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Fourteen is the magic number West Allegheny football needs to get to against Woodland Hills in 2018. For the second time this season, the Indians defeated the Wolverines, 14-13, at North Allegheny’s Martorelli Stadium. On Friday night, it was to advance to the Class 5A WPIAL semifinals.

Both defenses stood tall with only three points scored in the first half. In the second quarter, senior Charles Hanchett connected on a 24-yard field goal to give Woodland Hills a 3-0 lead into the break.

West Allegheny recorded its first lead of the game in the third quarter on a 45-yard touchdown run by sophomore Nico Flati. Senior John McArdle’s extra point made it 7-3. Flati finished the game with 98 rushing yards.

The Wolverines bounced back with 10 unanswered points between the third and fourth quarters. Junior William Clark punched it in from a yard out to regain the lead for Woodland Hills. In the fourth quarter, Hanchett connected on his second field goal of the game, a 28-yard attempt, to put the Wolverines up 13-7.

It wasn’t enough to hold West Allegheny down. The Indians delivered the game-winning touchdown with just over a minute left in regulation on a 9-yard touchdown pass from junior Kam Kruze to senior Isaac Longstreth to tie the game. McArdle’s extra point gave the Indians the lead and West Allegheny held onto the win.

The win improves West Allegheny to 9-2 on the season. The Indians will face top-seed and defending Class 5A WPIAL champion, Gateway, next Friday at a site and time to be determined.