Eight high school football teams appeared on the big stage today -- Heinz Field, home of the Steelers -- to play for a WPIAL championship.

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As if the pressure of playing for the title wasn't enough, the potential existed for the teams to play before the largest crowd of the year, not to mention being telecast on regional cable TV.

The difference between home field and Heinz Field was largest for the two Class A teams, the Clairton Bears and the Rochester Rams. Fans spread across the lower levels of the stadium, eager to see a game between the two undefeated teams. Rochester was the Post-Gazette's No. 1 WPIAL Class A team and Clairton No. 2 since preseason.

Fans and players took the venue in stride -- they aren't exactly strangers to the stadium. This is the second time in three years Clairton and Rochester have met in the final.

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