WPIAL Class A breakdown: Jeannette, Imani Christian again teams to beat

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, August 18, 2018 | 7:12 PM

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A one-point loss to Jeannette in last year’s WPIAL Class A championship has followed Imani Christian around like a shadow.

Jeannette rallied late to win 35-34 in a highlight-filled finale at Robert Morris for the Jayhawks’ ninth WPIAL title.

For Imani, the defeat is a constant reminder of a battle that wasn’t won, a trophy that wasn’t raised.

“I think we’re even stronger because of that,” Imani senior receiver Rahmon Hart Jr. said.

Jeannette doubled down by winning its second PIAA championship and will open this season as the Tribune-Review’s No. 1 team, far from ready to give up the crown. But Imani will be a close No. 2 as it eyes a title game rematch with its Eastern Conference rival.

And here’s a bonus: The Class A championship is returning to Heinz Field.

“We are really motivated because we worked hard all summer to prepare for that moment and came up short,” Hart said. “We are even more motivated because they went on to win the state championship, and we were the closest team to beating them in the playoffs.”

When asked who should be the preseason No. 1, Imani coach Ronnell Heard grinned.

“It has to be us, right?” Heard said. “With Jeannette losing (Anthony) Johnson; the kid was phenomenal and the defensive player of the year; that changes some things. We have basically everybody back.”

Imani returns Hart, a Ball State recruit, senior quarterback Israel Reed and senior wideout Dashwan Wright.

Jeannette, which finished 15-1, has talented seniors in Division I prospect Marcus Barnes (WR) and Seth Howard (QB) and junior Justin Cramer (LB).

But multi-talented Robert Kennedy and Tre Cunningham are gone and Johnson left for a school in Cleveland.

Jeannette and Imani put on a show and brought the best out of one another in two meetings, the first marred by fan interference and heightened tempers that required a hearing before the WPIAL.

Jeannette won 54-36.

The altercation, albeit ugly at the time, enhanced the competition between the teams.

“We need to take it game by game, but we definitely want to play (Jeannette) again,” Heard said. “We play them in Week 2 so we won’t have to wait long.”

Jeannette is ready to defend its titles. The program has more wins than any in WPIAL football history: 736.

“We’re going to have to be ready every week,” Jeannette coach Roy Hall said. “We’ve always had a big target on our back, but it’s even bigger now. I tell the kids it’s their turn to keep adding to the tradition here.”

Clairton, the team Jeannette finally solved, can’t be forgotten in the Eastern. The perennially powerful Bears have won nine of the last 12 WPIAL titles and some forget they shared the conference title with Jeannette and Imani last year. They must, however, replace 13 seniors.

A team few are talking about is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The Chargers, under well-traveled coach Dan Bradley, were co-champions of the Big 7 Conference with Rochester.

OLSH went 9-3 and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Imani Christian, 20-12.

“Jeannette is the defending champion so they’re the team to beat,” Bradley said. “And Clairton and Imani are up there, too. I do think that our conference is the best (in Class A) from top to bottom.”

OLSH returns seven starters on offense and eight on defense, including quarterback Tyler Bradley (2,700 yards, 31 TDs), 6-3 receiver Rico Tate and senior running back Austin Wigley, who missed last season with a leg injury.

Rochester, a team that always seems to be in the mix in Class A and also reached the quarterfinals, brings back senior running back Noah Whiteleather and senior lineman Darius Goosby.

High-scoring California, which averaged 50.5 points, rolled to the Tri-County South title and reached the semifinals before suffering its only loss, 30-24 against Imani.

The Trojans also have to replace 13 graduated players but could still be dangerous led by running back Jelani Stafford and quarterback Austin Grillo.

Former Imani Christian assistant LaRoi Johnson is now the coach at Sto-Rox. He thinks Jeannette, California and Imani are the top teams and hopes his team can find its way into the playoff mix.

“That No. 4 and 5 team is hard to figure,” said LaRoi Johnson, a former Cal (Pa.), Malone and arena league lineman. “It depends on how good your seniors are and how disciplined you are.

“I have taken it all in stride here. The kids are excellent. The thing you ask is, ‘Are you willing to play together?’ ”

Three Class A newcomers — Benworth, Laurel and Chartiers-Houston — dropped down from Class 2A.

The top two teams in each Class A conference make the playoffs, along with two wild-card teams. That will cut the normal 16-team playoff field in half, to eight teams.

THE FAVORITE

1. Jeannette (15-1)

The Jayhawks won their ninth WPIAL title and second PIAA title and return quarterback Seth Howard and receiver Marcus Barnes, along with some proven linemen and several potentially good running backs. Jeannette has not repeated as WPIAL champion since 2006-07 when Terrelle Pryor played quarterback.

Preseason rankings

2. Imani Christian (11-3)

3. Clairton (9-3)

4. OLSH (9-3)

5. California (12-1)

*Records from 2017

THE STARS

Marcus Barnes

Jeannette, sr., WR/DB

Sure-handed 6-foot-4 receiver has number of Division I offers, including Army, Navy and Air Force.

Tyler Bradley

OLSH, sr., QB

Passed for more than 2,700 yards and threw 31 touchdown passes to help lead Chargers to Big Seven co-championship.

Darius Goosby

Rochester, sr., TE/DE

The Big 7 Defensive Lineman of the Year, Goosby (6-2, 195) can create space on offense and slow the run on defense.

Rahmon Hart, Jr.

Imani Christian, sr., WR/DB

A Ball State recruit, the 6-4, 200-pound Hart showed his big-play ability and soft hands in last year’s WPIAL final with seven catches for 105 yards.

Jelani Stafford

California, sr., RB/LB

“Baby Bettis,” as some call the 6-2, 275-pounder, rushed for 1,608 yards and 28 touchdowns for semifinalist.

don’t miss

9 . 7 Imani Christian at Jeannette

A rematch of last year’s WPIAL final, Jeannette will look for its fourth straight win against the Saints. Big plays are expected.

10. 5 OLSH at Jeannette

It’s a nonconference game but one worth watching as two potential playoff teams square off in Week 6.

10. 5 Imani Christian at Clairton

Clairton is itching for revenge against the Saints, who knocked the Bears from the top-5 rankings with an 18-6 win last year.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Clairton, Imani Christian, Jeannette, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Rochester