Matt Freed, Post-Gazette McKeesport quarterback Dan Kopolovich scrambles in front of Liberty's Brien Ruyak in the second quarter Saturday in the class AAAA championship at Hersheypark Stadium. Click photo for larger image.

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Bethlehem Liberty's band loudly played the theme from "Rocky" at the start of the fourth quarter. The band didn't realize the symbolism, but McKeesport certainly used Liberty for a punching bag.

McKeesport (14-2) put on one of the most impressive shows in a PIAA Class AAAA title game when it clubbed Liberty, 49-10, last night in front of a crowd of 4,584 at Hersheypark Stadium.

The 49 points tied for the third-highest total in 18 AAAA championships. The 39-point margin was the second largest in Class AAAA.

"When you play in these types of games, you have to bring your 'A' game," said Anthony Leonard, McKeesport's standout senior fullback-linebacker. "In fact, you have to bring you A-plus game. That's what we brought tonight."

It was the second PIAA title for McKeesport, which also won in 1994. While McKeesport stuck out its chests after the game, the WPIAL also can be proud. McKeesport's victory gave the WPIAL three champions. The only other time that happened was in 2001.

McKeesport had blown out other teams this season, but, considering the opponent and what was on the line, this was the Tigers' best performance.

"The combination of offense and defense, this was our best game," McKeesport coach George Smith said.

But it was really just a typical McKeesport performance. Quarterback Dan Kopolovich gave Liberty (13-2) fits running the triple option, the Tigers got some big runs from a few running backs and the defense was superb against the run. That's the way it has been for weeks.

Kopolovich had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game when he gained 148 yards on 19 carries and scored three touchdowns. Teammate Warren Waite had 105 yards on 10 attempts, and McKeesport finished with 384 rushing yards, despite playing more than half the game without standout running back Travis McBride, whose hamstring was injured in the second quarter.

Liberty finished with 158 total yards, including 87 on the ground. McKeesport intercepted three passes by Liberty quarterback Dan Persa, who had thrown two interceptions all season before last night.

Liberty played without talented fullback-linebacker Andres Morales, who was ejected from a semifinal game last week. Under PIAA rules, Morales was ineligible to play last night. Liberty school officials tried to get the PIAA to change the rule concerning ejections, but their request was denied after a hearing yesterday morning.

"Mentally for our kids, that was a big hit," Liberty coach Tim Moncman said. "But can he change a 49-10 game? No. [McKeesport] is a great football team, speed-wise and athlete-wise."

The game did not start well for McKeesport as Kopolovich fumbled on the third play. Liberty took over at the McKeesport 28 and scored seven plays later when Persa threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Brien Ruyak.

"Even after that first touchdown, I thought we'd be all right," Smith said.

McKeesport punted on its next possession before McBride came up with a big defensive play when he intercepted a pass and returned it 52 yards for a touchdown.

"That turned the whole game around," Leonard said of McBride's play.

On the first play after the ensuing kickoff, McKeesport's Kamryn Keys intercepted another Persa pass. Two plays later, Kopolovich raced 45 yards on an option play for a touchdown, and Liberty's bell was rung.

McKeesport scored three touchdowns in the second quarter -- Anthony Becoate on a 30-yard pass from Kopolovich, a 1-yard run by Kopolovich and a 9-yard run by Aaron Coleman.

McKeesport got a touchdown in the third quarter on Kopolovich's 17-yard run, and Waite forced the mercy rule with a 17-yard scoring run in the fourth. Under the mercy rule, the clock runs continuously in the second half when a team gets ahead by 35 points or more.