2025 WPIAL A football championship breakdown: Clairton vs. Laurel

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 3:11 PM

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WPIAL Class A football championship

No. 2 Clairton vs. No. 4 Laurel

11 a.m. Saturday, Acrisure Stadium

On the air: Audio stream: TribLive HSSN; TV: KDKA+; Radio: KDKA (1020 AM, 100.1 FM); Video stream: NFHS Network

Winner plays: District 10 champion Greenville (11-1) or District 9 champion Port Allegany (12-0) in a PIAA semifinal Nov. 28 or 29.

WPIAL titles: Clairton 14 (2019, ‘16, ‘15, ‘14, ‘12, ‘11, ‘10, ‘09, ‘08, ‘06, 1989, ‘54, ‘31, ’29), Laurel 1 (1980)

Clairton (12-1)

Player to watch: Brandon Murphy

The sophomore linebacker is the leading tackler on a defense that didn’t allow a point for more than two months — a streak of nine straight shutouts. Murphy has 104 tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss, plus three interceptions. He has more than a dozen college offers with the latest coming from the Indiana Hoosiers.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Jeff Thompson 109-139, 2,048 yards, 33 TDs

Rushing: Deon Lovelace-Pompey 64-715 yards, 12 TDs

Receiving: Brandon Murphy 27-534 yards, 7 TDs

How they got here: No. 2 Clairton defeated No. 15 Monessen, 50-0, in the first round; No. 10 Jeannette, 38-33, in the quarterfinals; and No. 3 Bishop Canevin, 42-22, in the semifinals.

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Wayne Wade

Offense

QB, 3, Jeff Thompson, 6-1, 170, sr.

RB, 4, Deon Lovelace-Pompey, 5-11, 190, sr.

WR, 2, Donte Wright, 5-9, 185, sr.

WR, 5, Taris Wooding, 5-11, 178, sr.

WR, 1, Michael Ruffing, 5-9, 180, sr.

WR, 8, Brandon Murphy, 6-1, 170, so.

LT, 55, Avaughn Pompey, 6-4, 310, sr.

LG, 64, Kasch Hammonds, 6-2, 220, jr.

C, 50, Quintin Thompson, 5-10, 230, so.

RG, 52, Chad Carpenter-Law, 5-9, 200, sr.

RT, 56, D’Kota Harris, 6-2, 285, jr.

Defense

NT, 55, Avaughn Pompey, 6-4, 310, sr.

DT, 56, D’Kota Harris, 6-2, 285, jr.

DT, 52, Chad Carpenter-Law, 5-9, 200, sr.

DE, 7, Tahvaz Armstrong, 6-2, 193, sr.

DE, 24, Kahmani Parrotte, 6-2, 210, sr.

LB, 8, Brandon Murphy, 6-1, 170, so.

LB, 4, Deon Lovelace-Pompey, 5-11, 190, sr.

LB, 9, Darren Pinson, 6-0 185, jr.

CB, 2, Donte Wright, 5-9, 185, sr.

CB, 5, Taris Wooding, 5-11, 178, sr.

S, 6, Jaece Booker, 5-11, 170, jr.

Special teams

K, 15, Rheyjon Williams, 5-9, 160, so.

P, 3, Jeff Thompson, 6-1, 170, sr.

Notable: Clairton’s 14 WPIAL titles are the second-most in league history behind only Aliquippa (21). Clairton was WPIAL runner-up last year, losing in the finals to Fort Cherry, 21-20. … The Bears outscored Eastern Conference foes 390-0 this year. The only regular season opponent to score against them was Imani Christian in Week Zero (a 19-12 loss for Clairton). … The Bears are seeking their fifth WPIAL title under 12th-year coach Wayne Wade. … The offense averages 47 points per game. The defense is allowing 5.6 ppg, even after giving up 55 combined in the past two weeks. … DE Tahvaz Armstrong leads the defense with seven sacks. .… RB Deon Pompey rushed for 134 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries last week. Donte Wright also scored twice in the win. … WR/LB Brandon Murphy lists Power 4 college offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Florida State, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Syracuse and Wisconsin. … QB Jeff Thompson bounced back from an arm injury in last year’s playoffs to pass for a career-high in yards this season … Clairton is 10-2 in WPIAL finals in the past 20 years.

Laurel (12-1)

Player to watch: Kolton Carlson

Carlson’s ability to play running back or receiver adds another wrinkle to Laurel’s offense. The senior has scored five touchdowns and compiled more than 400 yards from scrimmage in the Spartans’ three playoff games. He reached the end zone twice in last week’s win over defending champion Fort Cherry.

Statistical leaders

Passing: Luca Santini 75-135, 1,296 yards, 21 TDs

Rushing: Kolton Carlson 90-836 yards, 9 TDs; Nathan Hill 127-724 yards, 15 TDs

Receiving: Carlson 33-688 yards, 9 TDs

How they got here: No. 4 Laurel defeated No. 13 Jefferson-Morgan; 35-0, in the first round; No. 12 Chartiers-Houston, 40-21, in the quarterfinals; and No. 1 Fort Cherry, 24-14, in the semifinals

Probable starting lineup

Coach: Brian Cooper

Offense

QB, 4, Luca Santini, 5-11, 164, sr.

RB, 1, Nathan Hill, 5-10, 174, sr.

HB, 24, Kolton Carlson, 6-2, 200, sr.

Slot, 10, Jack Miles, 6-3, 190, sr.

WR, 2, Mason Moser, 6-1, 161, jr.

WR, 9, Josh Sherman, 6-2, 155, so.

TE, 21, Jaxson McVicker, 6-0, 195, so.

TE, 18, Ethan Hamilla, 6-5, 215, so.

LT, 60, Kevin Mahoney, 6-0, 265, sr.

LG, 51, Tyler Fuchs, 6-1, 215, so.

C, 58, Alex Medved, 6-0, 195, jr.

RG, 50, Dom Willis, 5-11, 200, jr.

RT, 71, Casey Wilson, 5-10, 270, sr.

Defense

DT, 71, Casey Wilson, 5-10, 270, sr.

DT, 60, Kevin Mahoney, 6-0, 265, sr

DE, 51, Tyler Fuchs, 6-1, 215, so.

DE, 58, Alex Medved, 6-0, 195, jr.

ILB, 24, Kolton Carlson, 6-2, 200, sr.

ILB, 10, Jack Miles, 6-3, 190, sr.

OLB, 18, Ethan Hamilla, 6-5, 215, so.

OLB, 21, Jaxson McVicker, 6-0, 195, so.

DB, 5, J.J. McBride, 5-8, 170, sr.

DB, 9, Josh Sherman, 6-2, 155, so.

DB, 3, Tony Geiwitz, 5-10, 159, so.

DB, 6, Brayden Faulkner, 5-10, 145, jr.

Special teams

K, 3, Tony Geiwitz, 5-10, 159, so.

(or) K, 25, Maya Jarrett, 5-4, 152, sr.

P, 24, Kolton Carlson, 6-2, 200, sr.

Notable: This is the fourth time Laurel has reached the WPIAL finals. Two of the team’s three previous appearances also came against Clairton. Laurel defeated Clairton, 14-12, in 1980 and lost to the Bears, 27-20, in 1989. Both were Class A finals. … Laurel’s first WPIAL championship appearance was a 12-6 loss to South Allegheny in the 1977 Class 2A final. … The Spartans went undefeated in the Big 7 and outscored conference foes 254-22. Overall, the offense averaged 38.9 points this season and the defense allowed 9.4. … In the semifinals, WR/RB Kolton Carlson scored on a 2-yard run and caught a 30-yard touchdown from QB Luca Santini. … The Spartans rushed for six touchdowns in the quarterfinals, with two apiece scored by Carlson and Jack Miles. … Laurel’s lone loss this season was to Bishop Canevin, 46-28, on Sept. 13. … Brian Cooper is in his 12th season as Laurel’s coach after eight years at Shenango.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Clairton, Laurel