Clairton dominant again in Class A quarterfinal shutout of California

By: Andrew White
Friday, November 8, 2024 | 11:49 PM

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Clairton showcased its dominance yet again Friday as the Bears shut out California to easily roll into the WPIAL Class A semifinals.

Clairton’s defense was relentless from the first snap, setting a painful tone and leaving the Trojans struggling to find momentum and halting any opportunity for them to establish their offense.

Meanwhile, the Bears had no problem getting their offense going to the tune of a 54-0 win at Charleroi.

California’s first drive began with two fruitless runs, followed by an interception snagged by Clairton’s Donte Wright.

Drahcir Jones pushed through California’s defense with a few short-yardage plays before exploding for a 25-yard touchdown run, giving Clairton an early 6-0 lead after an unsuccessful 2-point attempt.

After a three-and-out, Clairton’s offense needed only one play for Mike Ruffin to burst free on a 38-yard run to the end zone. The successful 2-point conversion brought the score to 14-0, setting California further on its heels. But the Trojans’ woes were far from over.

As California tried to regroup on its next drive, Wright struck again, intercepting a pass and taking it 50 yards to the house for a pick-six, stretching Clairton’s lead to 22-0 with just under four minutes left in the first quarter.

As California’s offense continued to sputter, Clairton (11-0) capitalized at every turn.

The Trojans’ fourth drive backed them up even further, ending in another punt after losing significant yardage on consecutive plays. Jones answered swiftly, taking Clairton’s first snap of the next possession 41 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to 30-0.

California’s next drive ended in another interception, this time from Darren Pinson, who returned it to the 1-yard line. Jones punched it in on the next play for his third touchdown of the night. Clairton failed on the 2-point attempt but extended its lead to 36-0 as the first quarter ended.

“A lot of these kids are returning from last year, and they still have a sour taste in their mouth with the way the season ended,” Wade said. “We felt like we had a good enough team to compete for a championship, and we fell a game short. When February came around, these guys were ready to get back to work. We take it one week at a time, and we have goals that we set at the beginning of the season, and we’re committed to achieving those goals.”

California (8-3) fought to maintain composure amid a relentless Clairton defense that was proving nearly impenetrable. Running back Lee Qualk, who led the WPIAL in rushing yards this season, struggled to gain any ground.

“He’s a great player and he practices as hard as anyone. He’s a very even-keeled guy when it comes to emotions. He’s a leader at heart and a solid player all around,” said California coach Ed Woods. “I’m proud of how far he’s come, and I’m excited to see how far he’ll go.”

Despite the tough start, Woods emphasized that reaching the playoffs had been a benchmark for California and a critical step in the program’s growth.

“This is an expectation, to make some noise in the playoffs. This is where we expect to be, and we need to keep working on improving the program for the future,” he said. “When players can see the success that we’re having, it can motivate young guys to join the team and also motivate our players to come back even stronger next year, which is what we plan to do.”

California managed just one first down midway through the second quarter on a short pass to Qualk, but the Trojans could not sustain momentum.

Ruffin added another touchdown on a 20-yard scramble right before the half, bringing Clairton to a 42-0 lead at the break.

With a running clock in the second half, Clairton continued to control the pace and the game. California saw only two more possessions, finishing the night with just 29 total yards, unable to make a dent in Clairton’s defense.

Clairton added two more touchdowns — a 6-yard score from Wright and a 67-yard run from Brandon Murphy — sealing the 54-0 final score. The Bears ended the game with 344 total yards, demonstrating an efficient offense that complemented their stifling defense.

Clairton will face No. 3 seed Bishop Canevin in next week’s semifinal.

Tags: California, Clairton