WPIAL Semifinal Showdown: Seneca Valley Matches Up Against North Allegheny

Seneca Valley hasn’t been to the WPIAL semifinals in 15 years. North Allegheny is showing no signs of slowing down after two undefeated seasons.

Both are hoping to become WPIAL champions.

On Friday, the Two Quad North powerhouses will meet at North Hills’ Martorelli Stadium for the right to go to Heinz Field for the final game. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

No. 4 seeded Seneca Valley and North Allegheny already met once this season—and it didn’t go well for the Raiders.

The no. 1-seeded Tigers trounced the Raiders, 45-3. Seneca Valley has not defeated rival North Allegheny since 2002.

In anticipation of Friday’s big game, Patch takes a look at both teams.   

Seneca Valley

Under Head Coach Don Holl, who joined Seneca Valley in 2009, a new tradition of winning is emerging at Seneca Valley with back-to-back WPIAL appearances.

Led by senior quarterback Jordan Brown, the Raiders are 10-1 overall for the season. This is the team’s first time at the WPIAL semifinals since 1997. The Raiders also made it to the WPIAL quarterfinals in 2011, but lost to North Allegheny.

In last week’s win over Mt. Lebanon, Brown let loose three touchdown passes, two of them to senior receiver Jonathon Dorogy, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. RJ McCauley caught the other touchdown in the 32-13 victory.

Senior running back Forrest Barnes also had 141 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in Friday’s game, the PG reported.

North Allegheny

Coached by Art Walker, the defending WPIAL champions North Allegheny Tigers cruised to an easy victory last week, defeating Bethel Park 42-14 in the WPIAL quarterfinals.

Quarterback Mack Leftwich completed 11 of 14 passes for 132 yards and threw two touchdown passes, according to the Post-Gazette. He also ran for a third touchdown and was the Tigers leading rusher with 91 yards on 12 carries

Alex DiCiantis and Josh Bergman also scored rushing touchdowns and Elijah Zeise blocked a Bethel Park punt and returned it for another North Allegheny TD.

Undefeated for the second year in a row, the Tigers have defeated 27 AAAA teams in the WPIAL.

Who do you think will win Friday’s game? What do you make of this rivalry? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.