In Convincing Fashion....

Brendan Coniker's State Championship Highlights
http://youtu.be/u-w0TRKpJV4

By Mike White / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

If this was a finishing kick, then North Allegheny put two feet to Coatesville's head.

North Allegheny, one of the most dominant Class AAAA teams ever to come out of the WPIAL, won a PIAA title and finished a perfect season with a record-breaking, 63-28 victory against Coatesville Saturday night at Hersheypark Stadium.

North Allegheny had talked about wanting to cap a terrific season with a strong finishing kick. After this performance, you can put the stamp of greatness right on North Allegheny. And after kicking Coatesville back to the Philadelphia area, the Tigers earned their stripes as one of the best teams from the WPIAL. In three PIAA playoff games, North Allegheny outscored opponents, 164-44.

North Allegheny 63, Coatesville 28

North Allegheny defeats Coatesville 63-28 in the PIAA Class AAAA state championship game in Hershey. (Video by Andrew Rush; 12/15/2012)

It was the second PIAA title in the past three years for North Allegheny, but the Tigers put 63 exclamation points at the end of this championship.

• The 63 points set a record for a PIAA championship in any classification.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-football/north-allegheny-completes-a-championship-season-in-convincing-fashion-666549/#ixzz2FE3kk8JA

HERSHEY — Two long fumble returns for touchdowns were part of a record-setting performance Saturday night for North Allegheny in a 63-28 victory over Coatesville in the PIAA Class AAAA championship at Hersheypark Stadium.

The Tigers‘ 63 points were the most scored in a PIAA championship, and it‘s fitting that their defense played a significant role.

Brendan Coniker returned a fumble 80 yards, and Kevin Edwards returned another 52, accounting for two of the Tigers‘ four first-quarter touchdowns. The 28 points were the most scored by one team in the first quarter of a PIAA final.

NA also became just the second Quad-A program to win multiple PIAA titles in a three-year span. Central Bucks West won three in a row from 1997-99.

“If you want to be remembered as one of the greatest of all time, you have to finish,” NA coach Art Walker said. “I don‘t think there‘s any question with this group of seniors that they‘ve got to be mentioned as one of the greatest of all time.”

Read more at TribLive 

State Championship, Live Broadcast

2012 PIAA Football Class AAAA Championship Game - North Allegheny vs Coatesville @ Hersheypark Stadium at 6:00pm EST, Saturday, December 15, 2012

The North Allegheny Sports Network will have all the action of this 2012 PIAA Class AAAA State Championship Game from Hersheypark Stadium as the WPIAL champion Tigers battle the District 1 champion Red Raiders.

MSA Sports - Internet Audio broadcast

http://www.msasports.net/broadcasts/2012-piaa-football-class-aaaa-championship-game-north-allegheny-vs-coatesville

Alternate sites

PIAA

http://www.piaa.org/sports/football/

PCN TV Schedule

http://pcntv.com/schedule/

Three-year starter plays pivotal role in Tigers return to PIAA final

Pittsburgh Tribune Review. An interview with Brendan Coniker.

By Kevin Gorman 

Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012

Brendan Coniker is one of only two North Allegheny players (Patrick Kugler is the other) who started on the Tigers‘ 2010 PIAA Class AAAA championship team. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior, a Richmond recruit, has 20 receptions for 383 yards and five touchdowns, along with two interceptions this season. The Tigers are 44-2 in his three seasons as a starter.

Q: What‘s it been like to be a three-year starter at NA?

A: I definitely feel blessed that I‘ve been given an opportunity and was one of the two guys that‘s been able to start all three years. I definitely worked hard. Sophomore year, my first varsity start, I was nervous. I didn‘t know what to expect and was uncomfortable. Now I know what to expect, what‘s expected of me every game.

Q: On which side of the ball will you play in college?

A: Defense. I‘m definitely real comfortable with the cornerback position. I can cover the best receiver on the team. I can play the field. I can lock down on the other receivers. I know what to expect from playing the receiver position. I know what they‘re going to do sometimes.

Q: How often do you hear about your controversial catch in the 2011 WPIAL final at Heinz Field?

A: I hear about that a lot. People always joke about it. When we went back this year, people said they lined the field three more feet, just for me. Last year, there were definitely a lot of comments after the game. It wasn‘t my call. I saw the replay and how I was clearly out of bounds. I kept my mouth shut. It wasn‘t my fault the ref made a bad call. Fortunately, it was in our favor.

Q: What‘s it going to be like returning to Hershey?

A: It‘s definitely an unbelievable feeling, being my senior year and everything. It‘s nice to go there again. We know what to expect. We have to keep our focus and treat it like any other game now. That‘s our goal every year. Last year, we fell short, and we were angry about that. We wanted to make sure we got back this year. It‘s all about football. Strictly business. We‘re there for one thing and one thing only: We‘re there to play and win the game. We put aside all the distractions and focused on winning.

Q: Did you get to eat some chocolate in 2010?

A: I ate some after the game, when people were throwing Hershey‘s kisses. I was catching them and picking them up. Oh yeah, definitely, they tasted better because it was in Hershey, and we won.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/football/3113461-85/definitely-game-coniker?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+alltribstories+%28TribLIVE+News%29#ixzz2F2HT2FxB 

PIAA Semifinals

North Allegheny (15-0), which has won 44 of its past 46 games, returns to the PIAA final for the second time in three years. The Tigers will play District 1 champion Coatesville (13-2), a 42-35 winner over LaSalle, at 6 p.m. next Saturday at Hersheypark Stadium.

Leftwich connected with Brendan Coniker on a 9-yard touchdown pass for a 21-7 lead. The Tigers took advantage of a turnover on downs at midfield with 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter when a 10-yard pass to Garrity was coupled with a roughing-the-passer penalty to set up Ben Ziolkowski’s 37-yard field goal with no time remaining for a 24-7 halftime lead.

Leftwich connected with Coniker again, this time on a fourth-and-2 at the Wilson 28, and the receiver stretched for the first down. Five plays later, Leftwich found Coniker for a 3-yard touchdown and a 31-10 lead.

“When we went for it on fourth down it was a huge momentum-builder for us,” Coniker said. “We definitely weren’t afraid of their defense.”







ALTOONA, Pa. -- The way they moved said everything you needed to know. Two quarters had been played. Two were left. This game wasn't over, but it didn't look that way.

Wilson's players walked slowly on the way to the locker room at halftime. North Allegheny's players were jogging. They were fired up. At halftime and by the end, this game was all about them, their physicality, their defense and their sharp execution on third and fourth down.

North Allegheny defeated Wilson of West Lawn, 45-10, Saturday at Mansion Park Stadium in a PIAA Class AAAA semifinal, advancing to the championship at 6 p.m. Saturday to face Coatesville (13-2) at Hersheypark Stadium in Hershey.

North Allegheny (15-0) had a scare, sort of, in roughly the same time it did a week ago. As it did against Erie McDowell, North Allegheny fell behind after allowing an early touchdown.

Wide receiver Brendan Coniker had a 9-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and Ben Ziolkowski kicked a 37-yard field goal with no time left in the first half.

North Allegheny added three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter -- a 3-yard pass to Coniker, another a 15-yard pass to Garrity (on fourth down) and a 13-yard run by running back Sean Idowu.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/high-school-football/piaa-football-all-right-moves-by-tigers-665524/#ixzz2EZUkBbst

PIAA Quarterfinals

North Allegheny's Brendan Coniker carries back an interception against McDowell in the PIAA quarterfinals.



CBS Local - Team Highlights

WPIAL 4 - Western PA Championship

North Allegheny wins 3rd straight WPIAL championship

North Allegheny’s locker room was rather subdued after Friday’s victory — until coach Art Walker entered and questioned the mood.

“Why’s it so quiet?”

With one smiling shout, the music grew louder, the atmosphere grew livelier and the weary Tigers celebrated their third consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA championship at Heinz Field, 21-14 winners over Woodland Hills.

It was their time once again.

“There is absolutely no thought of ever being tired of being here,” said Walker, whose team became the first to win three straight Quad-A titles.


Team Video Highlights

North Allegheny chasing third straight WPIAL championship

No team has won three consecutive WPIAL Quad-A football titles, a feat North Allegheny would accomplish with a win Friday at Heinz Field.


Lets Play. 2011 Highlights

http://youtu.be/3w8OUTzM8SA




Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/2989893-85/wpial-6-0-allegheny-north-novak-titles-190-5-10-won-hills#ixzz2Cxbf0MtV

WPIAL 3 - Semifinals - North Allegheny stomps Seneca Valley

(11/16/12) North Allegheny continued their historic bid toward a Quad-A three-peat on Friday night with a 47-17 victory over the Seneca Valley Raiders in the WPIAL semifinals at Martorelli Stadium.

North Allegheny is trying to become the first team to win three consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA championships since the classification was formed in 1980.

The championship game will be played at Heinz Field on Friday, Nov 23 at 2pm.

--congrats Brendan!

ESPN National Ranking has the NA Tigers at #15

WPIAL 2 - Quarterfinals

TIGERS ADVANCE TO SEMIFINALS,
BLAST BLACK HAWKS, 42-14

The 11-0 Tigers have defeated 27 WPIAL Class AAAA opponents in a row.

The Tigers opened the game with an eight play, 83-yard drive that culminated on a Leftwich touchdown pass to a slanting Brendan Coniker and NA grabbed a quick 7-0 lead.

WPIAL 1

TIGERS COAST PAST ALTOONA, 42-14

A stout defense was the key again for North Allegheny, bottling the Altoona running lanes, and forcing the Mountain Lions into mistakes. On their first two possessions, the Tigers' defense held Altoona to a total of zero yards, including an interception by Brendan Coniker.

WPIAL Playoffs - First Round
The playoff field has been cut in half as 32 teams moved on to the WPIAL quarterfinals after a wild night across western Pennsylvania.

Tigers get top seed

TIGERS GET TOP SEED, HOST ALTOONA IN FIRST ROUND OF PLAYOFFS

The WPIAL football pairings have been released and the North Allegheny Tigers will host the Altoona Mountain Lions in the opening round on Friday night at Newman Stadium. North Allegheny garnered the top seed as the only undefeated team in Class AAAA and take on an Altoona team that qualified for the post-season as the Wild Card team out of the Foothills Conference. Kickoff for Friday night’s game is slated for 7:30 pm and the contest will be broadcast live via the internet on the North Allegheny Sports Network.

Week 9 - TIGERS CRUSH INDIANS BEHIND HUGE SECOND QUARTER, 42-0

TIGERS CRUSH INDIANS BEHIND HUGE SECOND QUARTER, 42-0

North Allegheny scored 36 second quarter points en route to a 42-0 blowout victory over the North Hills Indians on Friday night at Newman Stadium.

Week 8 - Shaler

TIGERS LOCK UP SECTION WITH WIN OVER SHALER
North Allegheny captured at least a share of its fourth consecutive conference crown, defeating Shaler, 55-7.

Week 7 - Central Catholic

No. 1 North Allegheny grounds down No. 7 Central Catholic

It was a key victory for North Allegheny (7-0, 5-0), one week after a much-hyped nonconference road victory over then-No. 2 Gateway. The Tigers have won 21 consecutive conference games at home, dating to 2005.

North Allegheny’s Coniker chooses Richmond

Brendan Coniker had scholarship offers from Mid-American Conference schools, but the North Allegheny star has given a verbal commitment to play football at Division I FCS powerhouse Richmond.

Coniker also had offers from MAC schools Akron, Ohio and Toledo, as well as FCS Delaware and Old Dominion. Richmond is coached by Danny Rocco, whose family is from Fox Chapel, and Coniker was recruited by Spiders linebacker coach Manny Rojas, a former West Allegheny star.
“He went on a visit to Richmond and really enjoyed it,” North Allegheny coach Art Walker said. “He’s their top guy, as far as what I’m hearing from them. It’s a great opportunity, a good school, a great campus and he loved the atmosphere. He thought Richmond felt right for him and made the commitment.”

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound senior had 29 receptions for 477 yards and nine touchdowns, including a controversial catch against Upper St. Clair in the WPIAL title game at Heinz Field last fall. He was one of only two sophomores to start on the Tigers’ 2010 PIAA Class AAAA champions —Michigan recruit Patrick Kugler was the other — and played a starring role as a receiver and cornerback last season.


By Kevin Gorman

Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 1:00 p.m.

Week 6 - Gateway

NA runs over gateway.

There were no 300-yard passers, no 50-point offenses and no long touchdown catches when No. 1 North Allegheny met No. 2 Gateway.

Brendan's Highlights



Team Highlights

Week 5 - Butler

TIGERS BLOW AWAY GOLDEN TORNADO, 49-0

As the half wound down, the Tigers scored three more touchdowns, in a span of just 1:09, including a defensive score by Brendan Coniker. Despite dominating time of possession, Butler was held to just 198 total yards by the Tigers defense. Additionally, the Tigers forced four turnovers on the night.

Brendan's Highlights


WPIAL FOOTBALL - 2012

The Tigers will compete again in the WPIAL in Quad A along with 25 other teams. Championship play will begin in the tenth week (Nov. 2 – Nov. 3) with a sixteen-team bracket in each classification as detailed below and determined by the WPIAL Tie-Breaker System. The tournament will culminate with the four classification championships at Heinz Field (tentatively) on either Saturday, November 24, or Friday November 23, 2012. The WPIAL Tie-Breaker System will be used to determine section championship, play-off entry, and home-field assignment where applicable. If teams tie in section record for the section championship, they will be declared champions and each will receive a section plaque. The possibility exists that teams from the same section may play each other as early as the first round.

Week 4 - Pine Richland

TIGERS RUN AWAY FROM
PINE-RICHLAND, 35-3

Week 3 - Seneca Valley

The Tigers advance to 3-0.  There was a familiar play called early in the second half. The wide receiver option pass from Brendan Coniker was used to march on Seneca Valley, just as it was in other match-ups, including the 2010 Quad-A Pennsylvania State Championship. The Tigers defense trumps the heated Seneca Valley offense.


Video Links

Brendan's Highlights


WTAE Video


Post Gazette Video

Week 2 - Fox Chapel

North Allegheny's depth wins over Fox Chapel. Brendan rested to prepare for upcoming challenges.

North Allegheny 48 at Fox Chapel 7.

http://athletics.northallegheny.org/NA%20Sports%20Network/12football.html

Week 1 - Mt. Lebanon

HUGE SECOND HALF HELPS TIGERS BEDEVIL MT. LEBANON, 39-14

Mack Leftwich threw for over 300 yards, Gregg Garrity enjoyed a career receiving night, and the North Allegheny defense pitched a second half shutout, as the Tigers won their season opener, 39-14. Leftwich's performance earned him Wright Automotive Player of the Game accolades, leading the powerful Tigers offense after a sluggish start.

The contest began ominously for North Allegheny, as the offense fumbled away its first two possessions. Mt. Lebanon took advantage, drawing first blood on quarterback Tyler Roth's 1-yard touchdown plunge for an early 7-0 lead. The Tigers quickly answered with a scoring drive of their own, culminating with Zach Lyon recovering a loose ball in the endzone after Leftwich lunged for the goal line. The touchdown was set up by a 52-yard bomb from Leftwich to Brendan Coniker. On his route, Coniker split and outran a pair of defenders to catch a perfectly thrown Leftwich ball in stride.








Video

http://youtu.be/NRyz0ytQfi8


Articles


http://athletics.northallegheny.org/na%20sports%20network/12football.html

http://triblive.com/sports/hssports/2512103-85/allegheny-north-leftwich-yards-touchdown-tigers-game-half-roth-yard#axzz25DkIuh51



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Catching in full stride

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Defensive Coverage