With Eastern Conference lead on the line, Leechburg looks for program’s 1st win over Clairton

By: Michael Love
Wednesday, October 9, 2024 | 7:23 PM

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Clairton and Leechburg rolled through the first seven weeks of the season.

The Bears gave up one touchdown, a defensive score by Steel Valley in the Week Zero season opener at the Wolvarena, and have proceeded to pitch six straight shutouts.

The Blue Devils have averaged 43.2 points in their seven wins and allowed just 13.1 as they are 7-0 for the first time since 1980.

The leaders of the Eastern Conference meet for the 31st time Friday. Clairton hopes to keep up its dominance in the series, whereas Leechburg hopes to take down the Bears for the first time and establish itself at the top of the conference.

“The kids have done an amazing job week to week taking care of business and enjoying the success we’ve had,” Blue Devils coach Randy Walters said.

“But they haven’t changed when Monday comes. They’ve been able to refocus well for that opponent that week. Now, with that said, have their eyes been on Clairton? Of course. They are the standard of the league. They are very well-coached, very athletic on both sides of the ball, and they play the game the right way. I love playing them because they’re classy kids, and they play the game the right way.”

Kickoff at what should be a spirited atmosphere at Leechburg’s Veterans Stadium is 7 p.m.

Leechburg is seeking an 8-0 start for the first time since 1978, when the Blue Devils reached 11-0 before losing to Knoch in the WPIAL Class 2A semifinals.

The winner of Friday’s game clinches a WPIAL playoff berth. For Clairton, it would be its 19th consecutive playoff appearance, and for Leechburg, it would be its fourth straight. Both streaks are school records.

Ordinarily both teams would’ve clinched by now, but the WPIAL is taking only the top three teams automatically from each conference. The remaining four teams in Class A will be chosen by the football steering committee.

The Leechburg seniors hope to break their personal streak of three losses against the Bears. Tight end and linebacker Jake Cummings remembers back to his freshman year when Clairton came to Veterans Stadium and scored a 48-27 victory after the Blue Devils started 3-0. It was one of just two losses for Leechburg in the regular season that year.

Two years ago, the teams engaged in a close contest at Clairton’s Neil Brown Stadium that went down to the wire before Clairton came away with a 20-13 win.

Last year was somewhat of a different story as the Bears rolled to a 42-14 victory.

“We’re definitely extremely excited to be playing this game,” said Cummings, who owns 36 catches for 443 yards, 47 carries for 334 yards and seven combined touchdowns through seven games.

“For a lot of us, this is one of the most important games we’ve played in our careers. This year, we’ve been so locked in each week. We treat every week like we’re 0-0. Coach Walters really instilled that in us. We’ve prepared and have been able to take care of business each week.

“When you play Clairton, you have to make sure you’re doing your job right. They’re going to make plays. That’s what you expect them to do. We have to be right there ready to execute and make plays.”

Blue Devils senior Jayden Floyd had another strong multi-faceted offensive game in last Friday’s 62-16 win over Frazier and has accounted for 1,733 total yards (731 passing, 1,002 rushing) and 23 combined touchdowns (seven passing, 16 rushing).

Junior Tim Andrasy continues to produce with 579 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 80 carries.

“Leechburg is playing really well, and it’s a lot of the same kids who have done a good job for them the past couple of years,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said.

“We’re pretty familiar with what they can do. With trying to stop someone with the ability of (Floyd), we have to rely on our speed, fly around, and get to the ball, and have fun. We have to make it difficult for him and the others they rely on a lot.”

This Friday’s game at Leechburg will be nothing new for Clairton as the Bears have played just one game at Neil Brown Stadium, a 47-0 victory over Greensburg Central Catholic on Sept. 13.

It was the last game there before a renovation project began on the 94-year-old stadium. The Bears’ final two home games against Riverview and Brentwood will be at Thomas Jefferson.

No matter where they’ve played, Clairton’s top weapons have made an impact on each game.

Bears junior Jeffrey Thompson has thrown for 1,146 yards and 16 touchdowns, and senior Drahcir Jones has run the ball 70 times for 692 yards and 11 scores.

They perform behind an experienced offensive line which returned four starters from last year.

The starters on both sides of the ball for the Bears, Wade said, expect to see more game action this week as opposed to all previous games when they’ve taken control early before eventually being subbed out.

“They’re extremely fast on defense,” Walters said. “They don’t miss tackles, and they are physical.

“Their quarterback is a scary kid. He can run the ball better than he shows. He doesn’t run it that often, but he can take off when you give him the opportunity. He’ll be out the door on a zone read. But he’s got a great arm. One of the biggest fears is that if we give too much space, between his ability to throw the ball and throw it accurately and the receivers’ ability to catch it, we’re in trouble.

“Their running back does everything at a high level with speed. He doesn’t have to slow down to make cuts. He makes them on a dime. He’ll put a foot in the ground and will get through a crack that is a half a yard wide. He has phenomenal vision.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Clairton, Leechburg