Northgate’s Cody Walter picked up 132 yards rushing and scored a touchdown in the Flames’ season opener against OLSH Friday night. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By MEL PERKINS

It was a beautiful night for football at Northgate's Alumni Field. The Chargers of Our Lady of Sacred Heart arrived for their initiation into the WPIAL, and the Northgate Flames, as well as the Flames' faithful, welcomed the Chargers properly -- then the Flames properly lit up the scoreboard to spoil the Chargers' debut.

The Flames got off to a quick start Friday night. The Chargers kicked the ball deep into Northgate's endzone, and there was no return. Northgate started their first drive on their own 20-yard line. Quarterback Jon Girvin quickly picked up a first down. After short gains by Mitch Vacek and Cody Walter, Walter got the call and rambled 57 yards for Northgate’s first touchdown.Alex Marusic's extra point kick was good and the Flames took the lead 7 - 0. Northgate was on their way to establishing their run attack.

The Chargers, trying to establish their offense, found that the Flames had their own intentions. Northgate's defense quickly established their position of dominance at the line of scrimmage, and Northgate's defensive linemen Conner Dosher and Chase Staiger began by pressuring the Chargers' QB Matthew DiSanto. The pressure would become apparent when shortly before the end of the first quarter, he would go to the air and his pass would be intercepted by Northgate's defensive back, J. D. Hoover.

At the start of the second quarter, Northgate took possession after Girvin received the Chargers' punt. Girvin fumbled the ball, but quickly recovered his own fumble on the Chargers' 21-yard line.

After a 2-yard pick-up by running back Vacek, and Girvin’s run that moved the chains and gave the Flames a first down on the Chargers’ 5-yard line, Girvin got the call and rolled into the endzone to give Northgate a 13 - 0 lead over the OLSH Chargers. The kick failed.

Late in the second quarter, the Chargers, itching to get their offense running, received the Northgate punt. Capitalizing on a few Northgate penalties, the Chargers started their drive on their own 39-yard line. They then proceeded to capitalize on a big play up the middle, of the field, which left them in striking distance of the Northgate endzone. DiSanto then struck with a 13-yard pass to Kristian Durham in the corner of the Northgate endzone. The Chargers' extra point kick was blocked.

The score at halftime was Northgate 13 and OLSH 6. Coach Mike Pipak later said, "We were shooting ourselves in the foot with our mistakes in the second quarter."

The third quarter started with Northgate receiving the ball. The Chargers kicked it deep, and Walter brought it out to the 35-yard line. Northgate quickly went back to establishing their run attack, with runs by Walter, Rob Vickers, and Girvin. Girvin wrapped up the opening drive of the second half with a 23-yard touchdown run. Northgate ran Girvin right, behind Dosher and Staiger, to successfully complete the 2 point conversion. Northgate was up 21 - 6.

Northgate's offensive line, led by Ben Barsh, Dosher and Staiger, had firmly established their superiority, and the Flames’ run attack was ready to erupt. They would score 29 unanswered points in the third quarter. Girvin displayed strength and speed as he ran for two more touchdowns in the third quarter, one for 56 yards and one for 4 yards. Girvin's athletic ability was on display as he ran 56 yards for a Flames' touchdown. Girvin lowered his shoulder and stiff- armed defenders all the way to the endzone, leaving the Chargers’ defenders bruised and battered in his wake.

Defensively, the Flames never let the Chargers get a foothold in the second half. The Chargers' running game was never able to get established. As soon as the OLSH running backs appeared to get a glimpse of daylight, Flames linebacker Robbie Vickers quickly snuffed it out. Also, the Chargers' quarterback was under a constant barrage from the Northgate line the entire second half, and nowhere was it more evident, than when DiSanto dropped back and his hurried pass was picked off by Frankie Camello.

Northgate's special teams unit managed to keep the Chargers’ offense penned deep in their own territory most of the second half, and this played into the goals that the defense had in mind with their constant pressure. Dosher was able to get on the scoreboard, when he sacked the Chargers’ QB in his own endzone for a 2-point safety.

Northgate's offense quickly capitalized on the good field position, and Vickers, with a quick burst of speed, went right, got outside of the Chargers' containment, and scampered 32 yards for another Northgate touchdown, giving Northgate the 44 - 6 lead.

The entire fourth quarter was played under the WPIAL's mercy rule. With the clock running, Northgate's defense held firm with some hard hitting from up and coming underclassmen Alex Marusic, Kahil Condon and Justin Parra.

“This was a big win for the team, and our confidence after our struggles the past couple of seasons," said Pipak.

This is exactly how Northgate wanted to come out of the gate. On defense, Vickers led the team with nine tackles. On offense, Girvin finished the game with 164 yards rushing, and four TDs, and Walter finished with 132 yards rushing and one TD.

Northgate (1-0) will host Jefferson Morgan (1-0), Friday night under the lights, at Northgate's Alumni Field.