Springdale pulled out all the stops in a bid to upset No. 1 Clairton.
But the Bears made all the stops.
Lamont Wade rushed for 214 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, including a 93-yarder three plays after a goal-line stand, and Clairton stopped Springdale seven times on fourth down, four in Bears territory, in a 32-0 Class A Eastern Conference victory Friday night at Springdale's Veterans Memorial Field.
“Missed opportunities,” Springdale coach Dave Leasure said. “I was proud of the way we played defensively for the most part. This is the No. 1 team in the state, but moral victories are not what we're about, especially this year with our guys coming back. We expect to win games like this.”
With its wing-T offense, Springdale (1-2, 0-1) controlled the clock and kept Clairton's offense off the field, but couldn't convert its chances.
“Our kids showed some grit tonight,” Clairton coach Wayne Wade said. “We were on the field a lot defensively, but when it was time to stop them and we needed to get the ball, the defense showed up.”
Two-time defending WPIAL champion Clairton (2-0, 1-0), meanwhile, showcased its big-play ability. Wade scored on runs of 93 and 41 yards, and Noah Hamlin added touchdowns on a 46-yard run and 90-yard interception return.
With Clairton leading 8-0 late in the second quarter, Hamlin intercepted a long Sammy Carey pass on fourth down, broke several tackle attempts and went down the right sideline for a score.
“We've still got to make that tackle,” Leasure said. “Worst-case scenario, it should have been a nice 30-yard punt down to the 5.”
After a scoreless third quarter, Springdale made its deepest dent into Clairton territory, but the Bears stopped Ben Sowinski less than a yard from the end zone on fourth down. Three plays later, Wade faked a handoff out of the wildcat formation and went 93 yards for the score.
“I told my defense we had to dig deep, and we dug deep,” Lamont Wade said. “Then when we went back on offense, I told my offensive line if you block, I'll get a 99-yard touchdown. (The goal-line stand gave us) a huge spark. Defense lifts the team up. Defense wins championships. Our defense digging deep and keeping the goose egg on the board motivated our offense.”
Sowinski led Springdale with 71 yards rushing, Ethan McFarland added 37 and Josh Harmon had 36.
“It hurts a bit, but we have to bounce back,” Leasure said.
