Sweet dreams: West Middlesex headed to Hershey

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The Big Reds will meet perennial state power Southern Columbia in the final.

By BILL ALBRIGHT

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — Although the West Middlesex football players have consumed their share of chocolates while growing up, Hershey kisses probably never tasted as sweet as they did Saturday at Bridger Stadium.

After winning the Region 1 and District 10 Class AA crowns, the Big Reds (15-0) took care of business with Clairton (14-1) Saturday afternoon as they defeated the Bears, 37-30, to advance to the PIAA Class A state title game next Friday.

"All I know is that we are going to Hershey," said WMSX head coach Brian Hoffman. "The kids really played outstanding football for four quarters and this is the biggest win in school history. We came out and set the tempo and I don't think they [Big Reds] were going to be denied today. They played with a lot of passion and right now, I am just real proud of them."

Light moment

Although Hoffman is not a big consumer of chocolate, he just might become one this week.

"You know, this is the thing. I don't eat candy and the players know it," said Hoffman with a smile on his face. "But this week, that could change and I just might do it."

The Big Reds will meet perennial state power Southern Columbia in the title game. The Tigers were a 35-0 winner over Bellwood-Antis Friday night.

Clairton took the initial lead in the game at 8-0 with a touchdown on its first possession, but the Big Reds answered the Bear score and more with scores from Lucas Allen and Steve Andrusky. Allen's score was set up by Josh Brown's interception that he returned 39 yards to the Clairton 27.

Clairton bounced back on a Brittan Davenport touchdown to make it 16-all at halftime.

West Middlesex again took the lead in the final minute of the third period when Andrusky hauled in a 16-yard scoring pass from quarterback Kolten Hoffman, but again the Bears answered by regaining the lead at 30-24 on a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Leroy George before the Big Reds sealed the deal with two touchdowns of their own in the final 3-plus minutes.

Point apart

Andrusky scored on a 6-yard run with 3:15 on the clock and Josh Brown made it 31-30 with his PAT. For the game, Andrusky caught six passes for 57 yards while also making numerous big plays on defense for the Big Reds.

"Oh man, this feeling is just awesome," he said. "It was a total team effort. It wasn't just one person. It is everybody and the reason we won today was all heart. As for my last touchdown, I just got behind the defender, caught the ball and ran it in. I don't know how else to describe it."

Forced to the air following the Andrusky score, George was picked off by Lucas Allen, setting what turned out to be the clinching score.

After delivering the Hail Mary pass to Tyler Barris last week, quarterback Hoffman again came up with the big play for the Big Reds.

Operating with an ankle injury that he suffered in last week's win over Coudersport, quarterback Hoffman wouldn't be denied as he called his own number, took off to his left, cut back to the right, broke three tackles and made his way into the end zone for a 53-yard TD run.

The kick for the PAT was no good, but West Middlesex had a 37-30 lead with 1:16 on the clock.

"My ankle was a little dinged up so I wasn't going to run the ball much today," explained Hoffman. "But I said, Coach, if I pull that ball out [from under center] there are a lot of yards in front of me. I just pulled it and started running. I should have fallen down and that way we could have run out the clock, but I didn't realize that until after I scored the touchdown."

With only one timeout left and the clock showing less than a minute, the Bears moved down the field until they were faced with a fourth-and-14 on the Big Reds 25. However, a George pass was successfully defended by Hoffman and Chachi Ruffo and West Middlesex began celebrating their meal ticket to Hershey and the state title game.

Although he didn't reach the end zone this week, Barris came with five catches for 87 yards, most of his receptions in key situations.

Sunday, December 10, 2006