The Allderdice Dragons entered Cupples Stadium on Saturday ranked as one of the top 15 teams in the state, but could not overcome a 47-year curse that dates back to 1967.
The heavily favored Dragons (8-2) faced the Brashear Bulls (6-3) one day after Halloween and awoke their demons of championship games past. Cupples Stadium is turning into the “Haunted House” for coach Jerry Haslett and the fireless Dragons.
Allderdice, looking for its first City League title since 1967 and losers in the title game the last 3 out of 4 years, once again couldn’t pull it out.
The Bulls took control of the game early and inflicted the “Mercy Rule” late as they kicked the Dragons to the curb 42-14.
The Bulls took advantage of four Dragons turnovers, leading to a 35-0 nightmare for Allderdice and Brashear’s first City title since 2008 and their 10th overall in the school’s 39-year history.
The Bulls unleashed a furious first-half barrage and scored one touchdown after another in a city League heavyweight AAAA bout.
Ty Powe opened the scoring for the Bulls on a 8-yard touchdown run. Junior quarterback sensations Therran Coleman scored on a QB draw to make it 16-0.
Senior defensive back Joe Bonner scoop up a fumble and was off to the races that ended in pay dirt and a 24-0 lead.
The Pittsburgh Steelers retired Mean Joe Greene’s number 75 on Sunday but many of us in the Press Box was surprised that Brashear didn’t retire jersey number 75 worn by senior tackle D’Angelo Spencer. Spencer played like a man possessed and nearly won the game’s MVP honors.
Quarterback Therran Coleman won the Steel City Sports World’s “Jeron Grayson” Most Valuable Player Award.
“We feel like we can beat anybody,” said Coleman. “We have so much confidence right now.”
It was a terrific performance for the 6’2, 175-pound junior who wasn’t supposed to be the best quarterback on the field.
Allderdice’s Jimmy Jackson entered the game with 1,282 yards and 19 touchdown passes and was held to zero passing yards.
Jimmy and Timmy Jackson are twins and the top quarterback-wide receiver tandem in the City League this year. The twins potential for greatness are limitless, but it’s up to them to fulfill.
“They’re the best I ever had. There’s no doubt,” said Haslett, who’s coached nearly 30 years. “They’re winners and we’ll be back.”
Westinghouse holds the record for most points in a City Championship game. The House scored 45 points in 1964, but Brashear could have easily broken the record if coach Rick Murphy didn’t call off the “Running of the Bulls” by putting in the junior varsity in the fourth quarter.
Junior running back Khalil Sanders rushed for 71-yards on only 11 carries and scored on runs of 30 and 43-yards. Coleman added another 58 yards on 9 carries. The Bulls rushed for 162 yards as a team on 35 carries.
If Allderdice played Brashear 10 times the Dragons would probably win nine, but could not win on “Fright Night.”
Allderdice must have been reading their own press clippings because they entered the game with heads as big as a Halloween Pumpkin and very little respect for their opponent.
Winning a city league championship is turning into the impossible dream. However, 2015 might be their best chance to win with both Timmy and Jimmy Jackson returning for their senior year.
The Brashear Bulls will enter PIAA tournament play Nov. 14 or 15 against the winner of a District 10 game between McDowell and General McLane.
