VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE
Dinkins’ pick- 6 seals outcome in 3rd quarter
Fans stand behind a fence as they watch North Catholic warm up before their game against East Allegheny on Friday at East Allegheny High School. Stadium seating was limited, with two tickets allotted to each player.
This might not be the best team Art Walker has had in 16 years as North Allegheny’s coach, but it surely looks good enough to win another WPIAL title.
On a beautiful night under the lights at the newly renovated UPMC Graham Field in Wilkinsburg, the No. 2- ranked Tigers ( 2- 0, 1- 0) asserted themselves as the top dogs in Class 6A with a convincing 3521 victory against No. 1 Central Catholic ( 2- 1, 2- 1).
North Allegheny’s defense swarmed to the ball all night, shutting down Vikings running back Eddy Tillman and limiting the star senior to just 17 yards on 15 carries. The Tigers made several key plays on the defensive side of the ball, none bigger than Khalil Dinkins’ 40- yard interception return for a touchdown late in the third quarter to blow open the game.
“You talk about a game being in that balance … When he picked that off and I just saw the green in front of him, I knew he was gone,” Walker said.
North Allegheny outgained Central Catholic, 230- 202, but most of the Vikings’ yards came in the fourth quarter after the game had been decided. The Tigers defense allowed just 10 yards rushing on 21 attempts — and they did so without standout senior linebacker Nathan Hoke, who was out because of an injury.
“Never would have expected that. That is unbelievable,” Walker said. “[ Defensive coordinator] Doug Brinkley and the defensive staff and the defensive players get all the credit.
“That’s phenomenal. That’s the difference in the ballgame.”
Central Catholic quarterback Adam Obrin came off the bench in the second half and led the Vikings down the field for two fourth- quarter scores, but by that point the game was already out of reach. Obrin completed 8 of 11 passes for 129 yards and one interception.
Although Tillman received most of the attention going into the game — and deservedly so — it was North Allegheny junior J. R. Burton who stole the show with 108 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 carries. His backfield mate, senior fullback Brady Leczo, also provided a spark in the second half with a series of punishing runs for the Tigers, finishing with 46 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.
“He definitely got a chance to pick up the spotlight a little bit more, and that’s great for him,” Walker said about Burton.
North Allegheny’s defense set the tone early by forcing a three- and- out on Central Catholic’s first possession of the game, and Burton scored on a 9- yard run to put the Tigers up, 7- 0, early in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Vikings junior Brandon Jackson showed off his elite sprinter speed as he blew past North Allegheny’s coverage unit for a 93- yard touchdown.
With the score tied at 7- 7, both defenses began to settle in as the offenses struggled to move the ball. The teams battled for field position until Tigers senior Mason Kress returned a punt 28 yards to the Central Catholic 18. Two plays later, Burton fumbled the ball into the end zone, but senior lineman Ben Withrow dived on the ball and recovered it for the go- ahead touchdown.
North Allegheny took a 14- 7 lead into the break, then put together its best drive of the game in the third quarter to make it a two- score game. Burton and Leczo took turns pounding the ball up the middle before Dinkins finished off the drive with a 4- yard touchdown run on a direct snap.
“We were supposed to get that 1 yard just to get the first down, but to be honest, I was just going for the win,” Dinkins said.
On the Vikings’ next possession, Dinkins intercepted Central Catholic quarterback Branndon Pezzelle and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown to give North Allegheny a commanding 28- 7 lead.
Obrin then entered the game and led the Vikings on a promising drive, only to have it derailed by another interception. Central Catholic put together back- toback scoring drives to close out the game, but it was too little, too late.
“Total team win,” Walker said. “Everybody worked for this one.”