Dec 1, 2023 3 min read

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

FARRELL – When they needed him most, Matt Sieg came through.

The Fort Cherry quarterback rushed for 245 yards and scored four touchdowns, three of them in a critical fourth quarter as the Rangers defeated Redbank Valley 33-23 in the PIAA Class 1A semifinals Friday night at Farrell High School.

The win puts Fort Cherry in the finals for the first time in program history Thursday at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School. The Rangers will play District 3 champion Steelton Highspire, the defending PIAA champion.

Sieg scored on runs of one, 20 and 37 yards for the Rangers, who take on Steelton-Highspire in the finals.

“It’s just special to take this type of success to the community,” said Seig. “These guys have been together since fourth grade. It’s crazy how far we’ve come. I’d say this was one of my best game.”

“It’s unbelievable,” Fort Cherry head coach Tanner Garry said. “We’re an hour and some change away from our home and our fans came out. It went the way we thought it would. We knew we could be down early and we just had to outlast them. At some point we had to try to outlast them.”

The first half of the game did not go according to most people’s expectations. These two high-powered offenses could combine for just 16 points. Redbank Valley led 9-7.

Redbank Valley won the toss and instead of defer, the Bulldogs chose to take the ball. It took only six plays before quarterback Braylon Wagner hit Ashton Kahle with a picture-perfect 34-yard touchdown. The extra point try by Owen Clouse was blocked.

Fort Cherry came right back, driving 65 yards in 11 plays before quarterback Matt Sieg bulled over from the two-yard line. Nik Massey’s extra-point attempt was good and Fort Cherry led 7-6 with 4:49 remaining in the first quarter.

Redbank Valley opened a two-point lead when Clouse connected on a 33-yard field goal 2:06 before halftime.

Fort Cherry had a chance to take the lead beforehalftimebut31-yard field goal try by Massey was hooked to the left.

Fort Cherry came into the game after a 42-28 victory over South Side Beaver in the quarterfinals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. That was preceded by a 33-21 victory over Bishop Canevin.

Redbank Valley opened the Class 1A playoffs with a 26-7 victory over Port Allegheny and followed that with a 44-0 shutout of Cambridge Springs.

Redbank Valley won its third District 9 title in four seasons with the victory over Port Allegheny. The Bulldogs previously won the title in 2020 and 2021. Redbank Valley also won in 1991, 92 and 96. The Bulldogs have won 11 league titles in its history.

Redbank Valley was the top seed in the District 9 playoffs.

Fort Cherry was making its first appearance in the PIAA playoffs in school history.

The winner advances to play either South Williamsport or Steelton Highspire in the PIAA Class A Championship the following Thursday.

Redbank Valley passing attack features two 1,000-yard receivers in Ashton Kahle and Mason Clouse. Sophomore quarterback Braylon Wagner returned to the lineup last Friday for the first time since suffering an injury Oct. 27. In last week’s 44-0 win over Cambridge Springs, Wagner threw for 203 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half.

HASH MARKS – Neither team has won a state title in their respective history. This was Fort Cherry’s first appearance in the state semifinals. The finals will be held Thursday at Cumberland Valley High School at 1 p.m.