North Catholic football plasters Quaker Valley as Logan Schade, Ryker Kennedy erupt on offense
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North Catholic takes the field to battle Quaker Valley during a football game on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic cheerleaders pump up the team as they prepare to play Quaker Valley in a football game Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's student section cheers for their team when a touchdown is scored during a football game against Quaker Valley on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's marching band plays the National Anthem at the start of its football game against Quaker Valley on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic's defense stops Quaker Valley's Logan Benedict (7) during a football game on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Christian Naylor (5) runs the ball during a football game against Quaker Valley on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Jack White (7) and Ryker Kennedy (14) celebrate Kennedy's touchdown for the Trojans during a football game against Quaker Valley on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
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North Catholic’s Tom Arth (2) returns the kickoff from Quaker Valley on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024. North Catholic won with a final score of 38-0. Holly Mead/Special to the Eagle
CRANBERRY TWP — There is a new Schade of red in North Catholic’s backfield.
Bursting onto the scene, providing stability and setting up the pass, Trojans running back Logan Schade lead the team in rushing with 100 yards on 12 carries, while scoring two touchdowns in North Catholic’s 38-0 win over Quaker Valley in WPIAL Class 3A Western Hills Conference football action Friday night at J.C. Stone Field.
“We finally got some stuff cleaned up,” North Catholic head coach Chris Rizzo said. “The guys are cleaning up errors week to week and that showed today, and we got young guys that are not playing like young guys, which is good for us.”
Schade’s ability to establish the running game opened up options for Trojans quarterback Joey Felitsky, who threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns.
His favorite target on the evening was Ryker Kennedy, who caught five passes for 155 yards and both of Felitsky’s touchdowns.
“(Kennedy) did really well today,” Felitsky said. “We both came here last year and have been best friends since then, and that was our first big game together and there will be plenty more. I’m really excited for the rest of the season.”
The North Catholic (2-2, 1-0) defense did its part as well in the section opener, holding the Quakers (0-3) to 162 yards the entire evening, and just 52 yards at the half.
“There are five or six plays you take out of that game and it’s a different game,” Quaker Valley head coach Jason Cappa said. “(North Catholic) made those five or six plays and we didn’t.
“Defensively we are making a lot of stops. Offensively we have not found our rhythm. We start moving the ball, and then we turn it over. When we stop beating ourselves we are going to be a tough team.”
The Trojans’ defense intercepted two passes from Quaker Valley quarterback Atticus Barr and forced a fumble in the third quarter.
“We have been preaching 11 hats to the ball,” Rizzo said. “The game is slowing down for a lot of these younger players.”
North Catholic kept its balanced attack rolling into the fourth quarter with a running clock in play.
Trojans running back Christian Naylor rushed for 25 yards on 10 carries and scored a touchdown in the third quarter.
Receiver Will Waskiewicz was second behind Kennedy in receiving yards, with 99 on three receptions.
“Our team feels pretty good,” Felitsky said. “It was a bounce-back from our first two games, and I think we are heading in the right direction.”
Quaker Valley 0 0 0 0 – 0
North Catholic 10 14 14 0 – 38
First Quarter
NC – Ryker Kennedy 57 pass from Joey Felitsky (Dylan Shantz kick), 10:11
NC – Shantz 27 field goal, 3:41
Second Quarter
NC – Logan Schade 18 run (Shantz kick), 6:01
NC – Kennedy 12 pass from Felitsky (Shantz kick), :02
Third Quarter
NC – Christian Naylor 1 run (Matthew Madonna kick), 4:31
NC – Schade 5 run (Madonna kick), :25
Individual Statistics
Rushing: Quaker Valley, Atticus Barr 6-(-1), Jack Diemert 11-28, Logan Benedict 1-4, Ben McHenry 1-3. North Catholic, Joey Felitsky 4-14, Christian Naylor 10-25, Logan Schade 12-100, Anthony Greene 1-3.
Passing: Quaker Valley, Atticus Barr 18-30-128-2. North Catholic, Joey Felitsky 14-21-290-0.
Receiving: Quaker Valley, Dominic Cox-Giles 3-31, Logan Benedict 4-12, Ben McHenry 6-16, Jack Diemert 5-69. North Catholic, Christian Naylor 1-9, Ryker Kennedy 5-155, Jack White 2-5, Will Waskiewicz 3-99, Nate Maher 1-8, Tom Arth 1-11, Brady O’Hara 1-3.
