North Catholic's football team is not accustomed to being the underdog, but that's how the Trojans find themselves entering Saturday's WPIAL Class 3A championship game against Central Valley at Heinz Field.

While both teams are undefeated at 12-0, the Warriors are two-time defending WPIAL champions and hoping to win a second straight state title.

“We don't feel disrespected about being the underdog,” said North coach Patrick O'Shea. “They are the favored team because year after year, they are a great program that operates at a high level and we have tremendous respect for them.

“It will be interesting to see how our kids respond.”

The teams enter the championship game, scheduled to kick off at noon, after vastly different semifinal encounters.

North dispatched Avonworth, 7-0, while Central Valley crushed Elizabeth Forward, 51-0.

It was the Warriors' fifth shutout of the season. Since defeating Aliquippa, 21-12, in early September, Central Valley has allowed no more than seven points in nine straight contests.

Central has accomplished much on the gridiron in its 12 years of existence. The product of a merger between Monaca and Center high schools, the Warriors won the WPIAL in their very first season in 2010. They will be playing for their fifth WPIAL crown on Saturday.

“We set a standard that first year and have had some freakish athletes come through who have gone on to play Division I college ball and in the NFL,” said Mark Lyons, the only head coach in Central's history. “Little kids around here dream of playing football for Central Valley.”

The Warriors' offense churns on the legs of senior running back Landon Alexander, who has rushed for 1,730 yards, 10.4 yards per carry and 27 touchdowns this season.

“Last year was his coming out party,” said Lyons. “His best efforts come in the biggest games, he rushed for 200 yards in last year's WPIAL title game.

“He has a combination of power and speed, but what really sets him apart is his vision.”

Junior quarterback Antwon Johnson, forced into a starting role due to an injury to senior Matt Merritt, has passed for 990 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Jayvin Thompson is the only Warrior with double-digit receptions, catching 23 passes for 559 yards and has scored eight times.

The Trojans' defense is anchored by senior lineman Tyler Primrose, who O'Shea said has been “lights out” this season.

North features its own dangerous weapons on offense and Lyons is well aware of them.

“They're undefeated for a reason,” he said. “Their team speed is what really sticks out on film.”

Trojans' senior Kyle Tipinski is a threat in the ground game (495 yards) and when North turns to the air (516 yards) and has scored 18 total touchdowns.

Sophomore Jack Fennell has 800 yards from scrimmage and 13 scores.

O'Shea knows his team can't make the same mistakes it did in last week's victory.

“We knew we weren't going to score a ton of points against Avonworth, but we turned the ball over three times,” he said. “That can wear on a defense mentally and emotionally, but our kids rose to the occasion.”

North senior quarterback Joey Prentice has turned in a stellar season with 1,456 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He's also rushed for eight scores.

One player the Trojans will have to account for on both sides of the ball is 6-foot-3, 280-pound senior lineman Sean FitzSimmons, who plays guard on offense and tackle on defense.

“Anybody who has watched us play the last two years knows he can take over a game,” Lyons said. “He verbally committed to Pitt before the season. We expected the next level from him and we got it.”

North's special teams have been outstanding this year and a couple of big returns Saturday would do wonders for the Trojans' chances.

Fennell has scored on punt returns of 89 and 75 yards while adding an 86-yard touchdown on a kickoff return. Liam Straub has taken punts the distance from 68 and 55 yards and teammate Daniel Long has a 91-yard TD on a kick return.