Seton LaSalle Rallies in Second-Half to Defeat Steel Valley in WPIAL Class-2A Championship
By Joe Fitzgerald
PITTSBURGH — In another defensive-heavy championship matchup at Acrisure Stadium, the Class-2A WPIAL title game between Steel Valley and Seton LaSalle opened with both offenses struggling to find any rhythm.
Neither side generated much early, and the first real spark didn’t arrive until Pitt commit Da’Ron Barksdale hauled in a 39-yard pass from Tyson Barron, flipping the field and was the play that sparked everything helping push the Ironmen down to the Rebels’ five. The Rebels defense came up big when it mattered, with Elijah Hickman breaking up a fourth-down pass to keep the game scoreless.
Seton LaSalle couldn’t build on the stop and punted, giving Steel Valley another chance late in the half. The Ironmen strung together a couple more completions and reached the 1-yard line in the final seconds, but the Rebels produced another goal-line stand, sending the game into halftime locked at 0–0.
The game completely shifted on the opening kickoff of the second half when Tyrell Breeland returned it for a touchdown, giving Steel Valley the first lead of the day.
The momentum continued as Seton LaSalle fumbled on its first offensive play of the half, setting the Ironmen up deep in Rebel territory. Barksdale capitalized shortly after with a highlight-reel touchdown run where he broke multiple tackles, giving the Ironmen 14 points in 44 seconds.
Seton LaSalle, in need of an answer, instead turned the ball over again on a fumble but just when it looked like the Ironmen might pull away, Duquesne commit Will Martin intercepted Barron and then finished the ensuing drive himself with a direct-snap rushing touchdown, giving the Rebels a much-needed momentum swing.
From that point it was a battle as teams traded possessions into the fourth quarter, and Seton LaSalle’s run game finally found traction.
Martin capped another sustained drive with his second rushing touchdown of the half, tying the game with four minutes left. Steel Valley then once again stopped after a stingy series from the Rebels’ defense.
After forcing a punt, Seton LaSalle got the ball back one last time and put together a 61-yard drive. With thirty seconds remaining, Martin punched in a 11-yard touchdown for his third score of the game, completing his hat trick and giving the Rebels a late lead.
Steel Valley attempted a final drive, but it wasn’t enough as Seton LaSalle closed out the comeback win for its first WPIAL title since 2004.
