2-1
|
Past Editions
Lemmon Leads Canes over
North Allegheny
Next Game
Pittsburgh Central Catholic 9/25
Sign
the Red Hurricane Report Guestbook
View the Red Hurricane
Report Guestbook
Tonight the Canes hit the road to Newman Stadium in Wexford (a place where NA hasn’t lost since 1993) to face the latest version of a Hurricane arch rival, the North Allegheny Tigers. The Canes all-time record against the Tigers is 6-8-1 with the Canes having won the last two meetings. North Allegheny was up for this game and had been pointing to it since the Hurricanes defeated them in the WPIAL Championship game last year.
But after winning the coin toss and allowing to Canes to receive, it was all down hill for North Allegheny. Led by four touchdowns by QB Corey Lemmon, a Hurricane more powerful than Floyd wrecked havoc on the vaunted North Allegheny Tigers, blowing them away 35 -14.
The Tigers kicked the opening kick off out of bounds and the Canes started in good field position at the 35. The first series for New Castle went nowhere and the Canes punted it back to NA.
Starting at their own 25 the Tigers started to work running their option offence. After gaining a quick first down NA faced a 3rd and 4 at their 41. Cane LB Qualin Davis read the play and nailed the runner for a 5 yard loss. Forcing the Tigers to punt.
Another kicking blunder by North Allegheny, this one an 16 yard punt, gave the Canes good field position again. This time at their own 48. New Castle with a backfield full of seniors and an offensive line that averages 6’3" 260 just took it to the Tigers.
John Rosati twice for 4 yards each. Then Corey Lemmon kept it twice for 10 more. Justin Sheldone ran twice for nine yards putting the Canes at the NA 25. Three plays later Andy Fry ran for 11 yards giving the Canes a first and goal at the nine yard line. Lemmon carried twice then hit Sheldone for an eight yard completion to the 4. On the next play Sheldone blasted his way into the endzone for the game’s first score. Pasquale Romano’s PAT was good and the Canes led after 7-0 with just .30 sec to go in the first period.
North Allegheny received the ensuing kickoff and began at their own 15 yard line.
The Tigers worked their way out to midfield but a fumbled snap on a 2nd and 1 left them with a 3rd and 7, and the Canes held forcing a punt.
New Castle started its next drive at its own 12. Runs of three and 10 gave the Cane a little breathing room. On second and 10 Devon James ran for 4 yards and left the Canes with a 3rd and 4 at the 31. At that point Lemmon called his number again and took off for a 42 yard run putting the Canes deep in Tiger Country at the 28. 18 yards by Sheldone then a 10 yard sprint to the endzone by Lemmon plus a made PAT gave the Red Hurricanes 14-0 lead at the 5:24 mark.
The Canes stuffed the Tigers on their next possession. Starting at their 32 after a 22 yard return, Davis immediately nailed the quarterback for a five yard loss. An incomplete pass and a run for no gain and NA was punting again.
Beginning at their own 41 the Hurricanes gained just two yards on three plays and had to punt. But a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Canes new life. A 14 yard run by Rosati put New Castle inside the Tigers 30 but a bad pitch from Lemmon backed the Canes up 8 yards. New Castle could not get the yardage back and went for it on a 4th and 16, turning the ball over on downs with only 1:02 left in the first half.
The half ended with NA near midfield. The New Castle Red Hurricanes led at the half 14-0.
In the first half the Canes had 168 yards rushing while the Tigers were held to just 40 yards rushing and 15 yards passing.
North Allegheny received the second half kickoff and quickly faced a 3rd and 8. Dropping back to pass QB Mike Kirow threw it out in the flat. That’s where Qualin Davis intercepted it and ran 39 yards getting tackled on the one.
Lemmon up the middle two plays later and after another good PAT it was 21-0 Canes just 2:11 into the second half.
The Canes only weakness tonight was covering kicks and this was not exception as NA returned it 52 yards to the Cane 38. The next play was a 33 yard qb keeper on the option to the five. Two plays later the Tigers were on the scoreboard. The PAT was missed and the score was Canes 21 NA 6.
Rosati fielded the ensuing kickoff at the 14 and ran it back 33 yards to the Cane 47. The first play saw Lemmon take off around the line and down the left side for a 53 yard touchdown run. After Romano’s PAT the Canes had answered the Tigers in just 13 seconds.
NA’s next possession started at their own 30. After a run for no gain and a 10 yard pass the Red Hurricane defense stepped up big. First Dustin Elliot stopped a run for a 2 yard loss. Then Jhamaal Payne slowed the qb down and Angelo Pisano finished him off for a 5 yard loss. Facing 3rd and 17 the Tigers went back to pass again this time it was Justin Finamore sacking the qb for and eight yard loss. NA punted it back to the Canes.
Starting at their own 32 the Canes ran on each of the next 13 plays eating up nearly 12 minutes, finally facing a 4th and 2 at the North Allegheny 16. Having an All-State kicker in Romano the Canes tried a 33 yard field goal. The kick, however was wide left and NA took possession at the 20.
After five plays including two penalties NA punted facing a 4th and 8.
New Castle had the ball at their own 48 with just 7:03 to play in the game. Rosati ran first for 13 and then for eight more. Andy Fry added two to get a first down at the NA 31. The Lemmon broke loose again for another touchdown, his fourth of the game. This time he used some fancy footwork performing a dancing matador spin move at the 17 to elude a defender. The Canes now led 35-6.
The Tigers fumbled on their next possession but the Canes returned the favor fumbling back at the NA 45.
The Canes now inserted their backups on defense. North Allegheny was finally able to crack the scoreboard again going 55 yards on seven plays. The two point conversion was sucessful and the score was 35-14 with just 1:11 to play.
New Castle recovered the on side kick and sophomore Alan Scott ran three time to run out the clock.
Corey Lemmon ran 16 times for 154 yards and four touchdowns.
John Rosati carried 19 times for 86 yards
Justin Sheldone 11 times for 52 yards and one touchdown.
Excluding the last drive against the reserves NA had only 105 yards rushing.
1999 Schedule
.
Season Statistics
Conference Standings
.
Team Roster