SAFR Football Helmet Covers: Safer Through Science
 
PA Football News Scoreboard powered by Circle W Sports
 
Leading Edge Fundraising
 
 
 

Northgate holds off late rally from South Side

 
Tagged under: District 7, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, pfn

| September 26, 2026

When the Northgate Flames lost on Homecoming night two years ago to the South Side Area Rams, thanks to a second-half comeback capped by a walk-off two-point conversion in overtime to secure a 35-34 win, it dashed the hopes of any playoff chances for a veteran Northgate team at the time.

But this time around, although there were plenty of mistakes and plays they wish they could take back, the Flames came through with their backs against the wall late in the game and secured a one-point victory of their own, 21-20, their first road and conference win of the season.

Over the past several years, Northgate has struggled in conference play, and the South Side Area Rams have been no exception. Although this iteration of the Rams, who are 0-5 to start the season, is not the same team it once was, Northgate Head Coach Chris Lucas acknowledged that games in the WPIAL Class A Big 7 conference are rarely easy.

“They are always well-coached,” Lucas said. “They’ve played a lot of good teams. Their coach [Luke Travelpiece] does really well with the wing-t.”

It’s the Flames’ defense, specifically their ability to make each team earn every yard on the ground and limit explosive plays, that has been the difference this season and has held its own against the wing-t the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, the Northgate offense has shown its flashes but has left a lot to be desired. Several miscues tonight caused missed opportunities on drives that could have resulted in points.

“Penalties,” Chris Lucas, who is calling plays on both sides of the ball, said affected his offense the most last night. “Our offense is designed to play within the sticks, and when we have first and 20 and second and 20, it kills us.”

The biggest penalty that kept South Side within reach heading into halftime was a holding call on a long rushing touchdown for 2027 RB/DB Savian Baptiste that could have put Northgate up 14-0 in the first quarter, pending the extra point.

Instead, Northgate got behind the sticks and punted a few plays later, when the South Side offense found momentum on their next drive. But after a 4th-and-five conversion on a pass from 2028 ATH Todd Matijevich to 2028 RB/DB Cody Floyd set up a goal-to-go situation, the Flames defense stood tall and pushed the Rams offense backward, forcing a turnover on downs.

“They’re strong,” Savian Baptiste said about Northgate’s defensive line. “Without them, our defense wouldn’t be where it is right now.”

Although South Side scored on their next possession, the Flames’ front held strong to stop the two-point conversion late in the half to maintain the lead. At first, the conversion was ruled successful, but after a long discussion, officials overturned the call, which proved to be a huge swing in the game.

Northgate’s special teams have been a massive strength this season, and that continued against the Rams. Baptiste took the ensuing kickoff on a bounce and hit a big hole to the left for an untouched 80-yard return for a touchdown, giving the Flames a 14-6 lead at halftime.

But South Side would respond right out of the gate after receiving the ball to start the second half. 2028 RB/LB Will Hudson capped off a 9-play, 62-yard touchdown drive with a 4-yard rushing touchdown on 3rd-and-goal to cut the deficit to two. A false start on the two-point try backed up the Rams, and their next attempt failed.

After a shifty return by 2028 WR/DB Samir King set the Flames up at midfield, 2028 QB/LB DJ Smith found a wide-open Johrdon Hairston for a big gain, but a low throw made Hairston dive for a catch that could have been a walk-in touchdown. A run play lost yardage and put the Flames behind the sticks, and the South Side defense made a few plays in pass coverage to force a turnover on downs.

Although the Northgate defense wore down somewhat in the second half, they stood tall when it mattered. The ensuing Rams drive got into Flames territory, but they forced another 4th-and-long, resulting in a turnover on downs.

DJ Smith and the Flames’ running game took over from there. Smith was a workhorse on the ground once again last night and ran over some bodies on this play to get into South Side territory.

Then the Northgate offense cashed in the score they had been looking for since the first quarter.

Smith and 2027 WR/DB Johrdon Hairston may not have had the night they wanted in the passing game, but their connection produced a big-time throw and catch in the red zone, which helped put the Flames up two scores.

The Rams would not go away without a fight, though, as Will Hudson scored another 4-yard rushing touchdown to cap off a long, methodical 14-play drive, leaving enough time to get the ball back and still have a chance to win the game.

Hudson also ran in the two-point conversion, South Side’s first successful attempt of the night.

The Flames offense failed to chew clock and missed big-play opportunities despite great field position after the onside kick recovery. Catching the South Side defense off guard with a pass on first down, a drop by a wide-open receiver stopped the clock on what should have been an easy first down.

On the next play, DJ Smith ran for a 30-yard gain to the South Side 20-yard line but went out of bounds, stopping the clock. South Side used their timeouts and forced a 4th-and-seven, in which Smith rolled right and just missed a wide-open Samir King in the end zone.

Although the Rams had to go 75+ yards with a limited passing game in just over two minutes to win, a crucial sequence almost put the game in jeopardy for the Flames. A facemask penalty on the tackle of a 5-yard completion gave the Rams a free 15 yards, and a dead-ball foul on the play added 15 more.

But in the face of adversity, the Northgate defense rose to the occasion once again, stuffing the run against a panicked, hurry-up offense as the clock ticked down. Todd Matijevich rolled to his right and misfired to an open receiver on 4th-and-7, and the Flames took two knees to secure the win.

Savian Baptiste has stepped into a leadership role this season and spoke to his guys after the win. Despite their resilience, he knows they have to be better as they move into tougher conference competition.

“We all understand what we’re capable of and what we can do as a team,” Baptiste said in his postgame interview. “We just got to figure out what we’re doing wrong on offense, correct it, and come back even stronger next week.”

Northgate (3-2, 1-1) will go on the road again next week to face an all-too-familiar foe in Rochester (1-4, 1-1), who has had the Flames number more than any team over the last decade-plus.

 
 
PA Football News Scoreboard powered by Circle W Sports
 
Showcase by Circle W Sports
 
 
 
x