Nov 26, 2024 By Jonathan Guth 3 min read

In the words of legendary Pittsburgh Penguins announcer Mike Lange, “If you missed it, shame on you for six weeks.”

Fort Cherry’s 21-20 victory over Clairton in the WPIAL Class A football championship Saturday at Acrisure Stadium certainly lived up to its billing, and set the bar extremely high for the next three games.

Both teams entered the home of the Pitt Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers undefeated and featured prolific offenses, but Clairton’s defense was what everyone was talking about.

The Bears had given up a total of 21 points in 13 games for an average of 1.6 points per game. Technically, Clairton had yielded 14 points as a defense because Steel Valley’s touchdown in the opening game of the season was courtesy of a fumble return.

The Rangers had junior and Penn State commit Matt Sieg at quarterback and safety, but how could Fort Cherry’s offense, even though it had scored 540 points this season, penetrate the Bears’ vaunted defense?

The Rangers put together a total team effort in all three facets of the game and coach Tanner Garry dug deep into the playbook for a trick play late in the fourth quarter to keep hope alive.

Sieg had to scratch and claw for every one of his 87 rushing yards, but he was able to reach the end zone twice before channeling his inner Ben Roethlisberger on the same field where the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback made so many memorable plays to find a wide open Ryan Huey for the game-tying touchdown with 2:34 left in the game.

Fort Cherry faced a fourth-and-five at the Bears’ 13-yard line, and the play was designed for Sieg to fake the option pass that worked earlier in the drive and run for the sticks, but when he saw Clairton’s defenders closing in, he backpedaled and before being hit threw to Huey, who pulled in the pass at the goal line for the score.

Huey caught the option pass from wide receiver Shane Cornali earlier in the 82-yard drive when the Rangers faced a fourth-and-four from the Bears’ 49 for a 20-yard gain.

Kickers generally don’t grab the headlines, but Fort Cherry kicker Nik Massey made all three of his extra-point attempts, which proved to be the difference as Clairton didn’t have the luxury of a kicker.

The Rangers’ defense came up big, and despite the Bears scoring on two long touchdown runs, Fort Cherry more than held its own.

Clairton quarterback Jeff Thompson was hindered by an arm injury and couldn’t throw, but teammates Mike Ruffin and Drahcir Jones came through when their teammates needed them.

Fort Cherry would respond to adversity in scoring after Ruffin found the end zone on the Bears’ first touchdown. The Rangers made a defensive stand after Sieg was intercepted early in the fourth quarter and Clairton drove to the Fort Cherry 22.

Kudos to the Fort Cherry and Clairton faithful for making the trip and braving the elements on a cold and rainy Saturday morning.

When games with this much hype occur, they normally don’t live up to the expectations, but this one had all that and more.

Staff writer Jonathan Guth can be reached at jguth@observer-reporter.com