Fort Cherry QB Matt Sieg named Maxwell Football Club’s national player of year

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | 5:05 PM

Matt Sieg made his mark in the WPIAL with a prolific prep career at Fort Cherry that was capped by a record-breaking senior season.

But his accomplishment had a ripple effect that reached levels well beyond Western Pennsylvania. Countrywide levels.

The star quarterback received a prestigious honor Tuesday when he was announced as the Maxwell Football Club National High School Player of the Year.

Sieg, a West Virginia commit who broke the WPIAL record for career yards and touchdowns and finished second on the WPIAL all-time rushing list, also was named an All-American by the club.

He joins elite company as a national player of the year. Past WPIAL stars to gain similar recognition include Sean Gilbert of Aliquippa, who was the USA Today Player of the Year in 1988; North Hills’ LaVar Arrington, the Parade National Player of the Year in 1996; and Terrelle Pryor of Jeannette, who was a Parade Magazine National Player of the Year in 2007.

“It means a lot,” Sieg said. “It’s definitely a very special honor and I’m very grateful for the award.

”I found out today on social media and was very surprised and very honored.”

A three-time Pennsylvania Football Writers’ Class A all-state first-team selection, Sieg also was the TribLive HSSN Class A Player of the Year.

This season, he ran for 1,774 yards and 27 touchdowns on 163 carries, taking over the top spot in WPIAL career yards with 12,592 and touchdowns with 139 — 131 of them rushing.

Only Hopewell’s Rushel Shell (7,958) has more rushing yards than Sieg (7,941).

Sieg finished as Fort Cherry’s all-time leader in passing and rushing yards, as well as points. He had 30 total touchdowns this season and added 45 tackles and four interceptions as the Rangers finished 12-1 and reached the WPIAL semifinals.

Sieg, a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals, led Fort Cherry to two WPIAL titles and a record of 49-7.

He is the first player in WPIAL history to rush for 5,000 yards and pass for 3,000. He ran and passed for 1,000 yards in three straight seasons.

Sieg injured his arm early in the season and only threw three passes over the final nine weeks. But he made plays with his legs on offense and defense, as a defensive back.

He completed 16 of 26 passes for 403 yards and eight touchdowns.

Sieg is the first West Virginia recruit to win a national player of the year award since Robert Alexander was named Parade Magazine Back of the Year in 1976.

He will receive the award on March 14 at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre in Atlanta, Ga.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Fort Cherry