‘We know what we’re up against’: Jeannette plenty familiar with No. 2 Clairton

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, November 6, 2025 | 8:01 AM

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When Jeannette lost to Clairton earlier in the season, Jayhawks football coach Tommy Paulone put 20 golf balls in a vase — 16 white, three blue and one yellow.

The white represented how many practices the team had left in the season. Blue and yellow were for the remaining games, with yellow signifying the next one.

“We took a white ball out after every practice and took a blue ball out after every win,” Paulone said. “This kept us focused on one opportunity at a time, practice and game.”

Paulone hopes to keep reaching into the jar, although the problem this week for the No. 10-seeded Jayhawks (8-3) is that the No. 2 Bears (10-1) are teeing off on everybody.

The teams’ WPIAL Class A quarterfinal is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Franklin Regional.

Clairton has nine straight shutouts — zero points allowed in 36 quarters — and has outscored teams 519-0 in that time. The Bears average 48.3 points.

Clairton roughed up Jeannette when they met in Eastern Conference play, 57-0.

“We know what we’re up against,” Paulone said. “They’re the best team in the state. We have to play great and then some. Their D-line is big and nasty.”

Jeannette had a big fourth quarter last week and defeated No. 7 Bentworth, 38-24. The score was tied 17-17 in the fourth before the Jayhawks scored 21 points.

“Scoring on them is our goal, obviously, but I want to win,” Paulone said. “But we still need to stop them from scoring. The worst situation for us is third-and-10.”

Clairton held Monessen to negative-12 yards in a 50-0 win in the first round.

Jeff Thompson has thrown for 2,048 yards and 33 touchdowns, and tailback Deon Lovelace-Pompey has 631 yards rushing. The Bears have 28 rushing TDs.

Four receivers have at least 20 catches, led by sophomore Brandon Murphy, a Division I prospect, with 27 for 534 yards. Donte Wright has 20 grabs, nine for TDs, and Michael Ruffin has 22 receptions for 424 yards and six scores.

The Bears have six straight wins against Jeannette. The Jayhawks’ last win over the Bears came in the 2020 WPIAL championship.

This year, simply getting a first down against the Bears is worth a helmet sticker. Last time, Jeannette ran for 35 yards against them.

Kymon’e Brown was just 3 of 19 for 54 yards and two interceptions. Leading receiver Jayce Powell injured his ankle in the second half and did not return.

Brown is one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the WPIAL. He has 1,474 yards passing and 881 rushing and has accounted for 25 touchdowns.

Powell has 38 catches for 796 yards and eight TDs.

“The key is executing like we did last time we played them,” Bears coach Wayne Wade said. “Playing a complete game, all phases.”

The shutout streak is a point of pride for the Bears, but not the central focus of a team eyeing WPIAL and PIAA title runs.

“When we talk ‘D,’ we mention it but it’s more about everyone doing their job every play,” Wade said. “The ‘goose egg’ will take care of itself. The dominance we continue to show each week is impressive.”

Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and Hunter Schaffer did not play against Clairton the first time, but both are expected back this week.

“Jeannette has a solid football team. They play hard,” Wade said. “The QB is athletic, has a strong arm and can run.”

Clairton was the WPIAL runner-up last year. Jeannette made the semifinals but lost to eventual champion Fort Cherry.

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

Tags: Clairton, Jeannette