Touchdown in final minute lifts Seton LaSalle to win over Steel Valley, 6th WPIAL title
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Saturday, November 22, 2025 | 4:58 PM
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin celebrates with the student section after beating Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin gains yardage against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
Steel Valley’s Da’Ron Barksdale gets to the corner on Seton LaSalle’s Deondre Hill during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle celebrates with the trophy after beating Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin with a run against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin celebrates his second-quarter touchdown against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin scores the game-winning touchdown against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Matthew Brodzinski breaks up a pass intended for Steel Valley’s Tyrell Breland during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Aaron Diggs celebrates with Will Martin after Martin’s game-winning touchdown against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin with a path to the end zone against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle head coach Tim Storino gets the water cooler shower after beating Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Will Martin celebrates his game-winning touchdown against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Steel Valley’s Lamarion Rucker causes Seton LaSalle’s Kia Jones to fumble during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle’s Kymarr Freeman breaks into the clear against Steel Valley during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Steel Valley’s Tyson Barron cuts up field on Seton LaSalle’s Elijah Hickman during the WPIAL Class 2A football championship Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium.
Seton LaSalle was down early in the third quarter, but coach Tim Storino knew the Rebels were not out.
No. 3 Steel Valley stung No. 1 Seton LaSalle with two quick scores to begin the third quarter and had the ball after recovering Rebels quarterback Kia Jones’ second fumble of the quarter.
The Rebels needed someone to step up and change the momentum.
Senior linebacker Will Martin was the man.
He intercepted a pass in the flat and returned it 15 yards. Two plays later, Martin scored the first of his three touchdowns on a play called “Psycho,” which was inserted into the offense Monday.
Martin’s final score with 30 seconds left gave Seton LaSalle a 21-14 victory in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Acrisure Stadium.
“What did I read? I was not going to lose this game,” Martin said about the interception. “I saw the quarterback roll my way, and I dropped back, and it fell in my hands.
“I felt if I played my best, we would win. This feels amazing.”
This was Seton LaSalle’s first WPIAL since 2004 and sixth overall. The Rebels lost to South Park last year.
The third-seeded Ironmen (9-4) were denied their seventh title.
Seton LaSalle (13-1) will face Farrell in the PIAA semifinals at a site, date and time to be determined.
After a scoreless first half in which Steel Valley threatened twice, the Ironmen quickly took a two-score lead.
Tyrell Breland returned the second-half kickoff 84 yards for a score, and then after a Seton LaSalle fumble, Da’ron Barksdale raced 21 yards to make it 14-0 just 44 seconds into the third quarter.
Barksdale, a Pitt recruit, rushed for 144 yards on 33 carries. He caught two passes for 50 yards and made eight tackles on defense.
“He a dude,” Martin said. “He is tough to tackle. We knew we had to gang tackle him.”
The Seton LaSalle running game seemed to wear down the Ironmen in the fourth quarter.
Kymarr Freeman rushed for 130 yards and Jones 100. Martin finished with 47 yards.
“I felt our line took over,” Storino said. “We went 80 yards in the final two minutes to win it.”
Seton LaSalle overcame a hugh offseason obstacle, losing seven potential starters who left the program, including star receiver Khalil Taylor, who transferred to Pine-Richland.
“We had a couple guys leave the program, and we began the season with holes to fill,” Storino said. “We just kept going forward and came together as a team. I am proud of the team.”
Steel Valley was penalized 19 times for 127 yards. Barksdale had a 60-yard run called back.
“We knew we had to be tougher than the other team or we would not win,” senior linebacker Aaron Loritts said. “We got the job done.”
Steel Valley coach Ray Braszo was unavailable for comment.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Seton La Salle, Steel Valley
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