During North Allegheny’s undefeated run to the 2012 PIAA Class 4A football championship, the players often visited a local pizzeria the day after games.
“We’d go to eat at Cenci’s,” all-state quarterback Mack Leftwich said. “We’d be 40 deep in there on Saturday mornings after we watched film.”
Now those Tigers are a slice of WPIAL history.
The North Allegheny 2012 football team, which went 16-0 on the way to the district and state titles, was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame on Jan. 15 as part of a 15-member Class of 2025.
“The thing about it is there is no question or no doubt in my mind that they deserve it,” NA coach Art Walker said. “You’re proud and honored and happy for so many different reasons to have a team that’s going to be a part of WPIAL history forever.”
Motivated by a 23-20 loss to Central Dauphin on a last-second field goal in the 2011 PIAA Class 4A semifinals, the senior-led Tigers steamrolled to their third consecutive WPIAL championship and a second PIAA title in three years. They outscored opponents by an average of 42-9, capping the run with a 63-28 victory over Coatesville for the PIAA championship, setting a then-record for most points in a state title game.
“When we started lifting in January 2012,” Walker said, “they were so focused and determined from that point.”
Only two teams stayed within 24 points of the Tigers — Gateway (14-3) in Week 6 and Woodland Hills (21-14) in the WPIAL finals. The Tigers limited future NFL running back Miles Sanders of Woodland Hills to 15 yards on 13 carries in the second half of the WPIAL title game and held another future pro, James Conner, to 36 rushing yards in a 56-6 victory over McDowell in the PIAA quarterfinals. The Tigers finished as high as No. 4 in the national rankings.
“We had such a great bond and chemistry,” said running back Alex DeCiantis, who rushed for 1,291 yards and 16 touchdowns and is now a financial adviser in Philadelphia. “We developed a really, really, strong relationship. We did everything together.”
Leftwich, a first-year offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, earned Pennsylvania Quad-A Player of the Year honors. He threw for 3,331 yards with 45 touchdowns and only four interceptions and also rushed for 553 yards and 10 TDs. His top target, Gregg Garrity, caught 67 passes for 1,240 yards and 18 TDs.
Six players — Leftwich, Garrity, tight end Zach Lyon, lineman Patrick Kugler (Michigan), defensive lineman Jeremy Gonzales (12 sacks) and defensive back Brendan Coniker — were named all-state.
“We ended up accomplishing exactly what we set out to do,” Leftwich said. “I think, more importantly than any of our individual accolades, that really was the best team that I’ve ever been a part of. Through coaching, I’ve been on conference championship teams, bowl teams. But in terms of relationships and brotherhood and playing for each other, that is the closest group that I’ve ever been a part of.”
The ’12 Tigers are only the second North Allegheny team to be inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame, joining the 1988 wrestling team. They are the 11th WPIAL football team to gain induction. The only other from this century is Central Catholic’s 2004 undefeated state champion, also coached by Walker. The banquet will be June 6 — the same day as North Allegheny’s graduation — at the DoubleTree Hotel in Greentree.
Even as he climbs the Division I coaching ranks, Leftwich, 30, will always remember the ‘12 NA football team. He has a framed No. 11 North Allegheny jersey hanging in a rec room at his home, and a photo from the PIAA championship game with the scoreboard in the background is displayed in his coach’s office.
“I keep that on my desk everywhere I’ve worked since then,” he said. “That was a really special team and a special year.”
Good as gold
The 2012 North Allegheny football was inducted into the WPIAL Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Record: 16-0
Coach: Art Walker
Notable: Won WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A championships. … Outscored opponents 671-140, including 164-44 in PIAA playoffs. … Ranked nationally No. 4 by PrepNation, No. 7 by MaxPreps and No. 9 by ESPN.