Football Game Preview: Laurel Spartans vs. Northgate Flames

Laurel is a perfect 5-0 against Northgate since October of 2018 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Spartans will take on the Flames at 7:00 p.m. Laurel's defense has only allowed 13.2 points per game this season, so Northgate's offense will have their work cut out for them.

Laurel's defense heads into the contest hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They claimed a resounding 40-0 win over Rochester. The Spartans' offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.

Luca Santini

Passer Rating (Career)

09/19/25 vs Rochester	177.1
10/05/24 @ Summit Academy	149.3
09/05/25 @ Riverside	127.3
08/29/25 vs Mohawk Area	117.7
08/30/24 @ Mohawk Area	100.7

Luca Santini was the offensive standout of the matchup as he threw for 86 yards and a pair of touchdowns on perfect 5-for-5 passing. The dominant performance also gave him a new career-high in passer rating (177.1).

Laurel didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Lewis Weiher, Mason Moser, and Jaxson McVicker picked up one apiece. That interception was Weiher's first of the season.

Meanwhile, Northgate was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They were outmatched by Neshannock and fell 62-27. While losing is never fun, the Flames can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania football rankings (they are ranked 506th, while the Lancers are ranked 202nd).

Northgate's loss dropped their record down to 0-5. As for Laurel, their victory bumped their record up to 4-1.

Laurel was able to grind out a solid win over Northgate in their previous matchup back in September of 2024, winning 7-0. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Flames' Sonteon Layne, who rushed for 103 yards on only 12 carries, and also threw for 100 yards on eight of 17 attempts. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Spartans to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.