Laurel Spartans Smash Northgate Flames on the road
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, pfn, WPIAL
Peyton Celesti | October 10, 2026
With a 4-2 record heading into Week 7, the Northgate Flames had been competitive in every game so far, something most Northgate teams haven’t done this far into the season in the last decade. But tonight, the Flames were outclassed by WPIAL 1A championship contender Laurel Spartans, who are on track for a second consecutive conference title.
The Spartans ran out to a 24-o lead in the first quarter, and the Laurel defense stymied the Northgate offense all night, which led to a 42-0 shutout of the Flames.
While Northgate’s defense forced a fumble on Laurel’s opening drive, the Flames turned it over on a high pass from quarterback DJ Smith, and Brayden Faulkner returned it for six.
After a fumble recovery by the Flames a leaping grab by Brayden Faulkner and a return results in a pick 6 for the Spartans
LAUREL 8
Northgate 0
Q1
@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard https://t.co/F0TuMmFXTB— Peyton Celesti (@PiratePeyton) October 9, 2026
While Laurel proved to be a two-dimensional offense with quarterback Carson Mahoney and big wideout Ethan Hamilla, the Spartans’ run game is what blew the contest wide open. Jackson McVicker’s big run on the first play of the ensuing drive set up a touchdown on a QB sneak by Mahoney.
This Jaxson McVicker Run sets up another Laurel score!
Laurel 16
Northgate 0
Q1
@Laurel_Football
@PFNBackyard
@PaFootballNews https://t.co/jzrPRssi0M— Peyton Celesti (@PiratePeyton) October 9, 2026
Northgate went three-and-out again, and the Flames muffed the snap on the punt, giving Laurel great field position; a one-handed catch by Ryan Weisenstein on a Mahoney pass put the Spartans up by 3 scores. Laurel led 34-0 at halftime.
The Flames (4-3, 2-1) play Summit next Saturday afternoon and will have two more home games to end their season that will determine their playoff hopes against conference foes Union and Cornell.
