Clairton shuts out Bishop Canevin to reach WPIAL Class A final

By: Andrew White
Friday, November 15, 2024 | 11:25 PM

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In a season defined by dominance, the Clairton Bears added another chapter to their storied history Friday, shutting out Bishop Canevin, 24-0, in a WPIAL Class A semifinal at Peters Township.

With the victory, Clairton secured a berth to the WPIAL championship game against No. 1 seed Fort Cherry on Nov. 23, at Acrisure Stadium.

The Bears’ defense set the tone early, limiting Bishop Canevin’s offense in the first quarter and scoring on a safety on the Crusaders’ second drive of the game.

Offensively, the Bears leaned on their versatile backfield, which delivered a steady dose of explosive plays despite Bishop Canevin’s spirited defensive effort.

Senior standout Drahcir Jones scored the game’s first touchdown with a 32-yard touchdown run following the safety to give his team an 8-0 lead after a missed 2-point conversion.

On the Crusaders’ third drive, Clairton blocked a punt, recovering the ball at the 6-yard line and leading to Deon Pompey’s 1-yard touchdown run two plays later.

Pompey’s ability to step up in critical moments is a hallmark of Clairton’s team-first mentality.

“What we do on offense is get in formation and decide from there where the ball goes,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said. “On any play, we can get the ball to any of them, and that’s key to keeping guys ready and having fresh legs.”

Clairton led 16-0 at halftime, which seemed insurmountable with the way the Bears play defense.

Junior Mike Ruffin delivered the back-breaking play early in the second half, taking a handoff and exploding through the line for a 66-yard touchdown run. The play ignited the Clairton sideline and extended the Bears’ lead to 24-0.

Ruffin finished with 98 rushing yards on just five carries, proving once again to be a big-play threat when he touched the ball.

For Bishop Canevin, the night was a story of missed opportunities.

After an early interception gave the Crusaders the ball deep in Clairton territory, penalties and negative plays stalled their progress. A critical fumble on the Bears’ 1-yard line and failure to convert on back-to-back fourth-and-1s helped lead to their downfall.

BC quarterback Kole Olszewski, who entered the game with more than 1,500 passing yards this season, struggled to find a rhythm against Clairton’s relentless pass rush. Olszewski was frequently forced out of the pocket and sacked multiple times in the game.

“That’s become our culture,” Wade said. “We create that climate and make sure the kids understand how important it is to be ready week in and week out, taking it one game at a time.”

Tags: Bishop Canevin, Clairton