WEXFORD, Pa. — The North Allegheny Tigers obliterated the Canon-McMillan Big Macs 49-7 on Friday to punch their ticket to the 6A WPIAL Championship Game.
Quarterback Logan Kushner ran for a pair of scores and added another through the air in the first half alone.
Kushner broke the ice 92 seconds into the game, outracing the Big Macs’ defense for a 71-yard touchdown off fourth-and-short.
The Tigers’ defense and special teams got off to a hot start as well. North Allegheny forced a quick punt and receiver Khiryn Boyd capitalized, returning the kick 58 yards for the score, and a 13-0 lead.
Canon-Mac began what looked like a promising drive, but a fumble unraveled the scoring threat as the Big Macs coughed up the football near midfield. North Allegheny couldn’t capitalize, with Canon-Mac blocking a 49-yard field goal attempt.
Boyd showed how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands once again midway through the second quarter, flipping the field on a 47-yard catch-and-run off a short pass from Kushner. It was Kushner who ended up scoring, though, putting the Tigers up 19-0 with a 15-yard rush.
North Allegheny continued to pile on 57 seconds later after another Canon Mac fumble. Kushner found tight end Daniel Sellers for a touchdown pass off the short field. Set up by a 38-yard catch from Boyd, Sellers made it 32-0 before the half with a one-yard rush off the right end.
The Tigers continued to roll in the second half. Liam Flaherty added an 11-yard touchdown carry, while sophomore Luke Rohan added a 12-yard touchdown tote of his own.
Canon-Mac broke the ice late in the third quarter on a 62-yard pass from Michael Evans to Zyan Howard.
WPIAL Championship Rematch
Elsewhere in the WPIAL playoff bracket, the Central Catholic Vikings defeated the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils, setting up a rematch of last year’s Class-6A title game—and a highly anticipated clash between the two teams earlier this year, which Central Catholic won 55-20.
The Class-6A WPIAL Championship will take place at Norwin High School on Saturday, November 18.
