Sep 19, 2025 4 min read

By Dave Whipkey

For The Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

MCDONALD – Even before his freshman year, there were rumblings throughout Washington County that Matt Sieg would become a name to remember as he began his Fort Cherry football career.

Fast forward four years, and it’s evident that he fulfilled the promise as he is now the WPIAL’s all-time leader in touchdowns scored with 118.

The Rangers’ 55-6 win over Monessen almost became a footnote in the wake of Sieg’s Friday night. But in reality it was most important as it puts the Rangers (2-0, 5-0) into the top spot in the Black Hills conference as they look to win their third consecutive Class A WPIAL title and potentially a PIAA title run as well.

Sieg finished with 152 yards rushing in 13 totes with three scores. As a team, the Rangers rushed for 289 yards. They did not complete a pass, a fact that was meaningless as the Rangers dominated all night.

The Greyhounds were held to minus-2 yards rushing and were bottled up all night by the swarming Rangers defense.

Monessen caught a break on the opening kickoff when Jayveyon Jeffries recovered a fumble, giving the ball to the Greyhounds on the Ranger 39.

Blake Sweder then took it back for the Rangers when he recovered a Tavian Taylor fumble near midfield.

Knowing history was close at hand, Sieg decided he would get to work when on their second play from scrimmage following the fumble recovery. The Penn State recruit motored around right end and cruised on into the end zone for a 50-yard scoring run. Nick Massey’s point after was good, giving the Rangers a 7-0 lead 90 seconds into the contest.

Both teams traded punts through the end of the opening quarter. The Rangers looked to keep a drive alive early in the second. But on 4th and 2 from the Greyhound 44, Sieg was stopped by the middle of the Monessen defense to stop the march and give the ball back to the Greyhounds.

Fort Cherry shrugged that off and stuffed the Greyhounds in three plays. The Rangers got the ball in prime field position on fourth down when punter Roodly Destyl fielded the snap on one knee at their own 43, giving the ball back to the hosts right there.

It took four plays for Sieg to tie for the WPIAL all-time mark in touchdowns scored when he swept in from nine yards out with 7:55 remaining in the half, giving the Rangers a 14-0 lead and giving Sieg touchdown no. 117 for his career.

Fort Cherry made it 21-0 with a little more than six minutes remaining in the half when a shotgun center snap went wide of Taylor and into the end zone. Taylor recovered and attempted to run it out, but he was tackled by Christian Yanosko and eventually fumbled. Ryan Huey fell on the loose ball to give the Rangers a three score lead and the rout was on.

Another errant snap created a loose ball that the Greyhounds did recover on their own 1. Monessen was forced to punt, giving Fort Cherry the ball on the Greyhound 42.

Huey scored his second touchdown three plays later when he took an inside handoff and rumbled 28 yards into the end zone, leaving the Rangers lead at 27-0.

Monessen was able to move to midfield on their following possession thanks to a 25-yard catch and run by Rodney Johnson. But Tyler Wolfe shut down that momentum when he intercepted a Kayden Kolbeck throw to give the ball back to Fort Cherry on the Monessen 45.

With 20 seconds remaining in the half, history called Sieg and the future Nittany Lion answered with a 27-yard run to secure the all-time WPIAL touchdown mark with his 118th. Fort Cherry hauled a 34-0 lead into the halftime break.

“It was an outside zone play, nothing crazy,” Sieg said, describing the play that earned him the record. “It’s surreal. I just love everything about this place. I grew up here. It’s just family. Doing it here was super special. I was so thankful to be able to do it here.”

Fort Cherry made it a point to get the mercy rule enacted when they recovered a Taylor fumble on the Greyhound 19 early in the third. Three plays later, Huey had his own hat trick when he scored his third touchdown when he swept in from the five yards. Massey’s kick was true making it 41-0 Rangers.

Zach Rodriguez then got into the scoring party when he plowed in from the 1-yard line.

Monessen finally scored when Johnson bulled in from the four at the 10:05 mark of the fourth.

Joe Barna joined the parade of Fort Cherry points when he took the ensuing kickoff 84 yards, pushing the count to 55-6.