COLLIER TWP, Allegheny County — North Catholic’s attempt to complete a spirited comeback wound up with a turnover on downs.

Hopewell turned that into the winning points, driving 70 yards in six plays to polish off a 27-21 WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinal football victory Friday night at Chartiers Valley High School.

Vikings quarterback James Armstrong scored on a 4-yard run with 3:41 to play. The Trojans’ final possession ended with an interception on a fourth-and-24 play.

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North (8-4) had its eight-game winning streak snapped, but not without a fight.

The Trojans were forced to play without starting quarterback Will Tropani after he left the game following the first series. Sophomore backup Teagan Thomas stepped in.

“He did something to his hand and couldn’t grip the ball,” Trojans head coach Chris Rizzo said. “But I can't say enough for the job Teagan did in his place.”

Thomas, a sophomore, scored North’s only touchdown of the first half. His 5-yard run capped a 37-yard drive set up by a 40-yard Will Waskiewicz kickoff return. NC trailed 21-7 at the break.

Hopewell (11-1) got the ball to begin the second half but promptly turned it over. An errant pitch was recovered by Alejandro Parades at the Vikings 20-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Thomas found Jack Croft for a 14-yard TD pass to cut North’s deficit to 21-14.

The Trojans pulled even on Anthony Greene’s 37-yard scoring run with 3:38 left in the third quarter.

“I’ve been playing quarterback for four or five years now,” Thomas said. “This was nothing new to me. Just go in there and play.

“My teammates had my back. I love all of these guys.”

Aided by two pass interference penalties, Hopewell gained a first down at the Trojans 16. But Armstrong fumbled, and North’s Angelo McDole dove on the ball with 11:48 remaining.

The Trojans drove 53 yards in 12 plays, eating seven minutes off the clock, before turning the ball over on downs at the Hopewell 30.

“You can’t make mistakes against good teams,” Hopewell head coach Matt Mottes said. “North has a great coaching staff and a great team.

“Momentum is a funny thing. They got it and had us back on our heels.”

Armstrong wound up with 22 carries for 100 yards. He had runs of 11 and 19 yards on the game-winning drive.

“He wanted the ball in his hands after losing that fumble. Simple as that,” Mottes said.

Thomas threw for 99 yards for North. Greene rushed for 81.

“When Will went down, I didn’t know what was gonna happen,” NC senior Will Waskiewicz said. “Teagan came in and played his guts out. That kid just balled.

“I can’t say enough about what he did tonight.”

Rizzo felt the same way about his team.

“Those kids could have mailed it in so many times tonight,” the coach said. “They just kept on fighting, all the way until the clock read zeroes.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young men.”

North Catholic 0 7 14 0 — 21

Hopewell 7 14 0 6 — 27

First Quarter

H — Tre Cameron 10 pass from James Armstrong (Kaleb Gonzalez kick), 4:05

Second Quarter

NC — Teagan Thomas 5 run (Jackson Schlegel kick), 9:54

H — Brody Rock 4 run (Gonzalez kick), 5:03

H — Rock 4 run (Gonzalez kick),: 38

Third Quarter

NC — Jack Croft 14 pass from Thomas (Schlegel kick), 8:33

NC — Anthony Greene 37 run (Schlegel kick), 3:38

Fourth Quarter

H — Armstrong 4 run (kick failed), 3:41

Individual Statistics

Passing: North Catholic, Will Toprani 0-2-0-1, Teagan Thomas 10-15-99-1, Titus Minarik 0-1-0-1. Hopewell, James Armstrong 8-14-82-0.

Rushing: North Catholic, Anthony Greene 17-81, Nathan Swisher 2-19, Titus Minarik 1-(-3), TEAM 1-(-10), Teagan Thomas 10-14. Hopewell, James Armstrong 22-100, Tamir Tisdale 1-8, Nadir Wade 6-44, Brody Rock 13-44, TEAM 1-(-18).

Receiving: North Catholic, Will Waskiewicz 4-35, Jack Croft 3-42, Anthony Greene 1-5, Nathan Fisher 1-10, Quinn O'Hara 1-7. Hopewell, Avery Bokor 2-14, Brody Rock 1-18, Nasir Wade 2-14, Tree Cameron 3-35.