Nov 22, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

Fort Cherry enters Saturday’s WPIAL Class A football championship game undefeated and has outscored its opponents by an average margin of 31.9 points per game.

The Rangers are also the No. 1 seed in Class A, the reigning WPIAL champions and have a Penn State recruit in junior quarterback/safety Matt Sieg.

Despite having all that going for them, Fort Cherry (13-0) goes into the title game against Clairton (13-0) as the underdog. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Acisure Stadium.

Fort Cherry is seeking its second WPIAL title while Clairton is chasing No. 15.

The Rangers have outscored their opponents, 540-125, but the Bears have been the “Monsters of the Mon” in allowing only 21 points in 13 games. Clairton’s offense isn’t too shabby either, as coach Wayne Wade’s team has scored 674 points.

Technically, the Bears’ defense has allowed 14 points, as Steel Valley scored its lone touchdown on a fumble return in the season opener on Aug. 24.

“It’s not too often that you are the reigning WPIAL champions, undefeated and not favored going into a game,” Fort Cherry coach Tanner Garry said. “We are excited to be able to test ourselves against a very good team. It’s no surprise that they have only given up 21 points.”

Clairton’s defense has been one of the major storylines in the WPIAL this season, but the Bears really turned heads in the semifinals by shutting out Bishop Canevin’s normally potent offense, 24-0.

The Rangers defeated the Crusaders, 49-34, in the regular season to assure themselves no less than a tie for the Class A Black Hills Conference championship.

Comparing scores might concern the Fort Cherry faithful, but Garry pointed out that Clairton blocked a Bishop Canevin punt that was recovered on the five-yard line, had an interception inside the 20 and stopped the Crusaders on two fourth-down conversion attempts inside the Bears’ five-yard line.

“Making those key stops and creating turnovers that led to touchdowns is what Clairton did in that game, and that is what they have been doing all year long,” Garry said. “They are getting points in all three facets of the game. Canevin moved the ball on them, but couldn’t get in the end zone. Obviously, we need to find a way to get into the end zone.”

Senior defensive tackle Khalil Williams-Patterson uses his 5-9, 250-pound body to free up the Bears’ linebackers to make plays. He might not grab the headlines, but is the heart and soul of defense.

Sieg played the first month of the season with a broken thumb on his right hand, which is his throwing hand. He didn’t let the injury deter him, and has thrown for 1,124 yards with 19 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sieg has rushed for 1,717 yards on 198 carries and scored 30 TDs.

It doesn’t take a football genius to realize that Clairton will look to take away Sieg’s offensive prowess. The Bears would be smart to stay away from Sieg on defense, as he has been known to return an interception or two for a score.

“It’s no secret you want to go into a game with a good balance,” Garry said. “Matt will definitely need some help from the rest of the team.”

Senior Shane Cornali leads the Rangers in receiving with 33 receptions for 610 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cornali and Seig were the third and anchor legs, respectively, on the Rangers’ 4×100-meter relay team that won the Class 2A state title in track and field last May.

Braydon Cook (28 receptions, 3 touchdowns) and Evan Rogers (15-3) are secondary options at wide receiver.

Sophomore running back Ryan Huey is the Rangers’ second-leading rusher with 693 yards and nine touchdowns. Teammate Eli Salvini (486 yards, 4 touchdowns) is another option in the run game.

Clairton is led offensively by junior quarterback Jeff Thompson, who has passed for 1,827 yards with 27 TDs and three interceptions.

Senior running back Drahcir Jones leads the Bears in rushing with 1,331 yards on 132 carries and has crossed the goal line 25 times.

Juniors Michael Ruffin and Donte Wright are threats as rushers and receivers. Junior Taris Wooding leads Clairton in receiving with 25 catches and eight TDs. Senior Zae-mear Correll presents matchup problems because of his 6-3 frame. He has 18 receptions for 360 yards and five scores.