Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 30, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, November 30, 2025 | 9:54 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Clairton Bears

Coach – Wayne Wade (12th season)

Result – Clairton 57, Greenville 0

Record – 14-1 overall, 7-0 and Class A Eastern Conference champion

#Earned – After being in a dogfight in the WPIAL quarterfinals against Jeannette, pulling away from Bishop Canevin in the semifinals and going down to the wire against Laurel in the district championship game, 2025 WPIAL Class A champion Clairton had what felt like a walk in the park against District 10 winner Greenville in the PIAA semifinals. The Bears led the Trojans by 22 points after one quarter and guaranteed the second half would be played under the mercy rule with a 43-point lead by halftime. Clairton scored the only 14 points of the second half and cruised to a one-sided victory over Greenville, 57-0. The win put the Bears in the state championship game for the first time in nine years.

Statistical standouts – Fresh off of Thanksgiving, the offensive production for the Bears was a cornucopia of talented players pitching in to score eight touchdowns against Greenville — six on offense and two on special teams. On the ground, senior running back Deon Lovelace-Pompey rushed for 109 yards and scored two touchdowns, senior running back Donte Wright had 55 yards and a score and senior Michael Ruffin ran for 41 yards and a TD. Senior quarterback Jeff Thompson III hit on 6 of 8 passes for 170 yards and a touchdown toss to senior wide receiver Taris Wooding, plus Thompson scored on an 8-yard touchdown run. The icing on the cake was taken care of by super sophomore wide out Brandon Murphy, who returned not one, but two punts for touchdowns. He scored on a first quarter 81-yard return, then capped off a double lateral to return a third quarter punt 75 yards for a score.

Last year – It was a return to the bright lights of the big stage on the North Shore in 2024 for Clairton. After being bounced in the district postseason in the quarterfinals twice and in the semifinals once between 2021-23, the Bears returned to the WPIAL Class A championship game a year ago to take on defending champion Fort Cherry. The game was an instant classic that went down to the wire. Trailing by six, the Rangers scored late and held on to beat the Bears, 21-20. Michael Ruffin rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns for Clairton while teammate Drahcir Jones ran for 90 yards and a score as the Bears suffered their only loss of the season and finished 13-1. For the season, Jeff Thompson III threw for 1,882 yards and 27 touchdowns while Jones led Clairton with 1,421 yards rushing and 26 touchdowns.

Remember when – The WPIAL championship two weeks ago was title No. 15, keeping Clairton second on the all-time district football title list behind only Aliquippa’s 21 crowns. The Bears are four ahead of New Castle and Thomas Jefferson, which are tied for third place with 11. The 100th anniversary is approaching for the Bears’ first WPIAL football championship captured in 1929. It was 17 years ago when Clairton edged Monaca in the Class A final, 12-6, in what would be the first of five consecutive WPIAL championships. With a victory on Thursday, Clairton would tie Aliquippa and Thomas Jefferson for most PIAA championships by a District 7 school. Central Catholic could tie that mark with a fifth state title if it wins Saturday. The other four Bears state championships came in consecutive seasons, starting in 2009 when they beat Bishop McCort in the finals, 15-3. In 2010, they outscored Taylor Riverside, 26-30. In 2011, the Bears defeated Southern Columbia, 35-19, and in 2012 Clairton blanked Dunmore, 20-0.

WPIAL Week 14 Honorable Mention

Central Catholic

Both WPIAL Class 6A champion Central Catholic and District 3 winner Harrisburg entered the state semifinals with 13-game winning streaks. Last season, in an instant classic that came down to the final play, the Vikings hung on to defeat the Cougars by five points. In the rematch on Saturday, there was no drama as the District 7 champs never trailed, leading by seven points after one quarter and 16 points by halftime. The result remained the same as 12 months ago as Central Catholic beat Harrisburg, 32-14.

Avonworth

A week after making it look easy in an impressive victory over previously undefeated Imani Christian in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game, Avonworth was once again in a battle in the state semifinals against Penn Cambria. Much like last year, the Antelopes prevailed over the District 6 champs. Leading by seven points at halftime, the Lopes outscored the Panthers in a game-changing third quarter, 14-0, to advance to the state finals for a second straight year with a hard-fought 31-15 victory.

Aliquippa

A week after Peters Township pulled off an epic comeback in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game, turning a 19-point Pine-Richland lead into a 20-19 victory, Aliquippa nearly pulled off a bigger comeback in a PIAA Class 4A semifinals. Trailing District 3 champ Twin Valley, 28-6 at the half, the Quips scored three touchdowns in the third quarter, but two failed 2-point conversions and a missed extra point turned out to be the difference as the Aliquippa comeback fell short in a 28-24 Twin Valley win.

2025 HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 13 – Peters Township Indians

Week 12 – Laurel Spartans

Week 11 – McKeesport Tigers

Week 10 – Frazier Commodores

Week 9 – Steel Valley Ironmen

Week 8 – Moon Tigers

Week 7 – North Allegheny Tigers

Week 6 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings

Week 5 – Albert Gallatin Colonials

Week 4 – Aliquippa Quips

Week 3 – Avella Eagles

Week 2 – Southmoreland Scotties

Week 1 – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Tags: Clairton