The North Allegheny football seniors walked under the lights at Newman Stadium one last time Nov. 16.
The night-time stands were empty and silent, but their achievements were as bright as day.
“We have accomplished so much and we’ve done it together over the years,” senior all-conference offensive lineman Jack Yatchenko said. “It’s been incredible.”
The Tigers’ 48-14 loss to No. 1 Central Catholic in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game Nov. 16 at Norwin didn’t diminish the careers of the Tigers’ Class of 2025.
Since arriving on varsity as sophomores, the seniors went 34-6 with two WPIAL titles, a WPIAL runner-up, a trip to the PIAA championship game and a conference crown.
They reflected on those memories following the loss to Central Catholic, taking the field at Newman Stadium under the lights after arriving back to school in a tradition started about five years ago.
“We turn the lights on and let them spend some time on the field when we get back whenever our last, final game is,” coach Art Walker said. “They had some quiet moments. They had some moments when they were screwing around and laughing. But the overall feeling was, ‘Yeah, we’re sad it’s done. But, man, it was a fun ride.’ “
North Allegheny, the two-time defending WPIAL Class 6A champion, finished 10-2, losing twice to Central Catholic.
“What these guys accomplished as seniors is pretty amazing,” Walker said. “It’s a really special group. They were hard workers, overachievers. They were very close, and I think when that happens you can go a long way.”
The graduating seniors include 13 starters — Liam Flaherty (RB/LB), who missed the final six games with a leg injury, James Donaldson (WR/DB), Carter Melzer (WR), Colman Craft (WR), Colin Moore (TE/DL), Gabe Porter (OL), Mason Hartung (DL), Kyle Langdon (LB), Dylan Langdon (LB), Nick Humphries (DB), Connor Frank (DB), Yatchenko and kicker Peter Notaro.
The seniors arrived in 2022 as sophomores with the Tigers coming off a 7-5 record, their worst mark in 13 years. With hard work and a tight-knit bond, they were the architects of a turnaround, winning WPIAL titles in ‘22 and ‘23 over rival Central Catholic.
“When the kids get along and want to be better for each other, the sky is the limit,” Walker said. “You can accomplish a lot of great things with a team that has that kind of chemistry and that kind of genuine care for one another.”
The 2024 season was dotted with special moments.
• Junior defensive back Korey Pitts and Humphries had game-sealing interceptions against St. Frances Academy Regional and Penn Hills, respectively
• Moore recovered a fumble forced by Kyle Langdon to close out a win over Mt. Lebanon.
• Humphries and Donaldson had back-to-back punt return TDs against Canon-McMillan.
• Craft and Humphries had punt return TDs against Seneca Valley.
• Melzer forced a fumble on a fourth-quarter kickoff return to set up the winning TD against WPIAL Class 5A finalist Pine-Richland.
• Notaro, an Alabama recruit, made a school-record 53-yard FG in an 18-14 win at Penn Hills.
The Tigers will return sophomore quarterback Brady Brinkley, who passed for 1,210 yards and 10 touchdowns and ran for another 506 yards with seven TDs; junior running back Luke Rohan (113-631 yards, 8 TDs); first-team all-conference junior linemen Lincoln Hoke and Ryan Logan; and Pitts, a second-team all-conference selection.
But the leadership of the senior class will be hard to replace. Yatchenko, a 6-foot-3, 295-pounder who will play at Princeton, described his feeling of loss after the Central Catholic game.
“Obviously, the game didn’t go the way we wanted it,” he said. “But it was definitely harder to think about the fact that I won’t be able to go and mess around with my brothers on Monday. I’d do anything to have another game with them.”
Tiger Pride
North Allegheny’s 2024 Big 56 all-conference selections
First-team
Offense
Ryan Logan, Jr., G; Jack Yatchenko, Sr., T; Liam Flaherty, Sr., RB; James Donaldson, Sr., WR; Dylan Langdon, Sr., at-large; Peter Notaro, Sr., K
Defense
Mason Hartung, Sr., DE; Lincoln Hoke, Jr., DT; Nick Humphries, Sr., DB; Connor Frank, Sr., DB
Second-team
Offense
Kyle Langdon, Sr., TE; Luke Rohan, Jr., RB
Defense
Korry Pitts, Jr., DB