JACKSON TWP — Each turnover dug the hole a little deeper in Seneca Valley's 49-14 Northern Seven conference loss to North Allegheny Friday night at NexTier Stadium.

The Raiders (1-6, 1-4) looked primed to make the game competitive after scoring the first touchdown of the contest, a 14-yard pass from quarterback Gabe Lawson to receiver Luke Smith.

Seneca Valley coach Ron Butschle said the offense executed perfectly on the first drive.

“We had a good drive. We put some plays together. We didn't make mistakes,” Butschle said. “That's how our offense should look. We gotta carry it four quarters and maybe not one series.”

Butschle said the offense was inconsistent and turned the ball over too many times in the loss to the Tigers (6-2, 4-1).

After the initial score, two Raiders turnovers on back-to-back drives created a 28-7 deficit.

Seneca Valley scored once more with seconds left in the first half on another 14-yard Lawson pass, this time to running back Noah Mancuso.

The score gave Seneca Valley short-lived optimism, according to Butschle.

“We thought we would put together a drive and score on that first series, and then it's back to being a ball game,” he said.

North Allegheny linebacker Nikko Rankin intercepted a Lawson pass on the first play of the second half and took it 33 yards for a touchdown.

Butschle said that turnover was especially hard on his team's morale.

“We completed a screen pass, and they pop it out of our receiver's hands into a defender's hands and he scores on the first play of the half,” he said. “All turnovers are tough.”

Seneca Valley finished the game with five turnovers, three of which were interceptions by North Allegheny defensive back Joey Porter Jr.

“He's a good player,” Butschle said. “He took advantage of our mistakes.”

Butschle said they knew Porter was good heading into the game because North Allegheny has multiple threats. He said Porter is the one that broke free.

“He's a good player, and we didn't execute,” Butschle said. “That's a bad combination.”

The Tigers' victory gives them an almost certain playoff spot while also likely ending playoff hopes for Seneca Valley.

Regardless, Butschle said his team will take the field next Friday as if that dream was still alive.

“The positive here, is we're going to learn to overcome adversity, and we're going to play the last two weeks of the season like they're playoff games,” he said. “That's what I expect, that's how we're going to prepare and what we're going to expect from the kids.”

N. Allegheny 7 21 21 0 — 49

Seneca Valley 7 7 0 0 — 14

First Quarter

SV — Luke Smith 14 pass from Gabe Lawson (Tanner Sherry kick), 8:07

NA — Turner White 3 run (Dom Falo kick), 4:15

Second Quarter

NA — John Vardzel 2 run (kick failed), 11:07

NA — Vardzel 29 pass from Luke Trueman (Joey Porter Jr. pass from Trueman), 10:46

NA — Trueman 14 run (Falo kick), 4:17

SV — Noah Mancuso 14 pass from Lawson (Sherry kick), :24

Third Quarter

NA — Nikko Rankin 33 interception return (Falo kick), 11:42

NA — Trueman 70 run (Falo kick), 9:09

NA — White 10 run (Falo kick), :23

Individual Statistics

Rushing: North Allegheny, Luke Trueman 12-135, Turner White 16-78, Ben Maenza 11-31, Precise Colon 3-19, JJ Austin 1-10, Ryan Langdon 1-5, Jacob Sarabia 1-4, John Varzdel 1-2, Kenny Williams 1-2, Sam Gelosh 1-1. Seneca Valley, Noah Mancuso 14-57, Gabe Lawson 9-22, Jake Mineweaser 3-16, Ty Gross 1-5, Saige Ley 1-2, Luke Smith 1-0.

Passing: North Allegheny, Luke Trueman 5-8-93-1, Benjamin Petschke 0-1-0-0. Seneca Valley, Gabe Lawson 7-15-74-3, Ty Gross 1-1-8-0.

Receiving: North Allegheny, Corey Melzer 2-46, John Vardzel 2-38, Sam Humes 1-9. Seneca Valley, Luke Smith 2-27, Noah Mancuso 2-18, Jake Stebbins 2-17, Josh McLean 1-12, Malik Talaat 1-8.