A few flashes of lightning forced the WPIAL Class 6A championship to be delayed for about 30 minutes late in the third quarter Saturday.
The thunder came much earlier than that.
Roman Thompson ran for three touchdowns and top seed Central Catholic used a thunderous effort in all three phases to win a second consecutive WPIAL championship courtesy of a 42-7 win against No. 2 North Allegheny on a rainy night at Pine-Richland High School.
With the win, Central Catholic (11-1) claimed its seventh championship in 13 years and became only the sixth school to win 10 WPIAL titles. North Allegheny (8-4) fell short of winning its seventh title.
“We preached it all week, it’s about the collective,” Central Catholic coach Ryan Lehmeier said. “It’s not about any one guy. We know who leads us in tackles and who leads us in yards, but we really don’t talk about that. It’s about who can help us win. It’s not so much about what guy has the hot hand. These kids are so genuinely happy for one another.”
North Allegheny and Central Catholic were meeting in the final for the fourth year in a row. After the Tigers won back-to-back titles, the Vikings have now done the same, both in mercy-rule fashion. The Vikings thumped the Tigers, 45-14, in the final a season ago.
“They took the first two from us, so we had to get back with the extra two,” senior Ashton Blatt said. “It’s a real feeling. All my teammates, all my guys, we came together, and we knew what we needed to do.
Central Catholic was especially dominant defensively Saturday, limiting North Allegheny to 59 yards rushing on 34 carries and 204 total yards. The Vikings forced two turnovers, collected five sacks, and held North Allegheny to 5-for-15 on third-down conversions. Ashton Blatt had two sacks while Thompson, Manny Regus and Xavier Harding contributed one apiece. Zach Gleason had an interception.
“Lights out,” Lehmeier said of his team’s defense, which didn’t surrender any points until there was just over a minute left in the game.
The defense also got into the scoring act when Blatt stripped North Allegheny quarterback Brady Brinkley, and Nick Curinga scooped up the ball and returned it for a touchdown just over a minute into the second quarter.
Central Catholic gave up an average of 7.3 points in eight games against WPIAL Class 6A opponents this season and has not allowed more than 10 points in any game since Sept. 6. The Vikings defeated North Allegheny, 21-6, on Sept. 26.
“The defense, we think we’re the best in the state,” Thompson said.
It wasn’t on offense or defense but on special teams where Central Catholic began its scoring binge. Jayden Alexander provided the big blow by returning the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to give the Vikings the early advantage.
“I think setting the tone for my team was a great thing. When we have energy, we’re going to win,” said Alexander, whose former teammate, Xxavier Thomas, returned the opening kick for a touchdown in the title game two years ago.
Added Thompson, “That kid is dynamite. Get the ball in his hands and he’s really explosive. There’s a chance he can score every time he touches it.”
Aiden Nasiadka and Sammy Macurak also produced a couple of long punt returns in the game.
Thompson’s emergence offensively has been one of the biggest storylines for Central Catholic this season, and Thompson came through again Saturday by scoring on three touchdown runs. Thompson scored on a 13-yard run on Central Catholic’s first offensive possession, added a 2-yard touchdown run to increase the Vikings’ lead to 28-0 just before the half, and his 1-yard plunge with 9:36 left in the third quarter helped make it 35-0, invoking the mercy rule.
Thompson has scored 27 touchdowns this season, and Saturday’s performance marked the sixth time he has tallied at least three in a game. He also ran for three touchdowns in a 44-7 semifinal win against Canon-McMillan.
“He’s a war daddy,” Lehmeier said. “The brighter the lights, the bigger the moment, the bigger the stage, that’s what he’s built for. In big games, our teams take his temperament. I think that we used that again tonight. He’s our vocal leader, our emotional leader. I can’t say enough about him. I love him to death. And his teammates do, too.”
Following the lightning delay, Alexander raced down the sideline for a 58-yard touchdown run to extend the advantage to 42-0 with 11:46 left to play. North Allegheny finally got on the board when Brinkley found Cameron Kushner for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:09 left.
Thompson (95 yards), Alexander (62) and Chrys Black (62) all ran the ball well for Central Catholic, which rushed for 232 yards on 25 carries. Owen Herrick was 3 of 8 passing for 37 yards.
Brinkley completed 12 of 23 passes for 145 yards for North Allegheny, while Luke Rohan led the rushing attack with 40 yards on 19 carries.
Central Catholic will next begin pursuit of a fifth PIAA title when the Vikings play District 6 champion State College (10-2) in next weekend’s quarterfinals. State College beat District 2 champ Wilkes-Barre, 52-0, in Saturday’s first round. Central Catholic topped State College, 41-19, in last year’s quarterfinals. The Vikings went on to lose in the final.
“It would mean the world to me,” Alexander said of winning a state title. “I feel like going out with a bang means a lot.”
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.