MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — The North Allegheny Tigers lost 45-23 to a St. Joseph’s Prep team loaded with Power 5 talents in the 6A PIAA State Championship on Saturday.
Hawks quarterback and Cincinnati commit Samaj Jones showed why he’s considered one of the top quarterbacks in the country throughout the lopsided affair. The six foot tall, 215 pound quarterback completed 14 of 17 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. Jones also racked up 11 carries for 115 yards and three touchdowns.
North Allegheny’s key playmakers had their moments, as they did all year, but the Tigers simply couldn’t keep up with the Hawks’ overwhelming talent.
Division 1 Prospects Make Their Mark
Jones managed two rushing scores in the first quarter, driving deep into North Allegheny territory to end the frame. From there, the Hawks spread the ball around, as junior running back Isaiah West—who has offers from Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia—opened the second quarter with a 22-yard touchdown of his own.
A pair of WVU targets made their presence known for the Hawks in the second quarter. Linebacker Anthony Sacca collected an interception off a tipped pass, while 2024 receiver commit Brandon Rehmann managed an 81-yard kickoff return before finishing the drive with a 13-yard touchdown catch.
North Allegheny, for their part, managed to hold the deficit at 37-10 heading into halftime courtesy of a 34-yard field goal from kicker Peter Notaro and a five-yard keeper from quarterback Logan Kushner.
Jones threw his second touchdown of the game midway through the third quarter, then found fellow Cincinnati commit Elijah Jones—who hauled in an 80-yard touchdown bomb earlier in the game—on the two-point try to activate the mercy rule.
The Tigers managed to keep things interesting in the fourth quarter, as Richmond commit Daniel Sellers scored on a one-yard tote and Kushner found Division 1 prospect Khiryn Boyd deep downfield for a 52-yard score, but they didn’t have enough time to mount a comeback with the clock running.
Absurd St joes PREP is playing in a division among regular high schools…then they have the audacity to showboat lol give me a break.
I went to high school in Virginia, and they kept the prep and public leagues separate. Obviously it’s easier to do that between Alexandria and Richmond than it is Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, though, so both options have their flaws.
Should we call you a whaaaambulance?
When N Allegheny beat Taylor Allderdice High 61-0 there was no whining from their fans. But when the Prep lays the Smackdown on N Allegheny some of their fans start crying.
Wondering if the day will ever come when you realize you trolled someone because they refuse to live in a fantasy world where this is fair? No worries, I already know the answer.
We have a competitive balance rule that can punish teams like Aliquippa, but St Joes can recruit across all 50 states because there is nothing to move them to.
Recruit across all 50 states? Lol. Congratulate the kids on a great season and move on. Parents making excuses raise kids who make excuses and those kids deserve better.
This is a ridiculous situation. St. Joes had kids recruited from 5 states playing for them, against a public school that can’t recruit, and must use only kids that live in the school district. St. Joes kids only play offense or defense, while all public schools have to play kids that go both ways. Does any sane person think this is fair? It has to get fixed. Get with it PIAA!