It’s hard to blame those around Clairton for complaining about drought conditions they perceive to be surrounding their hometown team over the past four years.
After all, having their beloved Bears miss out on advancing to the WPIAL Class 1A football final each year since winning their 14th district championship in 2019 naturally seems foreign to residents of the gridiron-crazed “City of Prayer” where fall Friday nights at the nearly 100-year-old Neil C. Brown Stadium trend more toward a way of life than an extra-curricular activity.
“I don’t say it a lot, I don’t get in the media a lot, but the city, this community, kind of demands that we win,” said Wayne Wade, a 1990 Clairton graduate, who has guided his alma mater to four WPIAL titles in 10 seasons as head coach. “They want to know what’s going on with these kids. They want to help. They want to be a part of it because there’s a winning culture and climate that was already created years ago.
“If we don’t go to Hershey, or now Mechanicsburg, it’s a problem around here,” Wade added of the site of the PIAA championships. “That’s the expectation. I’m on the hot seat. How about that?”
With Wade’s program returning 11 all-conference players from a team that erased an 0-2 start by rattling off 10 consecutive victories before falling in the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals a season ago, Clairton’s prayers for a return to Acrisure Stadium and 15th district title may just be answered this season.
“We only lost two kids last year,” Bears senior running back Drahcir Jones said. “I feel like we’re going to pick up right where we left off.”
Clairton is hoping that’s especially true in regards to its running game.
Jones leads a three-headed monster of a ground game along with Donte Wright and Dion Pompey.
“It could get scary,” Wright said. “There’s three of us, and we’re all different. We all can take it to the end zone from any spot on the field. Dion, he’s more of a power back, get out of his way. [Drahcir], he does it all. He can run you over, speed to the outside. He can break you down. Me, I’m elusive, quick. You’ve got to be quick to get me.”
A 5-foot-10, 160-pound senior, Jones emerged as one of the WPIAL’s top running backs a season ago, rushing for 1,489 yards and racking up 15 touchdowns. Wright rushed for 444 yards and added 162 through the air with seven scores during the regular season in 2023, while Pompey contributed 214 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Jones said he is expecting bigger things from Clairton’s running backs this time around.
“We’re going to be real established this year,” he said. “I feel like our boys are more committed to coming here, getting better every day and actually learning.”
Junior quarterback Jeff Thompson will be orchestrating it all.
Thompson is taking over as the Bears starter under center for Michael Wright, who passed for 1,329 yards and 14 touchdowns with only three interceptions during the regular season as a senior a year ago.
“He’s not really new,” said Jones of Thompson. “Growing up, we always had him as our quarterback. I feel like that chemistry, now that he’s our starting [QB], I feel like it’s good. I feel like we’ll be all right.”
Thompson said he is entering his first season as Clairton’s quarterback with confidence in his abilities as well.
“There really isn’t no pressure,” he said. “I’ve been doing this since I was 4. It’s just my time.”
Senior wide receiver Zae-mear Correll was the main target in the Bears’ passing game a season ago, accumulating 25 receptions for 476 yards in the regular season, while now junior Michael Ruffin had 295 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Freshman Brandon Murphy, who already has a scholarship offer from Syracuse to his credit, should also figure prominently into Clairton’s multi-faceted offensive attack.
“We’ve got threats everywhere, every spot,” Thompson said. “They’re all fast. They get open. They get the ball and get up field.”
For Wade, though, the key to the Bears’ success this season may just end up being found on defense. He said his defense is going to feature eight returning starters.
“I’ve been here since 2008, coming back,” Wade said. “I started in 1997. Every team that we had that was a championship team, we probably had the best defense in the WPIAL. I think we’ll have that team again this year.
“We just have all guys returning, and we’re bigger, stronger, faster.”
Clairton’s front seven will feature returning all-conference defensive linemen Khalil Williams and Tahvaz Armstrong along with returning starters Avaughn Pompey and Chad Carpenter. Returning all-conference selection Dion Pompey should also create havoc from his linebacker position.
The secondary is anchored by returning all-conference players in Wright, Jones and Ruffin, along with Taris Wooding.
Murphy will also be lurking as a major playmaker on the Bears defense.
“It’s going to be hard to put the ball in the air,” said Wright, a cornerback, of his defense. “That’s the core of Clairton, ain’t nobody going to come in here and run on us.”
With plenty of experience in tow, the Bears are focusing on putting their mark on Clairton history.
“This year, all of our guys are here and ready,” Jones said. “I feel like the commitment is definitely here this year and we’re good.”
John is a copy editor and page designer at the Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at jsanta@unionprogress.com.