TRIB TOTAL MEDIA • 107
ISAIAH BERRY
CLAIRTON MOTIVATED,
LOADED WITH TALENT
Wayne Wade doesn’t need any
motivation to prepare his football
team for the 2020 season.
That’s because the Clairton
Bears have a chip on their shoulder.
“Our season ended a little early
last year,” Wade said. “We lost to
Farrell in the PIAA Class A semifinals
in a game we dominated in
every phase except the scoreboard.
It left a bad taste in our mouths.
“We have 15 seniors back, and we
won’t let their heads get too big.
They’ll be motivated.”
Clairton captured its 14th WPIAL
title in 2019 when it defeated
Sto-Rox, 41-19. The next week,
Farrell celebrated a 13-10 victory
over the Bears. Farrell defeated
Bishop Guilfoyle, 10-7, to win the
state title.
Clairton lost only four seniors
from the 2019 squad: quarterback
Brendan Parson, wide receiver
Kenlein Ogletree, wide receiver
Wayne Wade and wide receiver
Brooklyn Cannon.
There is still a lot of firepower
remaining.
Heading the list is senior running
back Isaiah Berry, who rushed
for 1,042 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Senior Dontae Sanders is back
after rushing for 553 yards and 13
touchdowns.
Senior Jonte Sanders will try to
replace the big shoes of Parsons,
who was a four-year starter, at
quarterback.
Parsons completed 114 of 222
passes for 2,012 yards and 24 touchdowns
last season.
He also rushed for 1,097 yards
and 11 touchdowns. Jonte Sanders
caught 31 passes for 429 yards and
six touchdowns and saw time as a
backup quarterback. He rushed
for 210 yards.
“Jonte is doing a good job picking
things up,” Wade said. “He’ll
get the job done. He knows the
offense.”
Other players Wade is counting
on are senior linebacker Don Napper,
Cannon and Andre Henderson.
The offensive line is pretty much
intact, led by 6-foot-6, 305-pound
tackle Dametrius Weatherspoon.
“Our goals remain the same,”
Wade said. “It doesn’t bother
us that we’re ranked No. 1. I
know Steelton-Highspire and
Bishop Guilfoyle return a lot of
players. But our kids are up for
the challenge.”
Wade added that the conference
has improved with Greensburg
Central Catholic adding seven
transfers and Jeannette having a
solid squad.
He also feels that the addition
of Burgettstown and Shenango
makes Class A strong.
“I know Cornell and Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart have improved,”
Wade said.
“West Greene returns a lot. We’ll
be ready for anyone.”
Clairton will find out a lot about
itself when it meets Jeannette to
open Eastern Conference action
on Sept. 11.
“I always liked the game at end
of the season,” Wade said.
“We’ll have to be ready earlier
for them.”
by PAUL SCHOFIELD
Coach: Wayne Wade
2019 record: 9-2, 5-1 in Class
A Eastern Conference
All-time record: 756-318-48
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
9.11 at Jeannette* 7
9.18 at Leechburg* 7
9.25 Riverview* 7
10.3 at Bishop Canevin* 7
10.9 Imani Christian* 7
10.16 at Greensburg Central
Catholic* 7
10.23 Springdale* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Brendon Parsons*
114-222, 2,012 yards, 24 TDs
Receiving Kenlein Ogletree*
47-963 yards, 20 TDs
Rushing Parsons*
121-1,097 yards, 11 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACTS
• Former Clairton grad Tyler
Boyd is a starting wide receiver
for the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Clairton is six wins from the
700-win milestone.
• The Bears have made the
WPIAL playoffs 34 times.
They played 90 games and
own a record of 67-23.
• Clairton has played in seven
PIAA championship games,
winning four times (2009-
2012). They are 0-2 since
then, losing to Bishop Guilfoyle
(19-18 in 2014) and (17-0 in
2016).
• Clairton opened the 2019
season with consecutive losses
to Aliquippa (35-14) and Mc-
Guffey (42-27). Then they won
11 consecutive games before
falling to Farrell.
DAMETRIUS
WEATHERSPOON
CLAIRTON • EASTERN