The Avonworth Antelopes are now focused on the WPIAL playoffs after suffering a disappointing loss to North Catholic Friday night.

The 'Lopes held their own against the undefeated home team throughout the first half, with neither team scoring. In the second half, however, penalties helped keep the 'Lopes out of the end zone. An 80-yard kick off return by Jimmy Zubik set up the only Avonworth touchdown of the night by quarterback Tom Turnbull. Kicker Houston Hunt added the extra point.

North Catholic picked up two touchdowns and a field goal to win 17-7.

By JIM RUMBLE

Northgate football coach Mike Pipak has stated throughout the season how hard his team plays and the effort that they put in, even in defeat. Well, all of their hard work finally paid off. The Flames defeated Quaker Valley at home last Friday, 12-8.

"We did the things that we had to do defensively. Offensively, we moved the ball then sputtered a little," Pipak said after the game. He added, "This team really deserved to win with all of their hard work. They battled all night long."

By JIM RUMBLE

Terrible would be the word to describe the cold, damp and rainy conditions that prevailed when the Northgate Flames played Bishop Canevin at Dormont Stadium last Friday.

It also would be used to describe Northgate’s field position on almost all of their offensive possessions, a situation that helped the Crusaders easily whip the Flames 31-0.

While registering two field goals, Canevin kicker Drake Greer boomed almost all of his kick-offs into the end zone or at the goal line to force the Flames’ offense to play on a much longer field.

Bad field conditions, cold weather and a light drizzle slowed down the 'Lopes’ offense last week against Leechburg. But that didn't matter. The defense came up with two scores on turnovers and carried Avonworth to their sixth win of the season, 21-6.

The game was the 'Lopes' first of the season on a muddy grass field, and it showed. Avonworth's offense was unable to put any points on the board until the final play from scrimmage in the first half.

Head coach Jason Kekseo said that the bad weather and "terrible field conditions" were not conducive to their fast-paced offense.

Except for one quick score, it took almost the whole first half of last Friday's section match-up against the Carlynton Cougars for Avonworth's offense to finally get its engine going.

Nonetheless, on the wheels of Jimmy Zubik, the 'Lopes picked up the shut-out win at Lenzner Field, 27-0, and improved to 5-1 on the season.

"We came together as a team in the second half," head coach Jason Kekseo said.

The match-up marked the most intense, hard-hitting game of the year, with both sides playing until, and sometimes after, every whistle.

By JIM RUMBLE

In a clash between winless teams, the Northgate Flames' comeback attempt came up short when they traveled to Cornell last Friday.

After spotting the Raiders 13 first half points, the Flames put forth a courageous effort in the second, but couldn't get it done in the end as they suffered their sixth loss of the season 20-12.

After the game coach Mike Pipak said, "I'm so proud of our kids - they sucked it up and played so hard in the second half." He added, "We had our chances and just couldn't finish at the end."

Local football fans who survived a rainy first half got to see the real action in Friday night's games.

Avonworth found that the Carlynton Cougars came to play, as the visitors limited the Antelopes to seven first half points, keeping quarterback Tom Turnbull scrambling and targeting receiver Jimmy Zubik.

The Cougars couldn't hold the 'Lopes forever, however. The second half saw three Red touchdowns. Zubik scored three TDs on the night, while Turnbull added another and Brian Vales brought down an interception.

The final score was 27-0 Avonworth.

Two senior Avon-worth athletes shared the spotlight in an Oct. 2 assembly when KDKA awarded Molly Frew the "Extra Effort Award," and ESPN Radio 1250 named Jimmy Zubik “Athlete of the Week.”

Introducing Molly, KDKA news personality Bob Pompeani said that Molly "…exemplifies all that can be expected from a star athlete."

Basketball coach Bob Schulz described Molly as "…an outstanding athlete with a tremendous work ethic," adding, "…and she's always smiling!"

In addition to basketball, Molly runs cross country and plays softball.

The award included a $200 check for the school.

Four members of the Avonworth cross country team picked up medals during the Grove City Cross Country Invitational on Oct. 3.

Senior captains Scott Beatty and Matt Grzywinski placed 11th and 24th respectively for the boys’ team. For the girls’ team, senior captain Molly Frew finished in 12th place, and sophomore Rachel Shenck placed 23rd.

Senior Avonworth basketball player Tara Gallupe signed a letter of intent last Monday to attend Walsh University in Canton, OH, where she will pursue a degree in bioinformatics while also playing for the Division II Cavaliers.

Tara has played both forward and center for Avonworth for the past four years under the guidance of former head coach Julie Tullar and current coach Bob Schulz.

First team, second team, it didn’t seem to matter as the Avonworth Antelopes rolled over the Wilkinsburg Tigers last Friday, 41-12.

"We got a lot of people playing tonight," head coach Jason Kekseo said after the game.

The section away game started slow, with only seven points scored in the first quarter, but picked up quick in the second. By halftime, Avonworth led the Tigers 34-0.

Four different Antelopes scored touchdowns in the victory that improves the 'Lopes’ record to 4-0 overall, and 2-0 in section play.