Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 18, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, November 18, 2024 | 6:54 PM

Trib HSSN football team of the week – Clairton Bears

Coach: Wayne Wade (11th season)

Result: Clairton 24, Bishop Canevin 0

Record: 13-0 overall

#Earned: Nearly four decades ago, one of the greatest defensive efforts over a single season was put in the books by the 1985 Chicago Bears, who went 15-1, allowed 12.4 points per game and kept teams under 10 points in seven games. Now 39 years later, another Bears team with a C as its logo is playing defense at a record-setting pace that has led them to be perfect in the WPIAL’s Class A. Clairton registered its 10th shutout in 13 games this season in the district semifinals against Bishop Canevin, 24-0. The Bears defense has allowed only 21 points all season, yielding seven points to Steel Valley, Leechburg and Brentwood. A week after shutting down the WPIAL’s leading rusher when they held California running back Lee Qualk to 13 yards on 17 carries, they shut down the third-leading passer in the district when Bishop Canevin senior Kole Olszewski completed only 5 of 22 passes for 33 yards. The Bears jumped out to a 16-0 lead after one quarter, and it was lights out for the Crusaders. Clairton has now outscored Rochester, California and Bishop Canevin in this postseason, 134-0

Statistical standouts: It seemed only right that the Clairton defense would set up then produce the first points of the semifinals game against Bishop Canevin. Following an interception of Olszewski, the Bears offense failed to drive but a punt put the Crusaders back on their own 1-yard line. The vaunted Clairton defense got a safety, and the Bears were off and running toward their 13th win in 13 games. Before the opening quarter ended, junior quarterback Jeff Thompson scored on a 32-yard run and junior running back Deon Pompey added a 1-yard score. In the third quarter, senior running back Drahcir Jones added a 68-yard scoring run for the icing on the semifinals cake. Junior Michael Ruffin rushed for 98 yards and Jones had 84 yards on the ground.

Last year: It was a slow start to the 2023 season for Clairton after the Bears were outscored by a combined 54-0 in season-opening losses to Westinghouse and Washington. An Eastern Conference tuneup victory over Our Lady of the Sacred Heart got the Bears their first win, and then they ended the regular season with eight wins in a row, including a perfect conference record of 6-0. Clairton upped its winning streak to 10 straight following playoff victories over Laurel (44-7) and defending champion Union (18-6) before the season ended in the district semifinals with a 28-12 loss to eventual runner-up South Side. Michael Wright threw for 1,776 yards and 19 touchdowns for the Bears while the team’s current leading rusher, Drahcir Jones, led the Bears ground attack last fall with 1,489 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Remember when: To their rabid fan base, it must seem like it’s been forever since Clairton has hoisted WPIAL gold, but it has only been five years. In the 2019 WPIAL Class A finals, the Bears captured their latest district crown with a victory at then-Heinz Field over Sto-Rox, 41-19. That title was the 14th in school history and is still second most behind Aliquippa’s 20 championships. With that many championships, there are plenty of anniversaries to remember:

• Ninety-five years ago, the Bears claimed their first title when they were declared champions in 1929.

• Seventy years ago, Clairton was declared champions in the fall of 1954.

• Thirty-give years ago, current head coach Wayne Wade helped the Bears defeat Laurel, 27-20, to win 1989 gold.

• Fifteen years ago, the Bears edged Rochester, 14-13, for the second of what would be five straight titles in 2009.

• Ten years ago, Clairton crushed Avonworth, 46-16, in November of 2014 for the program’s 11th championship and the first of three consecutive crowns.

Week 12 honorable mention

Central Valley Warriors

Central Valley began the postseason with a .500 record but after beating Elizabeth Forward in the battle of the Warriors, they are 7-5 and winners of five of their last six games and seven of their last nine. CV scored the first two touchdowns and slowly built its lead to a 16-point victory. Senior running back Mason Dixon rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown, sophomore running back Jance Henry had 49 yards but scored twice on runs of 4 and 1 yard and senior quarterback Steven Rutherford ran for 108 yards and a score in the 31-15 victory over EF, giving Central Valley its ninth trip to the WPIAL finals in 15 years of existence.

Seton LaSalle Rebels

Steel Valley entered the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals one win away from a third straight trip to the district finals and a sixth title game appearance in the last nine years. However, hope was quickly dashed when the Ironmen went up against Gang Green. Top seed and undefeated Seton LaSalle scored two touchdowns in each of the first two quarters for a 27-point halftime lead. Senior running back Logan King rushed for 114 yards on 33 carries and scored three touchdowns, plus he was 2 for 2 passing with a 5-yard scoring toss to sophomore wide receiver Khalil Taylor. Senior quarterback Michael Pastirik was 8 of 12 passing for 105 yards as the Rebels improved to 11-0 with a 27-13 win.

Fort Cherry Rangers

Class A top seed Fort Cherry was in a dogfight in the district quarterfinals before prevailing by a touchdown over Cornell. However, an explosion of offense in the middle two quarters made the Rangers breathe easier in a semifinal victory. Even though they were held to seven points in the first and final quarters, the Rangers scored 21 points each in the second and third quarters again Jeannette. It was another monster game for Penn State recruit Matt Sieg, who rushed for 222 yards on 17 carries with six of those totes ending up in the end zone. He also threw for 102 yards to go over 4,000 yards passing and join former Jeannette great Terrelle Pryor as the only WPIAL quarterbacks to pass and rush for over 4K in their careers. Oh, and he’s only a junior.

2024 Trib HSSN teams of the week

Week 11 – Avonworth Antelopes

Week 10 – Highlands Golden Rams

Week 9 – Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Week 8 – Montour Spartans

Week 7 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Week 5 – Central Catholic Vikings

Week 4 – Central Valley Warriors

Week 3 – South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 2 – Jefferson-Morgan Rockets

Week 1 – Bethel Park Black Hawks

Week Zero – Blackhawk Cougars

Tags: Clairton