The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the idiom “the third time’s the charm” as two efforts at something have already failed but perhaps the third will be successful. 

That was the case for the Central Catholic Vikings in the WPIAL championship, as they took down the North Allegheny Tigers, the team who had previously defeated them in back-to-back WPIAL title games.

The previous two matchups had gone 35-21 and 44-41 in favor of North Allegheny. This one ended up 45-14, Central Catholic. 

“There’s one thing that has changed, our team is way tighter this year,” senior tight end Bradley Gompers said. “Everybody on the team plays for each other and we all wanted this game for each other.”

Gompers notched the first score of the game, a 45-yard touchdown catch to set the tone for Central Catholic.

“Our defense is unstoppable, but our offense really stepped up today,” Gompers said. 

Central Catholic’s last championship came in 2020, meaning no current players were a part of that winning squad. 

“This is the first senior class we’ve ever had where in four years, no one got a ring,” sophomore linebacker Roman Thompson said. “All the work we put in over the summer paid off, but we’ve still got a few more games left in our main goal is to win the state championship.”

Eight Central Catholic players, including Gompers and Thompson, made all 6A 1st team all-conference honors ahead of the first round of the PIAA tournament. Central Catholic is matched up against the State College Little Lions, who are coming off a 75-14 win over Williamsport.  

“I think we’re capable of doing anything, the only thing stopping us is us,” Thompson said. “We need to be cleaner with penalties, but if we cut that out we can achieve what we want to achieve.”

The game will take place this Friday at Mansion Park, in Altoona, PA at 7 p.m.