CTK 2010 – 2009 WPIAL Class A Football Flashback

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 | 12:00 AM

The beat continued in Class A last year as powers Clairton and Rochester met at Heinz Field for the third time in the last six years. After a hectic finish decided on a missed two-point conversion, the Bears edged the Rams 14-13 and celebrated back-to-back WPIAL crowns and their third district title in the past four year.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM WPIAL CLASS A FOOTBALL IN 2009:

* After getting thumped in the 2008 PIAA Class A title game in Hershey by Steelton-Highspire 35-16, Clairton turned up the defensive volume in the 2009 state finals. The Bears shut down high-powered Bishop McCort 15-3 to win a first ever PIAA crown, plus they were the only district team to win a state football championship last season.

* While the WPIAL welcomes Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to the football ranks this fall, the district said goodbye to the Monaca Indians in 2009. Monaca High School won WPIAL football championships in 1975 and 1985 before closing the doors on the school and merging with Center High School to form Central Valley. In their final season, Monaca finished tied for third place in the Big 7 Conference with a 4-3 section record and 5-4 overall. Their final game came in the opening round of the 2009 WPIAL Class A playoffs when they were blanked by Avonworth 27-0.

* The names have changed over the years, but there is still some pretty good ball being played in the Class A Eastern Conference. Gone are Clairton, Serra Catholic and Duquesne from the ‘black and blue’ days, but playoff qualifiers North Catholic, Avonworth, Brentwood and Springdale kept the reputation going strong. All four won their postseason openers, however three lost in the Quarterfinals before the lone surviving NC Trojans lost in the Semifinals.

* While North Catholic, Monessen, Rochester and Clairton all enjoyed perfect conference records en route to regular season championships, only two Class A teams played in 2009 without a win. The Wilkinsburg Tigers finished 0-9 for the second time in three years and have only one victory since 2006. While they work on trying to snap a 9-game losing streak, the winning drought for West Greene has now extended beyond two straight years. The Pioneers start 2010 trying to end a lengthy 23-game skid with the last football victory for West Greene coming on September 22nd, 2007 when they outscored Geibel 42-20.

2009 WPIAL CLASS A FINAL STANDINGS:

Big 7 Conference:

#-Rochester Rams : (7-0) – (12-1)
*-Laurel Spartans : (6-1) – (10-2)
*-Monaca Indians : (4-3) – (5-5)
*-South Side Beaver Rams : (4-3) – (6-4)
x-Shenango Wildcats : (3-4) – (5-4)
x-Western Beaver Golden Beavers : (2-5) – (2-7)
x-Neshannock Lancers : (1-6) – (2-7)
x-Union Scotties : (1-6) – (2-7)

Black Hills Conference:

#-Clairton Bears : (7-0) – (15-1)
*-Fort Cherry Rangers : (5-2) – (7-3)
*-Serra Catholic Eagles : (5-2) – (7-3)
*-Burgettstown Blue Devils : (3-4) – (4-6)
x-Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers : (3-4) – (6-4)
x-Frazier Commodores : (3-4) – (4-5)
x-Avella Eagles : (1-6) – (2-7)
x-Bentworth Bearcats : (1-6) – (2-8)

Eastern Conference:

#-North Catholic Trojans : (7-0) – (9-3)
*-Avonworth Antelopes : (5-2) – (8-3)
*-Brentwood Spartans : (5-2) – (6-5)
*-Springdale Dynamos : (5-2) – (8-3)
x-Riverview Raiders : (3-4) – (3-6)
x-Carlynton Cougars : (2-5) – (2-7)
x-Leechburg Blue Devils : (1-6) – (1-8)
x-Wilkinsburg Tigers : (0-7) – (0-9)

Tri-County South Conference:

#-Monessen Greyhounds : (7-0) – (7-3)
*-Beth-Center Bulldogs : (6-1) – (8-3)
*-Jefferson-Morgan Rockets : (5-2) – (7-3)
*-Carmichaels Mighty Mikes : (4-3) – (4-6)
x-California Trojans : (3-4) – (4-5)
x-Geibel Gators : (2-5) – (3-6)
x-Mapletown Maples : (1-6) – (1-8)
x-West Greene Pioneers : (0-7) – (0-9)

2009 WPIAL CLASS A PLAYOFFS:

2009 WPIAL CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Clairton Bears 14 – Rochester Rams 13 (MSA)

WPIAL CLASS A Semifinals:

Rochester Rams 14 – North Catholic Trojans 7 (MSA)

Clairton Bears 33 – Laurel Spartans 0 (MSA)

WPIAL CLASS A Quarterfinals:

Rochester Rams 38 – Brentwood Spartans 12 (MSA)

North Catholic Trojans 24 – Springdale Dynamos 13 (MSA)

Laurel Spartans 55 – Beth-Center Bulldogs 7 (MSA)

Clairton Bears 24 – Avonworth Antelopes 0 (MSA)

WPIAL CLASS A First Round:

Rochester Rams 40 – Carmichaels Mighty Mikes 6 (MSA)

Brentwood Spartans 22 – Fort Cherry Rangers 0 (MSA)

North Catholic Trojans 38 – Jefferson-Morgan Rockets 3 (MSA)

Springdale Dynamos 21 – Monessen Greyhounds 14 (MSA)

Laurel Spartans 55 – Burgettstown Blue Devils 7 (MSA)

Beth-Center Bulldogs 38 – Serra Catholic Eagles 17

Clairton Bears 61 – South Side Beaver Rams 0 (MSA)

Avonworth Antelopes 27 – Monaca Indians 0 (MSA)

Clairton Stuffs Rochester to Win Back-to-Back WPIAL Class A Titles

by Don Rebel

Thanksgiving Day was Thursday but one day later, Clairton mustered up one more helping of stuffing to Rochester on the game’s deciding play. One decision would determine the outcome of the 2009 WPIAL Class A Championship Game. Do you go for two points after a touchdown and the win or kick the extra point and head to overtime. Rochester head coach Gene Matsook went for the win, but the Rams were stuffed and it was Clairton who captured a second straight crown with a 14-13 thriller Saturday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

Trailing 14-7 with 1:10 left, Rochester converted on a fourth and eleven at the Clairton 22-yard line when quarterback Jasson Adamson

Tags: Avonworth, Brentwood, Central Valley, Clairton, Geibel, Monessen, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, Saltsburg, Springdale, West Greene, Wilkinsburg