North Catholic football’s weapons outduel Highlands’ star RB for Allegheny 7 Conference title
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Highlands running back Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) hurdles North Catholic defender Peyton Book (21) during a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands quarterback Logan Thies (1) runs with the football as North Catholic's Angelo McDole (10) pursues during a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands running back Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) runs away from North Catholic's defense during a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Anthony Greene (1) runs with the football as Highlands defenders close in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic cheerleaders wearing cat ears cheer on the sideline during a football game between North Catholic and Highlands Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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A member of the Highlands band conducts the marching band during a football game between North Catholic and Highlands Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Members of the Highlands color guard twirl flags as the marching band performs during a football game between North Catholic and Highlands Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands dance team and cheerleaders perform with the marching band during a football game between North Catholic and Highlands Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands' Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) runs along the sideline with North Catholic's Louie Iaquinta (3) in pursuit in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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A fan cups his hands over his mouth in the stands during a football game between North Catholic and Highlands Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's Anthony Greene (1) runs with the football as Highlands' Thomas Naviglia (3) pursues in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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A North Catholic player dives near the end zone in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands' Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) celebrates with teammate Beckham Ochoa (32) as Ethan Calender (54) looks on in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands' Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) runs upfield as players tangle on the ground behind him in a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands Golden Rams Stadium. Photog/Special to the Eagle
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Highlands running back Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg (5) runs away from North Catholic's defense during a football game Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at Highlands High School. Caleb McCartney/Special to the Eagle
NATRONA HEIGHTS — North Catholic running backs Anthony Greene and Nathaniel Swisher got their nights going by keeping their legs churning through every tackle attempt.
The duo ended the night the same way, combining for 247 yards on the ground during North Catholic football’s 38-17 win over Highlands at Golden Ram Stadium on Friday night.
The biggest statement in the early game, though, came on the Trojans’ first play from scrimmage when Will Waskiewicz took a pass in the flat 83 yards to the house after just 19 total seconds had ticked off the clock.
“That’s exactly how we want to get it drawn up,” North Catholic head coach Chris Rizzo said about his team’s the combination of consistent running and successful deep shots.
The win for North Catholic (7-3, 6-0 Allegheny 7) capped a seven-game winning streak and 6-0 run through the Allegheny 7 Conference for the league title in what was effectively a championship game. Both teams will make the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs, and the brackets will be announced Saturday.
That being said, Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg tossed his hat in the ring for spectacle of the game. The Division I-bound bell cow amassed 259 rushing yards for the Rams (7-3, 4-2).
“That young man is a hell of a football player. You don’t have a game plan for him. What you do have is a commitment from your defense to limit his explosive plays,” Rizzo said. “You make them snap it again. He’s allowed to cross every line but the last one.”
That strategy worked out well for the Trojans. Owen-Cratsenberg scattered some big plays and scored two touchdowns, but North Catholic’s high-octane offense always kept it comfortably ahead.
“He’s a great running back. All respect to him. He deserves the attention,” Greene said. “It was a good game going back and forth — he had a big run, then I would have a big run.”
Highlands head coach Matt Bonislawski was impressed seeing Owen-Cratsenberg keep the wheels turning after consecutive 300-yard games.
“He’s a workhorse. He’s really, really talented,” Bonislawski said. “When we move people, he finds creases and he can run. … He’s a great leader and great teammate. The kids love blocking for him.”
Owen-Cratsenberg’s most impressive play may have been the incredible, unintentional double reverse he pulled for 34 yards on the first play of the second half, breathing life into the Golden Rams’ offense. The drive stalled out, though, and Highlands kicked a field goal to cut the deficit to 18.
The Trojans scored on both of their final two drives, cementing their victory.
Not to get lost in the shuffle, Swisher made sure to deliver several punishing runs down the line, an effort which Greene greatly appreciated.
“I’ll get a big run, then he comes in and punches again,” Greene said.
Complementing the running game was the connection between quarterback Will Toprani and his top wideout. Waskiewicz had 177 receiving yards, pushing the Trojans to over 400 yards from scrimmage, all told.
“It was just a complete football game by our guys and our coaches,” Rizzo said. “A testament to our trenches because if you want to win big time football, especially down the road, you’ve got to be able to run the football.”
North Catholic 21 7 7 3 — 38
Highlands 7 0 3 7 — 17
First quarter
N — William Waskiewicz 83 pass from William Toprani (Jackson Schlegel kick), 11:41
N — Anthony Greene 1 run (Schlegel kick)0, 4:03
N — Waskiewicz 55 pass from Toprani (Schlegel kick), 2:50
N — Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg 85 run (Jackson Babinsack Kick)
Second Quarter
N — Greene 5 run (Schlegel kick), 1:30
Third Quarter
N — Babinsack field goal, 7:34
N — Waskiewicz 25 pass from Toprani (Schlegel kick)
Fourth Quarter
N — Owen-Cratsenberg 1 run (Babinsack kick), 9:04
N — Schlegel field goal, 1:18
Individual Statistics:
Rushing: North Catholic, Anthony Greene 23-183, Nathaniel Swisher 8-64, William Toprani 3-1. Highlands, Tevin Owen-Cratsenberg 30-259, Logan Thies 9-13, Beckham Ochoa, 2-19.
Receiving: North Catholic, William Waskiewicz 4-177, Swisher 1-25, Jack Croft 1-12, Louis Iaquinta 1-1. Highlands, Christian Pearson 1-10.
Passing: North Catholic, Toprani 7-9-215-0. Highlands, Thies, 2-6-10-0.
