Recent WPIAL Class A championship games suggest this year's game won't be high-scoring.

No team in the past five title games has scored more than 15 points.

Recent games this season involving Clairton and Rochester give an even stronger indication that points will be at a premium this morning.

Clairton and Rochester meet for the Class A title at 10:30 at Heinz Field. It is the first of four championship games at Heinz, but no game matches teams with such staunch defenses.

Clairton is the No. 1 defensive team in the state, giving up only 3.2 points a game. Rochester is No. 3 at 4.8 points (Farrell, a District 10 team, is second at 4.6).

"To be honest, man for man, our defense is not as good as last year's, or some other ones we've had. But they just get the job done," Clairton coach Tom Nola said.

This Clairton defense has been one of a kind in the playoffs. Since the WPIAL started having three rounds of playoffs and then a championship game in 1996, Clairton is the first team to shut out its first three opponents. The Bears have blanked South Side Beaver, Avonworth and Laurel.

"I didn't realize no one had done that before," Nola said. "That's terrific. Let's hope it continues."

Clairton's defense is led by senior linebacker Eddie Ball, a starter since his freshman year who has led the team in tackles four years in a row. The Bears' secondary is excellent and defensive end Desimon Green has caught the eye of Division I college recruiters. Green, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound junior, also plays quarterback.

"Notre Dame has been at two of our games to see him," Nola said. "Pitt has been at some of our games, too."

For Rochester, linebacker Derek Gallagher leads the team in tackles. Quarterback Jasson Adamson has thrown for more than 1,000 yards, but Rochester coach Gene Matsook believes Adamson is a future Division I college defensive back.

Rochester has allowed only 25 points in three playoff games.

"On paper, this definitely does look like it will be a defensive game," Rochester coach Gene Matsook said. "When you get to the WPIAL championship game, a lot of times defenses do take over. But I think both offenses are very good, too."

Clairton is averaging 45.5 points a game, second-best in the state. Running back Deontae Howard needs only 4 yards rushing to reach 4,000 for his career. This season, Howard has more than 1,800 yards and is averaging better than 10 yards a carry. Receiver Kevin Weatherspoon, a Pitt recruit, is a big-play threat.

Rochester always has a strong running game -- and this year is no different. The Rams spread the carries as five players have 44 attempts or more. Trey Johnson leads with 1,134 yards rushing.

Adamson was the first quarterback in Rochester school history to throw for 1,000 yards in a season and he is now 74 of 106 for 1,386 yards.

"I think one of the keys is going to be penalties," Matsook said. "Over the last few weeks, we've had 9, 10 or 11 penalties. It's really been slowing us down."

While history indicates this game might be low scoring, history also says it will be close. This is the fifth time since 2004 the two have met in a postseason game. Clairton won last year, 16-0, but it was 8-0 until late in the game. The three previous playoff meetings were decided by a total of six points.

"We have so much respect for them," Nola said. "They play like we play."

Defensively.

• Clairton running back Deontae Howard is averaging 10.6 yards per carry over the past two seasons, including 11.8 this season.

• Rochester coach Gene Matsook is the uncle of Beaver Falls coach Ryan Matsook. Gene Matsook's brother, Dan, also used to be Rochester's head coach and won three WPIAL titles. Gene, who took over in 2000, has four WPIAL titles.

• Rochester has five running backs who have rushed for 280 yards or more this season.

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