Imani Christian spoils Clairton’s 1st game in renamed stadium
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Friday, August 22, 2025 | 11:43 PM
Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins scores past Clairton’s Taris Wooding during the second quarter Friday.
Imani Christian’s David Davis eludes Clairton defenders on a second-quarter touchdown run during their game Friday.
Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins scores during the second quarter against Clairton on Friday.
Imani Christian’s David Davis scores a second-quarter touchdown against Clairton during their game Friday.
Imani Christian’s Gabe Jenkins stiff-arms Clairton’s Darren Pinson during their game Friday.
Clairton’s Brandon Murphy Jr. catches a pass over Imani Christian’s David Davis during their game Friday.
Clairton’s Donte Wright tries to elude Imani Christian’s William Gorman during their game Friday.
Imani Christian’s Dajuan Craighead scores against Clairton during the fourth quarter Friday.
Imani Christian’s Dajuan Craighead (8) celebrates his fourth-quarter touchdown with Quinton Morris against Clairton on Friday.
Tyler Boyd watches from the sideline during Clairton’s game against Imani Christian on Friday.
Tyler Boyd watches from the sideline during Clairton’s game against Imani Christian on Friday.
Clairton’s Taris Wooding celebrates after scoring against Imani Christian on Friday.
Clairton’s Brandon Murphy Jr. celebrates after his catch to set up the Bears’ first touchdown against Imani Christian on Friday.
Clairton’s Donte Wright (2) celebrates with Rheyjon Williams after his interception in the end zone against Imani Christian on Friday.
Clairton’s Taris Wooding made a turning grab at the goal line on a 19-yard catch that’ll go down as the first touchdown scored at newly named Tyler Boyd Stadium.
Even Boyd liked the effort.
“It was kind of underthrown, and he had to come back for it,” said the Bears legend and NFL wide receiver, who was in the stadium for Friday night’s game. “I give a lot of credit to the receiver. I’m glad we scored first on this field.”
But Imani Christian got the first win.
Saints junior Gabe Jenkins and senior David Davis rushed for first-half touchdowns, and Jenkins added a fourth-quarter TD pass as Imani Christian defeated host Clairton, 19-12, in a Week Zero opener dominated by the defenses.
The first game at the renovated stadium drew a passionate Clairton crowd. The upgrades included artificial turf along with new home bleachers, lights and scoreboard.
“It felt good to be part of this game,” said Jenkins, one of the state’s top recruits, who committed to Penn State on Monday. “It’s a new field. Tyler Boyd (Stadium) … Everybody in the stands was loud, jumping around.”
Jenkins rushed for 211 yards on 16 carries, and his 37-yard touchdown run in the second quarter gave the Saints a 7-6 lead they never lost. He also flipped field position with an 88-yard run in the fourth quarter. Five plays later, Jenkins threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Da’Juan Craighead for a 19-6 lead.
The late touchdown with 2 minutes, 44 seconds left put a damper on unofficial “Tyler Boyd Day” in Clairton.
“I hate that I’ve got to be the guy to try to ruin this day,” Imani Christian coach LaRoi Johnson said. “But if you know me, I relish in the opportunity to be the villain. So, I don’t mind.”
Great to see Bears great Tyler Boyd tonight at Tyler Boyd Stadium in Clairton
@boutdat_23 pic.twitter.com/yBmsLQ6xop
— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) August 23, 2025
The season opener paired two teams with title aspirations. Clairton (0-1) is ranked second in WPIAL Class A, and Imani Christian (1-0) is second in 3A.
Clairton quarterback Jeff Thompson passed for 223 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Along with the 19-yarder to Wooding in the second quarter, Thompson tossed a 15-yarder to Wooding with 1:02 left in the fourth, cutting Imani’s lead to seven.
Clairton sophomore Brandon Murphy had six catches for 110 yards.
“We’re playing a triple-A semifinal team that lost three kids from last year and has four or five kids that are D1 — a few that are committed already,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said. “So, for us as a single-A football team to should have won the game, we’ll be ready next week.”
Jenkins and Davis, Imani Christian’s two stars, are Penn State-bound defensive backs.
Four days after committing to the Nittany Lions, Jenkins ran for a 37-yard touchdown in the second quarter to take a 7-6 lead. Darious Clark kicked the go-ahead extra point.
About 3 minutes later, Davis reached the end zone on a 39-yard run, consecutive touchdowns that let Imani Christian lead 13-6 at halftime.
Davis rushed for 48 yards on five carries.
“Our two superstars kind of strapped us on their backs and made it happen,” Johnson said. “I’m proud of them. I’m proud of the guys.”
Clairton had three possessions end deep in Imani territory at the 32-, 11- and 2-yard lines, dashing good scoring chances.
One ended in what can be described as maybe the first controversial call in Tyler Boyd Stadium history. Clairton’s Donte Wright was called down at the 1-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter, but video replays showed he might’ve been in.
The Bears got stopped short again on a third-down run and threw incomplete on fourth as Imani’s defense held. The goal-line stand kept the Saints ahead 13-6 with 10:46 left.
“The picture of him in the end zone is going to go viral,” Wade said. “That’s what’s going to happen — and you’re going to see he was in.”
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, Imani Christian
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