Sep 13, 2024 3 min read

By Joe Smeltzer

Sports editor

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

McDONALD – Matt Sieg can’t throw the football.

That’s not a criticism of the Fort Cherry quarterback, it’s simply just a fact.

You see, he has a broken thumb, which makes it difficult to pass.

But unfortunately for Chartiers Houston, the WPIAL’s top Class of 2026 player can run.

All he did against the Bucs on Friday night, rushing for 228 yards and four touchdowns on 13 carries in Fort Cherry’s 42-6 win in the Class A Black Hills Conference opener for both teams.

As always, Sieg was quick to credit his teammates after the win.

“Our line blocked their butts off,” Sieg said. “The receivers blocked their butts off. I mean, it’s just a matter of speed on the field and physicality, and we just beat them.”

It took Fort Cherry (1-0, 4-0) a little longer than some might have expected to get going, but Matt Sieg broke the ice with a 39-yard run on 4th and 5 with 3:08 left in the first quarter. On the next drive, Sieg did it again, this time from 38 yards out. Fort Cherry made it 21-0 later in the second quarter on a 7-yard run by Ryan Huey, plus the extra point.

Sieg’s last two touchdown runs — of 56 and 59 yards — kicked in the mercy rule.

Fort Cherry will look to keep it going next Friday night against Monessen at 7. Chartiers-Houston (0-1, 2-2) looks to bounce back against Burgettstown at home, also at 7.

Sieg said he expects to be able to throw again by then.

Chartiers-Houston has made progress under first-year head coach and former Washington & Jefferson star receiver Dan Lis.

But Lis didn’t feel his team showed that progress against Fort Cherry.

“Not great,” he said. “I know the coaching staff at Fort Cherry very well. I know Tanner, obviously. He and I had battles back in high school all the time. And to be here, you know, 12 years later, 13 years later, coaching against each other. I mean, he’s done a great job with that program. Because when he took over, it was a winless team as well. So he, in a couple of years, what he’s been able to build, and I respect it. And I tell the kids that, too.

“We don’t like each other when we get on the field Friday nights, but you have to respect somebody you’re going to play like that before you step on the field. I’m upset they didn’t show that they’re better than that. Because we are better than that, and we’ve shown it this year. But, whatever it was tonight, they just didn’t come out with it. So that’s what’s upsetting to me.”