South Fayette’s Naman Alemada throws 5 touchdowns in win over New Castle
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Friday, September 6, 2019 | 10:21 PM
South Fayette’s Joey Audia dives over the pylon to score past New Castle’s Donny Cade Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Nolan Lutz catches a touchdown pass during the second half against New Castle Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Luke Pschirer catches a touchdown pass over New Castle’s Julian Morton Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette quarterback Naman Alemada looks to pass against New Castle Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Ryan McGuire scores past New Castle’s Michael Wells Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Ryan McGuire breaks up a pass intended for New Castle’s Sheldon Cox Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle’s Michael Wells is tackled in the end zone for a safety by South Fayette’s Sky Aitken Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle quarterback Michael Wells draws a facemask penalty from South Fayette’s Drew Franklin Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle quarterback Michael Wells stiff-arms South Fayette’s Drew Franklin Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle’s Demetrius McKnight catches a pass over South Fayette’s Joey Audia Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle’s Demetrius McKnight carries for a touchdown during the second half against South Fayette Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle’s Demetrius McKnight carries for a touchdown during the second half against South Fayette Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
New Castle’s Jason Williams scores past South Fayette’s Charley Rossi during the first quarter Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Jimmy Matijevich (14) celebrates his fumble recovery with teammates during the fourth quarter against New Castle Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Joey Audia dives over the pylon to score past New Castle’s Donny Cade Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Joey Audia dives over the pylon to score past New Castle’s Donny Cade Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Nolan Lutz (22) celebrates his touchdown catch with Eli Snider during the fourth quarter against New Castle Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at South Fayette High School.
South Fayette’s Naman Alemada tossed five touchdown passes in Friday night’s 37-21 victory, but those throws weren’t the only ones that left New Castle coach Joe Cowart impressed.
Rather, Cowart pointed to a 21-yard back-shoulder throw early in the fourth quarter and a few other well-placed ones like it.
“Spectacular,” said Cowart, himself a former quarterback. “What a throw and catch. That was a third-and-eight … and the kid makes a great throw. They took advantage of those clutch-moment plays and we didn’t.”
The victory kept third-ranked South Fayette (2-1, 2-0) undefeated in the Northwest Eight. The Lions haven’t lost a conference game since joining Class 4A in 2016.
A 6-foot-5 junior, Alemada completed his first nine passes and finished 19 of 26 for 267 yards and no interceptions, an efficient effort in a complex offense.
He connected with seven different receivers and threw touchdowns to four different wideouts including a pair to junior Joey Audia. Ryan McGuire, Luke Pschirer and Nolan Lutz also caught touchdowns from Alemada, a first-year starter for the Lions.
“We’ve grown a lot since Week Zero,” said Pschirer, who also caught Alemada’s back-shoulder throw. “We have a lot more chemistry and we’re finding our place.”
South Fayette’s offense is designed to spread the ball around and Alemada made sure that happened.
“I wanted to get everybody catches,” said Alemada, who promised McGuire a touchdown for his birthday and delivered on the opening drive. “I’d get everybody a touchdown if I can.”
South Fayette scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and led 23-7 at halftime, a lead that reached 30-7 in the third.
“The game’s slowing down a little bit (for Alemada),” South Fayette coach Joe Rossi said, “but that’s any high school kid when they start to get comfortable.”
Senior running back Demetris McKnight led fifth-ranked New Castle (2-1, 1-1) with 139 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. After a slow first half against South Fayette’s defense, McKnight had 84 yards and both scores after halftime.
His longest was a 59-yarder in the third.
“We were more physical at the point of attack (in the second half),” Cowart said. “We were feeling our way around — I don’t know how else to describe it — to start the game. … We need to play faster and more physical if we want to contend with teams the quality of South Fayette.”
The second quarter sunk New Castle’s night.
Trailing 14-7, quarterback Michael Wells was stuffed on a fourth-and-one at South Fayette’s 30-yard line. Two possessions later, South Fayette celebrated a safety when a New Castle punt snap flew into the end zone.
Quickly, that seven-point South Fayette lead became 16.
“There were certainly a handful of moments in that game that if they go differently, it’s probably a much closer ballgame,” Cowart said.
Alemada considered Friday a bounce-back night. He’d thrown four interceptions at home in Week Zero, a nonconference loss to Upper St. Clair.
This week in a conference matchup that mattered more, he delivered.
Audia’s touchdown catches covered 47 and 12 yards. McGuire caught an 18-yarder, Pschirer’s was 11 yards and Lutz’s added a 3-yarder.
“It was surreal,” Alemada said. “I wanted to have a bounce-back performance at home after USC. We worked hard on this all week and I felt comfortable knowing that I trust my guys and they trust me. There’s no doubt we can score any time we want to.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
Tags: New Castle, South Fayette
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