WEST MIFFLIN, Pa. — North Allegheny is off to a 5-0 start this season with outscoring teams 166-49 to begin the season. They are the number one team in the WPIAL Class-6A and the number two team in the PIAA behind Coatesville High School.
The Tigers are led on offense by Andrew Gavlik, who has averaged 114 yards rushing per game. They are also led by Khiryn Boyd, who averages 90 yards receiving per game. On defense, they are led by Kevin O’Donnell, who averages eight tackles per game, and Daniel Sellers, who has three sacks on the season and made clutch catches in their win over 7-3 victory over Central Catholic on Friday night.
But the man who figures to be the heart and soul of the North Allegheny Tigers is Abdallah Daud, who is one of the best offensive linemen in the WPIAL. Daud is a Duquesne commit that hopes to help his team to a state championship before he leaves North Allegheny for the Dukes next fall.
Dukes spoke to Pittsburgh Sports Now about the accomplishments he would like to achieve, his personal growth over the offseason, and the player that Duquesne will be getting next fall. He is looking forward to representing his hometown at the collegiate level.
“I’m super excited about it, I visited not too long ago. It’s close to home and not too far from my family,” Daud said. “Everything I see I like it there. I feel that I can bring my size, my athleticism, speed, my feet.”
The 6-foot-5 Daud has been working on that athleticism, as well, and hopes that can be an asset for him at the next level.
“Last year I came from 285, I got faster and stronger by slimming down to 275,” Daud said. “I got quicker, faster, stronger and everything. That played a role in becoming more conditioned because everything is easier.”
Daud also says that he prefers to stay at that weight and add muscle to his frame going into the offseason as he projects to be an offensive tackle for Duquesne.
As for goals for the team, Daud believes they can win the state championship because they are a tight-knit group that mostly grew up together, citing that many of his teammates played Pop Warner football together.
“All of us have been best friends since elementary school,” Daud said. “That’s why we are so close-knit. I am a senior now. The quarterback (Logan Kushner) was a wide receiver when I was in eighth grade. and he was in seventh grade, the running back, and wide receiver we all grew up together. That’s why we are so close, we never argue, and that’s what’s so special about our team.”
Individually, his goal is simple: keep everyone else away from the North Allegheny quarterback.
“My goal is to allow no sacks and protect the quarterback.”
