Clairton rode the area’s stingiest defense — one that was historically good — into the WPIAL Class 1A championship game a season ago.
What’s scary is that, with so much returning talent, that defense could be even better this fall.
“I think our defense can be more impressive than last year,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said.
Clairton looks to continue its dominance after going 13-1 last season, the only blip on the radar coming via a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Fort Cherry in the WPIAL final. The Bears, after winning the Eastern Conference title, were looking to win their first championship since 2019 and 15th overall.
Prior to that game, Clairton had given up only 21 points in its first 13 games, posting 10 shutouts in that time. While matching or even exceeding those feats might seem like a long shot, it might not be when you consider that the Bears welcome back eight all-conference players from that defense — senior defensive ends Tahvaz Armstrong and Chad Law, senior linebacker Deon Pompey, junior linebacker Darren Pinson, senior defensive backs Donte Wright, Taris Wooding and Michael Ruffin, and junior defensive back Jaece Booker.
“It’s a collective group,” Wade said, “and I kind of like it that way.”
Another key member of that group is sophomore linebacker Brandon Murphy, who has Power Four offers and might be the team’s best college prospect.
Of course, the Clairton offense figures to be potent once again after averaging a WPIAL-best 49.5 points per game. Three all-conference linemen return, including Law at guard, senior Avaughn Pompey at tackle and junior D’Kota Harris at tackle. All-conference skill players Wright, Deon Pompey, Wooding and Ruffin also return, as does senior quarterback Jeff Thompson.
Look for Deon Pompey to have a big season as the team’s No. 1 running back following the graduation of Drahcir Jones, who ran for 1,421 yards and 26 touchdowns last season.
“He’s like the total package,” Wade said of Pompey. “He catches the ball well. He’s an elusive running back but also powerful. He’s one of the strongest kids on the team. He has great body balance.”
And if Clairton can put it all together, the Bears might just win a third consecutive Eastern Conference title and dethrone two-time defending WPIAL champion Fort Cherry.
“The kids have talked about it all summer,” Wade said. “The kids are feeling like it’s our time, like it’s our year.”
Clairton will play in one of Week 0’s top matchups when the Bears host Imani Christian at Tyler Boyd Stadium.
The 2024 season was a streaky one for Jeannette, which won its first four games, dropped its next three, and then won five straight before falling to Fort Cherry in the WPIAL semifinals. As the No. 13 seed, the Jayhawks upset No. 4 Neshannock and No. 5 Greensburg Central Catholic before losing to the top seed and eventual champion.
The Jayhawks seek a much better conference finish this season after placing fourth last year, and that’s entirely possible with the return of senior quarterback Kymon’e Brown and junior wide receiver-defensive back Jayce Powell, both of whom were key players on Jeannette’s WPIAL basketball championship team. Brown passed for 1,718 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns, while Powell had 57 catches for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns. Senior running back-linebacker Nick Mendoza ran for 398 yards and added 58 tackles and a team-best six sacks on defense.
One of the most versatile stars in the class resides at Greensburg Central Catholic, where senior Samir Crosby is aiming for a big final season. Crosby played wide receiver his sophomore season before switching to quarterback last season, but he could move back to wide receiver this fall. It’s the position this speedster with Power Four offers will likely play in college. Crosby passed for 1,483 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 1,060 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He also led the team with 67 tackles and five interceptions.
The Centurions, who went 8-3 last season, also return senior wide receiver-defensive back Jerry Davis, a two-time WPIAL 400-meter champion, as well as senior lineman James Botti.
Leechburg won its first seven games last season before finishing 8-3 and losing in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs. The Blue Devils must replace dual-threat quarterback Jayden Floyd, but they do return senior running back-defensive back Timmy Andrasy, who ran for 886 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The strength of this Leechburg team is the line play, as the Blue Devils boast three returning all-conference players in senior center Brady Shearer, senior guard Jayden Rosenberger and senior defensive tackle Philup Rearick.
Brentwood is a team that hopes to make some noise after going 4-7 a season ago. Senior quarterback Cedric Davis passed for 1,243 yards and 18 touchdowns while adding another 274 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Junior wide receiver-defensive back Daysaun Spencer is a track and field standout who won WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A triple jump titles.
Riverview is led by senior wide receiver-defensive back Rio Stotts, an all-conference choice on the defensive side of the ball last season. Stotts also passed for 356 yards, ran for 148, had 237 receiving yards and accounted for eight total touchdowns.
Tony Battaglini is the new coach at Frazier. Battaglini is a 2006 Frazier graduate who was previously an assistant at Thomas Jefferson. He takes over a Frazier squad that finished 2-8 last season. Senior running back-linebacker Derek Diamond ran for 732 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Springdale hopes to show improvement after going a combined 1-28 and not winning a conference game over the past three seasons. The Dynamos went 0-9 a season ago when they were outscored, 452-19.
Tri-County South Conference
For the first time in nearly two decades, Jefferson-Morgan enters a season as defending conference champion. After ending a 10-year playoff drought a year earlier, the Rockets launched to a 10-1 record and their first conference title since 2006.
The Rockets must replace star quarterback Houston Guesman, who both passed and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and accounted for 42 touchdowns. But they do return senior wide receiver-defensive back Deakyn Dehoet and senior running back-linebacker John Woodward. Dehoet ranked among the Class 1A leaders with 53 receptions for 1,069 yards and 10 touchdowns. Woodward was the team’s most productive running back, finishing with 659 yards and seven touchdowns. Both were all-conference picks, as were senior lineman Landon Heath and Eli Hill.
If California had been successful on a 2-point conversion attempt in the final minute of the regular-season finale, the Trojans would likely have beaten Jefferson-Morgan and edged out the Rockets for the conference title. Instead, they finished in second before falling to Clairton in the WPIAL quarterfinals and finishing 8-4.
California also must replace a big-time skill player following the graduation of running back Lee Qualk, who led the WPIAL in rushing during the regular season and ran for 2,145 yards and 36 touchdowns overall. His replacement could be senior running back Malachi Peak, who ran for 436 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 8.9 yards per carry, which was also Qualk’s average. Senior lineman Noah Layhue and senior wide receiver-defensive back Adin Keyes were all-conference picks on defense.
Bentworth returns its top rusher and passer from last year’s squad that went 6-5 and qualified for the playoffs. Senior running back-defensive back Ben Hays ran for 1,380 yards and 24 touchdowns and earned all-conference praise on defense. Junior quarterback Ty Watson passed for 646 yards and six touchdowns while also rushing for four touchdowns. Senior linebacker Brayden Taggart led the team with 121 tackles and also had 4½ sacks.
All-conference senior offensive tackle Colin Whyte returns for West Greene, which is coming off a 4-6 season. Whyte also collected a team-best 141 tackles as a linebacker. The Pioneers must replace their leading passer, rusher and receiver. Senior wide receiver Matthew Wassil is the top returning receiver after catching 10 passes last season.
Carmichaels won its final three games to finish 5-3 last season. The Mighty Mikes return senior quarterback-defensive back Cannon Bupka, who ran for a team-best 620 yards. Senior running back-linebacker William Murray is also back, as is junior wide receiver-defensive back Stephen Lewis.
A new coach will be roaming the sideline at Beth-Center, as Tim Trump takes over for Tony Ruscitto. Trump is a 2018 Beth-Center graduate who was an all-state performer in his playing days. Sophomore running back DeSean Whipkey ran for a team-high 612 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago for a team that went 1-8.
After going 3-7 a season ago, Avella will lean on junior quarterback Chas Rush to be a big playmaker offensively. Rush was at his best running the ball, racking up a team-best 619 yards to go along with five touchdowns.
All-conference senior lineman Chase Taylor is back for Mapletown, which finished 1-9 and didn’t win a conference game last season. Coach George Messich returns for his 43rd season.
Black Hills Conference
After winning back-to-back WPIAL titles in 2023 and 2024, Fort Cherry has three-peat on its mind this year. And with all-everything star Matt Sieg back for his senior season, it’s hard not to like the Rangers’ chances.
Sieg, a quarterback-defensive back and Penn State recruit, hopes to end his high school career with a third consecutive title after helping the Rangers go 29-2 over the past two seasons. A season ago, Sieg ran for 1,840 yards and 32 touchdowns, passed for 1,340 yards and 20 touchdowns, and also returned a punt for a touchdown. Sieg has accounted for 10,442 total yards in his career, putting him in excellent position to break the WPIAL career total offense record (11,559) set by Sto-Rox’s Lenny Williams in 2013.
Fort Cherry returns its top four rushers from last season, including Sieg, junior running back-linebacker Ryan Huey (744 yards) and junior running back-linebacker Eli Salvini (505 yards). Senior wide receiver-defensive back Evan Rogers is the top returning receiver. Junior linebacker Tyler Wolfe led the team with 110 tackles a season ago.
Bishop Canevin has had some strong teams in recent years and this season welcomes a new coach in Rod Steele, who spent the previous six seasons at Bishop Canevin. Steele won two WPIAL titles and a PIAA title in a previous stop at Steel Valley.
The Crusaders, who went 10-2 and reached the WPIAL semifinals last season, return senior wide receiver-defensive back Damar Olds and junior lineman Charles Butler, both all-conference honorees in 2024. Junior linebacker Minikon Johnson is a West Virginia recruit.
Led by Khylil Johnson, Cornell is aiming for another strong season after going 9-3 and reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals last fall. Johnson is a senior running back-wide receiver-defensive back and William & Mary recruit who was tabbed all-conference on both sides of the ball. Johnson rushed for 922 yards, had 30 receptions for 482 yards, and scored 27 total touchdowns.
Senior lineman Nick Bennett was also named all-conference last season. Senior Mark Stuckey is back at quarterback.
Monessen seemingly snuck up on some teams last year, but following a surprising season that saw the Greyhounds go 7-4 and qualify for the WPIAL playoffs, opponents should now know what’s coming.
The Greyhounds should be strong in the trenches, especially due to the return of senior offensive lineman Torrence Taylor and senior defensive lineman Rodney Johnson. Each made the all-conference team last season.
Akeeme Robinson is the new coach at Serra Catholic. Robinson was the defensive coordinator under previous coach Jose Regus when the Eagles won the WPIAL Class 2A championship in 2021. The Eagles are looking to bounce back from last year’s 3-7 finish.
Chartiers-Houston saw some improvement last season. After going 0-10 a season earlier, the Bucs improved to 3-7. Senior quarterback Aaron Walsh passed for 526 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 413 yards and eight touchdowns.
After reaching the playoffs three years in a row, Burgettstown finished just 1-8 last season. Senior running back-linebacker Colton County led the team in rushing and was an all-conference punter.
Big 7 Conference
All-conference senior quarterback Jino Mozzocio returns for Neshannock, which won the conference title and finished 9-2 a season ago. Mozzocio threw for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns while adding 744 yards and a team-best 14 touchdowns on the ground.
The Lancers also return leading rusher Anthony Eakin, a senior running back-defensive back who ran for 816 yards and 11 touchdowns. Senior tight end-linebacker Ashton Allison was an all-conference choice on defense.
South Side also returns a star skill player in senior running back-defensive back AC Corfield, who ran for 1,005 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on his way to all-conference honors on both sides of the ball. Corfield helped the Rams go 7-4 and reach the WPIAL quarterfinals.
Senior lineman Lucian Williams, an all-conference pick on offense, also returns, as does sophomore quarterback Dawson Frasier.
No team in the conference brings back as many all-conference players as Laurel, which features senior wide receiver-linebacker Kolton Carlson (all-conference on offense and as a punter), junior tight end-linebacker Jack Miles (all-conference at both positions), senior defensive back JJ McBride and sophomore defensive lineman Tyler Fuchs.
Carlson led the team with 35 catches for 587 yards and five touchdowns and Miles added 28 catches for 459 yards and three touchdowns for a Laurel team that finished 5-6 overall, including 5-1 in conference play. Miles also racked up a team-high 128 tackles. Senior quarterback Luca Santini returns after passing for 1,795 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Don Phillips is the new coach at Rochester. Phillips, a coaching veteran who also coached at Rochester from 1982-84, replaces Gene Matsook, who won four WPIAL titles and two state titles in 25 seasons.
Phillips takes over a team that shrugged off an 0-4 start to finish 3-7 a year ago. Junior running back Jason Clinton paced the team with 690 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Senior lineman Lucas Pearce was an all-conference selection.
After going 2-6 last season, Shenango returns senior running back-linebacker AJ Ferilla, who ran for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Senior lineman Jakob Kamerer was an all-section pick.
Mark Fratangelo takes over as coach at Northgate, which finished 4-6 in 2024. The team’s leading receiver, senior Anthony Barron, returns, as does top tackler Christian Tamburri, a junior lineman.
Summit Academy went 1-8 and did not win a conference game a season ago.
Players to watch
Kymon’e Brown, Jeannette, 6-0, 160, QB-DB, Sr. — Dual-threat quarterback both passed and rushed for more than 1,000 yards and hopes to lead the Jayhawks to a WPIAL title after winning one in basketball last spring.
Samir Crosby, Greensburg Central Catholic, 5-11, 170, WR-DB, Sr. — Dynamic playmaker is always a threat to take one to the house, and it looks like he will move back to receiver after playing quarterback a season ago.
Khylil Johnson, Cornell, 5-11, 195, RB-WR-DB, Sr. — Johnson’s X (formerly Twitter) lists his nickname as “Mr. Do It All,” and this William & Mary recruit really does a lot for Cornell. He was named all-conference on both sides of the ball last season.
Deon Pompey, Clairton, 5-9, 170, RB-LB, Sr. — This sets up to be a huge season for Pompey, a standout on both sides of the ball who is slated to be the No. 1 running back for a team that averaged 49.5 points per game in 2024.
Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry, 5-10, 180, QB-DB, Sr. — Arguably the WPIAL’s best player regardless of class, Sieg wants to lead the Rangers to a third consecutive WPIAL title and could become the WPIAL’s career total offense record holder.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.