No.3 Clairton too much for Riverview

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, September 15, 2018 | 11:57 PM

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Whether it be under stadium lights on a Friday night or under the Saturday afternoon sun, it’s always a tall task when Clairton comes to town.

Riverview tried its best against one of the best teams in the WPIAL, but Clairton’s size, speed and talent coupled with the Raiders’ youth and inexperience was too much to overcome as the third-ranked Bears rolled, 54-0, in a Eastern Conference matchup Saturday at Oakmont’s Riverside Park.

“We know that it’s Clairton, and they’re a great football team with a great tradition, “ said Riverview coach Todd Massack. “We need to take care of what we do. We need to make sure that we block better, that we tackle better and that we hold onto the football better, just all of those things.”

The Bears (3-0, 2-0) got off to a sluggish start, and those in attendance had to wonder if they were in store for another Riverside Park Saturday surprise.

But with 1 minute, 47 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Riverview senior quarterback Jared Massack was intercepted along the Clairton sideline by senior cornerback Andress Wiggins, who read the play perfectly. Wiggins’ 39-yard touchdown return opened the scoring for Clairton. Massack finished 2 of 9 for 51 yards and two interceptions, both going for touchdowns.

“We play kind of man free in the secondary, and there’s no guys running loose at all,” said Clairton coach Wayne Wade. “Our offense kind of got off to a slow start but you kind of expect that on Saturdays.”

Wiggins was the Bears’ early spark plug. He put the Bears on the board again on the first play of the second quarter when he took a handoff, split the Raiders defense and raced 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Bears a comfortable 15-0 lead.

Clairton scored on every second-quarter possession. The Bears kept the Raiders defense honest and opened up the playbook. Junior quarterback Brendan Parsons spotted a wide open Leonard Robinson for a 15-yard touchdown, and Clairton was rolling at 21-0 after a failed two-point conversion.

“We got to be basic with what we do but also have to be sound with what we do, especially when you play a team of Clairton’s caliber,” Massack said. “They’re a great team, and they’re going to win many, many games this year and go far into the playoffs.”

Clairton’s defense crowded the line of scrimmage to stop Riverview’s running game, daring the Raiders to pass. The Bears did not budge, and the Raiders rushed for minus-20 yards.

“I think the defense just played phenomenal again, coming off a strong week last week,” Wade said. “They really neutralized this team’s running game.”

The Clairton defense has yet to allow a point this season.

Senior Dominic Solomon scored on a 20-yard touchdown run with 4:52 remaining before halftime, and Parsons tacked on a two-yard touchdown run to give the Bears a 33-0 lead going into the half.

“I challenged our guys at halftime,” Massack said. “I said, ‘Guys, we’re not going to look at the scoreboard and by our enthusiasm not know what the score is and I thought we did that.”

Senior running back Taevon Thompson scored on a 50-yard touchdown run with 11:35 left in the third quarter to enact the “mercy rule” and start the running clock.

Wiggins got another good read on Massack pass, picked it off and ran the other way for a 61-yard touchdown. Wiggin’s pick-six marked an end to the Raiders’ deepest penetration into Clairton territory compliments a 49-yard pass from Massack to Ben Blacksmith.

Backup sophomore, Jonte Sanders, capped off the game’s scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Clairton spread the ball around evenly and failed to have a 100-yard performer. Parsons finished 3 of 7 for 45 yards, a touchdown and a first-quarter interception by Blacksmith. Bears running back Taevon Thompson finished with 50 yards on four carries. Wiggins led all rushers with 54 yards, which came on his touchdown run.

“We’re trying to develop that toughness,” Massack said. “Hopefully come out of this healthy and the message to guys is that we have to continue to work hard.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Clairton, Riverview