Caught the final minutes of regulation in addition to all three overtimes on the drive to work as Bethel Park clinched its first appearance in the PIAA Class AAAA football championship with a 38-35 victory over Wilson-West Lawn Saturday.
Kudos to Black Hawks coach Jeff Metheny, whose first head coaching job was at Waynesburg High School.
As a former BP resident, it's nice to see the Black Hawks reach the title game and it's always good to see the WPIAL well represented next weekend at Hersheypark Stadium. Bethel Park plays Bethlehem Liberty Saturday at 7 p.m.
My only gripe from the game was that, during the final minutes of regulation, the WEAE-AM radio announcers continued to talk about the possibility of overtime. For those of us who had just tuned in, we went the better part of 10 minutes before hearing the score. I asked the radio for the score on at least three occasions.
Congratulations also goes to Thomas Jefferson, who will play for its third PIAA Class AAA championship. The Jaguars play Archbishop Wood Friday at 7 p.m.
Clairton makes its first PIAA Class A championship appearance and faces defending champs Steelton-Highspire Friday at 1 p.m. Steel-High is led by Jeremiah Young, the PIAA's all-time leading rusher. The WPIAL hasn't won a Class A title since Rochester in 2001.
18 comments:
Congratulations to the Clairton Bears...who would of thougght you would be going to Hershey? Certinly not anyone on this blog site. I mean they had you picked to lose against Monaca, Windber, AND Farrell, and look where you are.You overcame very adversity you had and everyone who doubted your ablity to get this far.The Bears showed heart and determination by scoring at the end of the game against farrell on three plays with 59 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Im proud of the Clairton fans and how they supported the bears throughout this whole year, and even more proud of the Clairton Bears. Let's Go Bears!!! Let's Finsih this season off with a bang!!
For the record...that wasn't me that posted that.
Congrats bp, tj and clairton...aliquippa should be there also...tough loss to wilmington.
Didn't think it was Clairton Alum.
You realize most of the people on this board aren't silly enough to pick Windber over Clairton.
How about those kids from Bethel Park??? Wow are they turning heads.... A bunch of too slow white boys dominating...
Amazing that there are 3 teams from the South Hills in the PA state finals, districts that are basically contiguous. And all 3 of these districts are on the edge of Washington County and yet no Washington County teams can even win a playoff game let alone getting to the state finals. How can these teams be some dominant in such close proximity and Washington County teams be so bad?
Good question. One reason could be these areas have more money which equal better facilities and coaches.
clairton has just as much money as the washington county teams...
haha your crazy. Why are the school taxes 5 times hour in Bethel Park than they are in clairton. There is a reason.
LOL...better facilities? Clairton? That's funny. I dont know about other areas, but i know what it is in Clairton. From the time our kids are 5 and 6 and 7 years old they are handed pads and a helmet and put on the football field. Let's be honest, there isnt a lot to do in the city and trouble is easy to find. Some areas have after school activities to keep kids out of trouble, some areas are wealthier with many resources...Clairton has football. If you take a look at all of the developmental football leagues (all age groups) Clairton is always at the top. It continues to flow through to the highschool level. When you have kids that play and develop together it breeds programs like the one that Clairton has. And it doesnt hurt that our demographics breed fast, athletic kids...
Clairton Alum brings up a very good point.
Besides Clairton football, look at a team like Peters Township boys soccer. These guys play together from an early age. A lot of the local baseball and softball teams are the same way, and that's why you see Peters Township, Canon-McMillan, Carmichaels, Trinity and Chartiers-Houston continually produce quality teams.
Trinity, Peters Township, and maybe Canon Mac have better facilities than we do at TJ - not that ours are bad.
Cherpak is the reason for our success. Week to week coaching, placing kids in the correct positions on the field each season, and an amazing off season program drive TJ. Money from the boosters started to come after the team started winning.
The success of the program can be traced back to the early 90's when the school board hired Jack Garrity - who brought Cherp with him from Steel Valley. Those two guys are most responsible for what TJ has become. Money really had nothing to do with it.
BTY - go get 'em Bears - bring home gold with us on Saturday morning!! Good Luck to the Blackhawks too - finish the job!!!
I think a really important factor is having a coach that is going to stay with a program. Many schools who are currently losing have been switching coaches every few years. It takes some time to build a program.
Who is coaching the Ringgold Rams football team next year???
I think its amazing that Clairton and TJ have both sent teams to Hershey this year. I know a lot of you arent familiar with the area, but TJ surrounds Clairton on three of its 4 sides (with the 4th being the mon river)...and then throw in BP which almost borders the outskirts of TJ's area...great season for our local programs.
As much as I'd like to say Clairton, TJ and BP will bring home state titles, the reality is that Steel High is awaiting Clairton. If Clairton can somehow pull this off it could go down as one of the biggest upsets in state championship history. I know steel high's all world mr. everything Jeremiah Young is hurt...but i think he is still going to play. That team is just so good. We'll see...big party in the city of prayer if they do it...
If memory serves correct the borders of TJ and BP are about a mile apart. Drive past the Baltimore House, Sheetz and go straight at the intersection in South Park and you're in BP.
Interesting question AP.
I've heard a lot of rumors about several local jobs at high-profile schools. Should make for interesting shcool board meetings in the coming months.
Mike,
I know this is a little outside of your coverage area but did TJ fill their baseball head coaching job yet? If so, who did they tap as the one to lead the Jags into the promise land?
I actually know the answer to this question. And, believe it or not, the answer is Ken Barna. He will be heading up TJ Baseball this year...
Clairton Alum,
Who is Ken Barna and what does his baseball background look like?
Thank you in advance.
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