4A teams' most significant strength is running the ball. The Trojans have shut down every running game this season exceptionally well. That's going to stay the same moving forward. This team is moving in the right direction as they move to 4-3 overall with a 3-1 record in section, which puts them in second place in their Greater Allegheny section of 4A. North Catholic will take a break from section action this upcoming Friday, where they will take on the undefeated Avonworth Antelopes of 3A in what is poised to be a premier matchup in the WPIAL on October 13th at Avonworth High School. We look forward to seeing you there. Let's go Trojans!
