Block of ages
WEST VIEW — Gabe Miller felt the ball against his hand and immediately thought of one thing.
“We're going to Heinz Field,” said Seneca Valley's junior linebacker, who blocked Ben Cinker's extra-point attempt with no time on the clock, preserving a Raiders' victory in a 28-27 thriller over North Allegheny in a WPIAL Class 6A semifinal Friday night at Martorelli Stadium.
Following Miller's block, Seneca Valley fans stormed the field, celebrating the Raiders' first berth in the WPIAL title game since 1989.
The Raiders had lost 49-14 to the Tigers just four weeks ago. Friday's victory was only the second time in 17 tries that Seneca defeated NA.
“We worked so hard for this,” said Miller. “I knew it was going to be close.”
The Tigers (9-3) scored on the last play of regulation — a 3-yard pass from Ethan Maenza to Griffin Sestili — to cut the Raider lead to one point. Prior to the point after attempt, Vestal called a timeout.
“We wanted to make sure we had our alignment right for the extra point,” he said. “We had Jack (Cook) coming off the edge and Gabe coming up the middle.”
Cook had blocked a punt and an extra point earlier this season, but it was Miller who broke through, after a friendly message to the lineman tasked with blocking him.
“I looked at him before the kick and said, 'Let's go, baby.'”
It was the conclusion of a game that went back and forth and included numerous big plays from both teams.
The Raiders broke a 21-21 tie with a 9-play, 74-yard drive that Hank Royal capped with a 22-yard touchdown reception from Jack Cook with just 1:27 left in the game.
It was the third touchdown of the game for SV's senior halfback. He also scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter and a 43-yard reception on a swing pass in the third quarter.
Royal ended the game with 179 total yards from scrimmage. He had just eight touches for 43 yards in the previous meeting with NA.
“It was big for us to get Hank involved tonight,” said Vestal. “Our line did a great job and Jack's passing was also key.”Seneca Valley's defense came up with two huge turnovers in their own endzone.Walik Shabazz intercepted Maenza in the corner of the endzone with just 13 seconds left in the first half, keeping the score knotted at 7-7.In the third quarter, the Tigers were inches away from breaking a 14-14 deadlock when Turner White fumbled into the endzone and Jake Holl recovered for the Raiders.SV took the ensuing possession and drove 80 yards, with Cook scoring on a 2-yard sneak to put the Raiders up 21-14 with almost a full quarter to play.“I give credit to Seneca Valley, their kids made the plays,” said North Allegheny coach Art Walker Jr. “But I also think our kids deserve credit. They came back (twice) and scored a touchdown with no time left on the clock. We just didn't get the point at the end.”Cook completed 15 of 20 passes for 259 yards and the two scores.White rushed for 131 yards and Maenza 108 for the Tigers.The Raiders (8-3) will face Central Catholic, a 63-34 winner over Pine-Richland, in the WPIAL title game at Heinz Field next Friday.“To win this the way we did and the fact that it came against a rival, this is very special for our kids,” said SV coach Dave Vestal. “We kept scratching and clawing tonight.”
