Rudy Mattioli shined at Har-Brack, Pitt

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 9:00 PM

Har-Brack quarterback Rudy Mattioli was popular with his Tigers teammates for more than his on-field capabilities.

Another reason was his mother, Antoinette, cooking a massive spaghetti dinner for Har-Brack juniors and seniors at Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Harrison Township.

It was one of the season's highlights.

Mattioli created a number of other highlights for the Tigers in 1950 when he was a first-team all-state quarterback as named by the Associated Press.

He also quarterbacked Pitt to a 6-3 record in 1952.

For his accomplishments on the field, Dr. Rudy Mattioli will be one of eight inductees at this year's 49th Alle-Kiski Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet.

The event will be Saturday, May 19 at the Quality Inn, New Kensington.

Here's just a sample of Mattioli's great 1950 season:

• On Oct. 5, Mattioli hooked up with Tom Young on a 79-yard touchdown pass as Har-Brack defeated Scott Township Clark, 32-0. Clark is now part of the Chartiers Valley School District.

• On Oct. 12, Mattioli scored on a 1-yard sneak as the Tigers blanked Penn Hills, 19-0, at Rosedale Field.

• Against Ken High before 7,000 fans at Har-Brack Stadium, Mattioli's two touchdown passes helped defeat the Red Raiders, 19-6.

• Against Vandergrift, a 4-yard scoring pass to Young and another 44-yarder to Young to the Vandergrift 2 set up another touchdown as the Tigers knocked off the Blue Lancers, 26-6.

Mattioli put the finishing touch on a masterful season in mid-November with four scoring passes as Har-Brack defeated Rochester, 31-0, in the season finale. It was the first Tigers victory in nine tries against the Rams.

Mattioli threw a 14-yarder to Young, 11 yards to Dick Garrett, 37 yards to Ted Collins and 15 yards to Joe Herring before leaving the game early in the fourth quarter.

Har-Brack finished 8-1-1, with the loss coming against eventual WPIAL champion Butler and the 7-7 tie coming against Washington. At the time, a loss or a tie eliminated a team from title consideration.

“My sisters and I didn't know about all his accomplishments until I saw some newspaper clipping in my grandmother's attic,” daughter Jodi Ann Mattioli Chickowski said. “He never mentioned it at all. We knew he played at Pitt, but he wasn't the type to brag at all.”

After graduation, it was on to Kentucky, where he was recruited by coach Bear Bryant. The Wildcats started the season ranked No. 6 in the country but finished 8-4.

Mattioli decided to transfer to Pitt and became a starter as a sophomore.

“He just liked the area so much,” Chickowski said. “He wanted to be closer to Natrona Heights, and I think my mother (Mary Jo), too.”

The '52 Panthers rose to the No. 14 ranking in the country before losing the season's finale to Penn State and dropping to 16th.

Mattioli completed 52 passes for 537 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 163 yards. But he suffered a knee injury and, though he lettered in 1953 and '54, he played sparingly.

It was then where he focused on Pitt dental school, graduating a year early. After a two-year stint in the Navy, Mattioli opened his practice in 1960 in Lower Burrell.

Not many residents were focused on dental health that week. Everyone's attention was focused on the World Series between the Pirates and the New York Yankees.

He and his wife raised four daughters: Jodie Ann, Jamie, Dina and Cassie.

Jodi appreciated her father's support when she played basketball and tennis for Burrell.

“He just loved sports,” Chickowski said. “We even played mixed doubles in tennis. He went to Pitt games, and he followed Highlands right to the very end.”

Mattioli died Aug. 21, 2015, at age 82.

George Guido is a freelance writer.