Matt Sieg runs for two touchdowns and throws for another, as Fort Cherry repeats as 1A Champs in a 21-20 win over Clairton.
With under 3:00 to play in the first quarter, a direct snap to Mike Ruffin went for a 79 yard touchdown as Clairton struck first. The Bears 2-point try was denied, keeping the score 6-0.
Fort Cherry responded immediately with a four play drive that went 62 yards. Matt Sieg completed a home run ball to Evan Rogers for 44 yards to the Clairton 18. Ryan Huey moved the ball to the 5 on a 13-yard run. Sieg punched in the touchdown from 4 yards out to take a 7-6 lead after the 1st quarter.
With 3:35 to play in the 2nd quarter, Sieg made plays happen with his legs as he ran a 20 yard run to the Bears 35. A pass interference penalty moved the ball inside the 20. Six plays later, Sieg scored his second touchdown of the half on a one-yard QB keeper, extending the Rangers lead to 14-6 at the half.
Clairton opened up the second half with a 58 yard rushing touchdown from Drahcir Jones. Ruffin tied the game with the 2-point conversion.
Ruffin continued his effective running as he moved the ball to the Fort Cherry 18, after a 28 yard carry. 5 plays later, Ruffin gave Clairton the lead back with his second rushing touchdown of the game. The 2-point attempt was no good. He finished the game with 14 carries for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns.
With just about 6:00 left in the game, faced with a 4th and 4 at the Clairton 49, Sieg handed it off to Cornali, who then fired a pass to a wide open Huey for a 20 yard gain.
Faced with another 4th down, at the Clairton 13 yard-line, Sieg went to reverse it to Cornali again but the Bears defense read the play and took away Cornali. Sieg broke away from pitching it to Cornali and found a wide open Huey for the touchdown to give Fort Cherry a 21-20 lead with 2:34 to play in the game. Sieg completed 8 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. He ran 28 times for 87 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Fort Cherry defense stuffed Jeff Thompson on a QB run to seal the deal on 4th down.
"It's special man, it's special. These group of kids, we lost a very senior heavy group last year, there was a lot of questions on this group, would they be able to bounce back and do it again? They answered the bell and came out and executed," said Fort Cherry head coach Tanner Gary to KDKA Radio's Donny Chedrick.
Fort Cherry faces Port Allegheny in the PIAA 1A semifinals next week.
