Each of the first two weeks of the season, Norwin found itself trailing in the third quarter before rallying for victories.
“It’s been about believing in the next play,” Norwin coach Mike Brown said. “The kids just keep on fighting. Both games we found ourselves down at points and have been able to close at the end. The kids didn’t give up.”
And because of that, the Knights are 2-0 for the first time in a decade.
Brown’s bunch has successfully put the “win” in Norwin following a 26-14 triumph against Penn-Trafford and a 33-21 victory at Kiski Area. Norwin trailed Penn-Trafford, 14-6, in the third quarter and faced a 21-20 third-quarter deficit against Kiski Area.
Norwin’s victory against Penn-Trafford ended a four-game losing skid against the Warriors, while the win at Kiski Area provided the Knights with their first 2-0 start since 2014. The Knights last finished with a winning record in 2007, the same year they grabbed their most recent postseason win.
The Knights, who moved up to Class 6A this season following two seasons in Class 5A that saw the team go 3-7 and 1-9, boast one of the WPIAL’s most experienced quarterbacks in junior Tristyn Tavares, a three-year starter who was sixth in the WPIAL in passing yardage (2,459 yards) and 11th in touchdown passes (25) last fall, marks that were both school single-season records.
“His toughness and his intelligence on the field, it’s unmatched,” Brown said of Tavares, who has completed 23 of 35 passes for 306 yards and a touchdown.
Tavares’ passing numbers this season might not be eye-popping, but for Norwin, that’s kind of a good thing. That’s because the Knights are a balanced bunch these days as they have been able to run the ball very effectively, something that had eluded them a season ago when no player ran for more than 200 yards on the season. This season, however, the Knights are averaging just over 200 yards rushing a game. Seven of the team’s eight touchdowns have come on the ground, including all five against Kiski Area. Tavares leads the team with three rushing scores.
“It’s been huge,” Brown said. “[Developing a good rushing attack] was the focal point of the offseason. Not only did the linemen buy into getting bigger and stronger, but so did our H’s and tight ends. We’ve got three quality running backs (seniors Jake Sincak and Jackson Huss and sophomore Giovanni Rothrauff). The focal point since January was that we needed to get bigger, stronger and more physical.”
Seniors Shane Flynn, Colin Bruno and Evan Archer are all returning starters on the offensive line, which has also been getting strong play from juniors Lucas Altier and Patrick Schmook and sophomore Sebastian Summerville.
The line didn’t give up a sack in the season-opening win, so Tavares happily gifted them a box of Dunkin’ Donuts.
“After the last couple of years, him now getting time, I think he’s very thankful,” Brown said with a laugh.
Norwin’s next opponent is no joke, as the Knights will try to continue their perfect start Friday when it hosts Class 5A Latrobe (2-0).
Single threat
One of the WPIAL’s top dual-threat quarterbacks will threaten teams only with his legs over the next few weeks.
Fort Cherry star Matt Sieg suffered a broken right thumb in the team’s Week 0 win against Northgate. Playing with a cast on his throwing hand, Sieg did not attempt a pass Friday when the defending WPIAL Class 1A champions defeated Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 41-14. Sieg, a junior with offers from Power Four schools, still saw time at quarterback against OLSH, but he either ran the ball or handed it off on every play. Sophomore Josh Silveira did throw the ball for the Rangers, going 4 of 10 for 82 yards.
Of course, Sieg still made his presence felt against OLSH, carrying the ball 15 times for 79 yards and three touchdowns. He also added an interception on defense from his safety position. Sophomore running back Ryan Huey was the workhorse on the ground for the Rangers, finishing with a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
Just kickin’ it
On a night where booms in the sky led to some games being delayed, postponed or canceled, a few WPIAL kickers were busy booming the ball through the uprights.
Friday featured some long-distance field goals, none longer than the 51-yarder knocked through by North Allegheny’s Peter Notaro, which broke the Alabama recruit’s own school record. Notaro wasn’t alone when it came to making long field goals, though, as Hopewell’s Rocco Marcantonio made one from 48 yards and Upper St. Clair’s Jacobo Echeverria Lozano converted one from 46 yards.
Speaking of kickers, Olivia Bigger of Plum kicked a career-long 31-yard field goal on Friday. Bigger, a junior who also plays soccer for the Mustangs, had converted field goals of 26 and 28 yards a season ago.
PUP Bites
• Yough matched its win total from all of last season while improving to 2-0 for the first time since 2013 courtesy a 21-9 win at Charleroi. Quarterback Raidon Kuroda ran for two touchdowns to give him seven total touchdowns on the season (four rushing, three passing).
• In the longest game of the season involving a local team, Connellsville fell to Meadville, 48-41, in four overtimes. Connellsville, which is playing as an independent this season, held a 21-6 halftime lead. The game ended when the Falcons had a pass intercepted in the end zone.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.