Late Field Goal Lifts Canon-McMillan over North Allegheny
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, pfn, Playoffs
Stone Manges | November 14, 2026
Much like the weather on Friday night, the offenses came out cold. But after things started to heat up, Canon-McMillan slid past the North Allegheny Tigers 24-21 to advance to the WPIAL 6A title game next weekend.
The first four drives of the game ended in punts, two for each side. It wasn’t until three minutes into the second quarter that we finally had our first points of the night.
North Allegheny quarterback Brady Brinkley scrambled out to his right and took off to the endzone for a 61-yard touchdown and gave the Tigers the first score of the night.
Life! Brady Brinkley runs for a 61 yard touchdown to put the Tigers in front first.
North Allegheny – 7
Canon McMillan – 0
9:08 Q2@nafootball_tfl @BradyBrink1 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard https://t.co/QtNYyCnyTu
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
Canon-McMillan and running back Bryce Collins finally started to wake up their next drive after falling down 7-0. Collins had a 38-yard scamper to set the Big Macs inside of Tiger land, a forth conversion of 25-yards to keep the drive alive, and a reception to set up shop at the six yard line.
The junior back finished off the drive by punching it in to tie the game at seven with just over five to play in the first half.
Bryce Collins responds with a 6 yard rushing touchdown to tie the game.
North Allegheny – 7
Canon McMillan – 7
5:24 Q2@BigMacsFootball @BryceCo86831130 @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard https://t.co/uyzxGQQ1Zc
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
Brinkley and his favorite target of the night, Ben Kern, responded accordingly before the half.
The Tiger duo connected multiple times to work the ball inside the Big Mac redzone. The late first-half drive ended with backwards pitch from just outside the ten to the endzone and gave North Allegheny the lead going into the half 14-7.
Ben Kern finds the end zone to give the Tigers the lead right back.
North Allegheny – 14
Canon McMillan – 7
1:46 Q2@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @nafootball_tfl @bkern_27 https://t.co/CykB5QxNNA
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
Both teams came out of the break sluggish again with two more punts, but on Canon-McMillan’s second drive things started to click.
Bryan Schmeltz kickstarted the drive with a 42-yard reception, and after two North Allegheny defensive penalties, the Big Macs were looking at a first down on the eleven.
Then a flag for Canon-McMillan appeared to set them back after Luke Sohyda held for a ten yard penalty. But he made up for it in the best way possible.
Sohyda snagged a 20-yard strike from Ty Jansma to tie things up again at fourteen.
Ty Jansma hits Luke Sohyda from 20 yards out to tie this game in the third.
North Allegheny – 14
Canon McMillan – 14
3:16 3Q@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @BigMacsFootball @lsohyda @tjansma_1 https://t.co/fvwrH4YQ6U
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
As the third quarter came to an end, the Tigers began another march into Big Mac territory. Sohyda was called for a facemask penalty and Ben Kern’s legs pushed North Allegheny to the ten. Canon-McMillan stood tall though and forced a field goal attempt.
Josh Gida pushed it too far to the left and rang it off the upright to keep the game fourteen-all.
The Big Macs couldn’t start anything on their next drive, going three and out, but a Rhys Maentz booted a 68-yard punt to the Tiger nine yard line turned out to be crucial.
A few plays later Roman Cimarolli picked off Brinkley and housed it to give the Big Macs their first lead of the night, 21-14. Brinkley appeared to be shaken up after being helped off the field following the play.
PICK SIX! Roman Cimarolli with the interception, returned for a touchdown to give Canon Mac their first lead of the game.
Canon McMillan – 21
North Allegheny – 14
7:44 Q4@CimarolliRoman @PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @BigMacsFootball https://t.co/CzPDwdQiBL
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
But North Allegheny and Brinkley would not go away that easy.
Brinkley lead his Tiger offense down the field, and in the face of hundreds of marching Big Macs and screaming cheerleaders connected with Mason Brown who silenced the thunderous crowd to tie the game with just over three minutes to play.
Mason Brown silences the crowd and scores to tie the game.
North Allegheny – 21
Canon McMillan – 21
3:12 Q4@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @nafootball_tfl https://t.co/ZlnqZbwosG
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
Canon-McMillan, with the game tied at 21, set up with a chance to drive down and take the lead with under three to play. Collins was given the rock most of the drive, and after a rush to the 19 yard line, he gave the Big Macs a scenario some can only dream of.
Tie game. Final play. Trip to the title game on the line. And it all landed on the foot of Rhys Maentz.
And he drilled it.
ICE IN HIS VEINS! Rhys Maentz drills the 36 yard field goal to give CM the lead with one second left!
Canon McMillan – 24
North Allegheny – 21
0:01 Q4@PaFootballNews @PFNBackyard @BigMacsFootball @RhysMaentz https://t.co/5HGuJ8lkkj
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
“I was ready,” Maentz said. “I was feeling juiced, there was no stopping me, and my guys were hyping me up so I knew it was going in.”
With the 24-21 win, Canon-McMillan has earned a spot in the 6A title game next Saturday night against Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
Look at how much it means to the Big Macs 🔥
@PaFootballNews @BigMacsFootball https://t.co/eYuUWeLvKh
— Stone Manges (@MangesStone) November 14, 2026
“Glory to God man,” said Maentz. “I love my teammates, its not possible without everybody, and I am so stoked for next weekend.”
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