After almost a quarter-century of futility against North Allegheny, Shaler thought maybe this time would be different. With a perfect record and playing North Allegheny at home, Shaler thought maybe it could at least play even with North Allegheny.

But the beat goes on. North Allegheny's hex on Shaler continued last night when the visiting Tigers came into a muddy Martig Stadium and defeated Shaler, 28-17, in a WPIAL Class AAAA Northern Six Conference game.

It was the 23rd time in the past 24 years that North Allegheny defeated Shaler. It was also the third year in a row Shaler came into the North Allegheny game with an undefeated record -- and lost. The past two years were on the road.

"When I came here, people said there was a stigma here that you can beat people and beat people, but you'll never beat North Allegheny," said coach Neil Gordon, in his second season. "The kids hear it in the community, and they hear it at home."

And they will hear it for at least another year. Shaler's previous win against North Allegheny was 2003. Since then, North Allegheny has outscored Shaler, 197-54. This win gave North Allegheny a 5-1 overall record and 2-0 mark in the conference. Shaler is 5-1 and 1-1.

"To change that aura about North Allegheny is tough to do," said Gordon, who spent 21 seasons at Penn Hills before coming to Shaler. "The hard thing is, you have to wait another year. It's not like high school basketball where you get to play them twice in one season."

Shaler took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, but it was downhill from there. North Allegheny benefited from a strong running game, some big plays by Matt Steinbeck and a defense that buckled down after getting pushed around early. North Allegheny led, 28-3, before Shaler scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes.

"This is a big win," said North Allegheny coach Art Walker.

"Everyone makes a lot about the record in the past, but, as football coaches, that doesn't mean anything. What matters is this year."

North Allegheny was bolstered by the return of offensive lineman Tom Ricketts, a Penn State recruit who had not played since the season opener because of a sprained knee.

He and his fellow linemen helped the Tigers ramble for 222 yards rushing. Alex Papson rushed for 91 yards on 17 carries and Grant Hucketstein added 68 on 13.

"North Allegheny has good players. They have a lot of them," Gordon said. "Maybe they don't have the big-name players, but they have good players. They're a good team from top to bottom."

In the first half, Shaler outgained North Allegheny in yardage, 155-134, but still trailed, 14-3. Shaler had trouble finishing off drives while North Allegheny had Steinbeck.

Shaler moved to the 3-yard line on its second possession, but had to settle for Steve Hamilton's 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Shaler drove to the 8 and had a touchdown pass called back because of an illegal-formation penalty.

Hamilton then tried a 32-yard field goal that missed with 10:21 left in the half.

"We thought we were close enough -- talent-wise -- to North Allegheny this year that, if we could play a cleaner game than them, we had a shot," Gordon said. "But we didn't. ... I think we had to play the clean game, and they had to make mistakes, and it didn't happen that way."

Walker believed Shaler's first scoring drive was key.

"They were pushing us off the ball early. We were happy to hold them to three points. I think that was huge on our part," he said.

After Hamilton's field goal, the lead lasted 14 seconds. That's how long it took Steinbeck to return the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown.

A nice punt return by Steinbeck set up North Allegheny's second touchdown as the Tigers took over at the Shaler 32 with 5:29 left in the half. On third-and-7, Steinbeck made a jumping catch of a pass over the middle and turned it into a 26-yard gain to the 3. Papson scored on the next play.

Steinbeck scored on a 69-yard pass from Justin Brozick in the third quarter.

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