Hershey, Pa., Spotting the Riverside Vikings a 24-0 lead in the first 14 minutes, the Clairton Bears went on a scoring spree and held on for a 36-30 win and back to back class A State titles at Hershey stadium.
The Vikings got on the board on their third possession in one play when Senior running back Nick Rossi ran aroundthe right end for a 64 yard touchdown. Quarterback Corey Talerico then hit Kyle Walsh with the two point conversion and a 8- 0 lead.
After a quick three and out for the Bears, the Vikings scored again, this time in three plays with a 60 yard touchdown pass from Talerico to Walsh. Rossi ran for the two point conversion and a 16-0 lead.
Riverside went to paydirt again with a seven play drive ending with a 23 yard touchdown pass from Talerico to Tommy Armillay. Paul Lassiter took it in for the two point conversion and a 24-0 lead.
The turning point in the game came on the Bears next possession. They generated a six minute, 10 play, 65 yard drive and the big play came on a third down conversion from the Vikings 36 with Tyler Boyd running for 30 yards to the Vikings six. Senior Bishop Neal made a crushing block on a Viking defender on the play. The block appeared to give the Bears momentum. Two plays later Quarterback Desimon Green scored from the two. Boyd ran in for the two point conversion and the score was 24-8.
Before the half ended Clairton put two more scores on the board, a 37 yard touchdown pass from Green to Boyd and a nifty 21 yard TD from Junior backup QB Capri Thompson to Joshua Page.
Clairton then took their first lead in the third quarter with an 82 yarder from green to Boyd, and continued the scoring with a more sustained drive ending with a Trenton Coles two yard run.
In the 4th Quarter, the Vikings rallied with a Talerico to Michael Killino 35 yard touchdown.
After holding the Bears and getting the ball back with a minute left and a chance to tie the game, Talerico’s pass was intercepted and the Bears were finally able to relax and hoist gold and the state title.
Riverside played a valiant game in defeat. The 30 points scored by Riverside were almost as much as Clairton (30) gave up all year prior to this game.
