Bears blow out Jayhawks

Clairton’s defense is legit, but of course everyone around the WPIAL knew that already.

The Bears made another case Saturday afternoon as why this season’s defense might be historic, as they limited Jeannette to 7 total yards of offense and collected a 43-0 rout at Thomas Jefferson Stadium.

“Our defense just dominates opponents,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said. “The kids fly around and make plays. We have probably seven or eight kids that can run a 4.6 (40-yard dash time). They are having a lot of fun and are doing their assignments. The results speak for themselves.”

After allowing a defensive touchdown in their Week 0 win over Steel Valley, the Bears (60, 3-0) have posted shutouts against their next five opponents.

In the win over the Jayhawks (4-2, 1-2), Clairton compiled 11 tackles for loss and forced three turnovers.

When asked if he had every seen a defensive unit be so dominant, Wade had a quick answer. “We were in the coaches’ meeting last week and we started to think about our all-time defenses that we have had over the years at Clairton,” Wade pointed out. “The one group that popped into everybody’s head was that 2010 group that won a state title. They had 10 shutouts and that group was out of sight.

“There were so many special players on that defense. This defense this year reminds me a lot of that group with the way they approach the game and their overall dominance on the field.”

Clairton has won the last four meetings against Jeannette and is 11-2 against its rival since 2014. The last time the Jayhawks defeated the Bears was in the Class 1A title game in 2020.

“Jeannette has some players, but our defense shut them down,” Wade said. “Our front four did a nice job of clogging up the middle. Every time they tried to bounce it around the edges, our guys swarm to the football. Our team speed is unmatched. It frustrates a lot of offenses.”

The Jayhawks fumbled on the opening kickoff at the 11-yard line and the ball was recovered by Clairton’s Kahmani Parrotte. The Bears needed just three plays to find pay-dirt as Drahcir Jones plunged into the end zone from a yard out with 10:27 left in the first period.

A two-point, pop pass from Jeff Thompson to Donte Wright gave the Bears an early 8-0 lead.

“We wanted to take the ball at the start of the game and establish our running game,” Jeannette coach Thomas Paulone Jr. said. “But that fumble on the kickoff killed us. We could not come back after that. Clairton has one of those defenses that give you nothing easy. They have speed at all three levels.”

Jeannette was forced to punt on their next possession, as they gained negative eight yards on three plays. After a short punt, Thompson hooked up with Wright for a 14-yard scoring toss.

Both teams were held scoreless on their next two drives, and then the Bears grabbed their second turnover of the contest when Wright intercepted a tip ball from Kymon’e Brown. On the ensuing possession, the Jayhawks stood tall and forced a turnovers on downs.

On their next possession,

BEARS • B2

Christopher Horner / TRIBLIVE Clairton ended a four-play, 37-yard drive when Jones rumbled in from four yards out. Zaemear Correll delivered a pop pass to Mike Ruffin on the two-pointer, as the Bears led 22-0 with 4:53 left in the first half.

The Bears hit their biggest play of the day when they faced a third-and-31 and Thompson dumped off a middle screen to Wright. The sophomore used his blockers and ran for an electric 76-yard catch-and-run for a score. Correll gained the two-point run after the TD.

Clairton held a 30-0 lead at intermission. The Bears finished off the scoring and evoked the mercy rule in the third quarter with a 31-yard wideout screen to Ruffin from Thompson for a score and then a 17-yard dash to the goal line by Ruffin.

Thomspon ended his day with 154 passing yards on 11-of-18 passing and increased his season total for touchdown passes to 14 on the season.

“Our quarterback is coming along,” Wade said. “I like his poise in the pocket and he has a high football IQ. I said this at the beginning of the year, he is probably one of the smartest quarterbacks that we have had here at Clairton. He is doing a great job and feeding his playmakers.”

Wright was Thompson’s main target with three receptions for 93 yards, while Jones rushed for 41 yards on only six carries. Deon Pompey added 42 rushing yards for the Bears. “We had some short fields today, so our yardage wasn’t where it usually is,” Wade said. “We have so many playmakers out there, and sometimes it is difficult to get the ball to everybody. But we do need to clean up some things of offense like our RPO’s. Our line has to stay away from those penalties and be more consistent with our traps on the inside runs. Execution is key.”

Clairton travels to Springdale Friday to continue Eastern Conference action.

Monessen 32, South Side 17 Monessen used a barrage of big plays to bounce back from its first loss of the season and blitz previously unbeaten South Side, 32–17, in a nonconference game Saturday.

Trailing 17-12 at the half, the Greyhounds took the lead for good on an 82-yard run by Tavian Taylor. Monessen (5-1), which lost to Fort Cherry last week, later scored on a 50yard pass to Jay’veon Jeffries from TyVaughn Kershaw on a halfback option and a 69-yard interception return by Taylor.

In the first half, Monessen scored on a 51yard pass to Jeffries from Tim Kershaw and a 98-yard kickoff return by TyVaughn Kershaw.

Freshman quarterback Dawson Frasier threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Corfield and scored on a 1-yard run for South Side (4-1). – Trib Total Media