Kevin Weatherspoon fashions himself as a strong kid, a dynamic wide receiver who doesn't back down from anybody.

Weatherspoon, though, isn't afraid to admit the pain he felt as a freshman two years ago when he and his Clairton teammates, just one win away from playing for a state title, fell to West Middlesex in a semifinal game at Ambridge's Moe Rubenstein Stadium.

"I remember just lying on the field and crying after the game," he said.

Weatherspoon then paused, bad memories flooding his mind as he seemingly replayed the events in his head.

He then added, sternly, "I never want to go through that again."

Now a junior, Weatherspoon and company have an opportunity to avenge that loss -- at least a sfar as district pride goes -- when Clairton (14-0) meets District 10 champion Farrell (12-2) in a PIAA Class A semifinal at North Allegheny on Friday.

Clairton coach Tom Nola said he didn't anticipate bringing up the 2006 game to his players this week, but that didn't mean he wouldn't readily remind them of a simple fact they are well aware of.

"We'll tell them we're one step from Hershey," Nola said.

To reach the semifinals, Clairton once again leaned on its defense -- ranked No. 1 in the state -- wrapping up District 5 champ Windber for a 26-0 win, the Bears' eighth shutout of the season.

The primary focus was shutting down Windber running back Kevin Erickson, and the Bears, as usual, were more than up for the challenge. The Bears swarmed Erickson, a 2,000-yard rusher, limiting him to just 53 yards on 20 carries.

"We came off the edges pretty hard and got him before he could get started," Nola said. "Their offense was a lot different than what we have seen, with a lot of misdirection in the backfield, but I thought we did a great job."

You can say the same about senior Troy Webb, starting his second consecutive game at quarterback in place of injured starter Andrew Currington, who is questionable this week with a dislocated toe.

Webb followed up his solid performance in Clairton's WPIAL championship game win against Monaca with a pair of touchdown runs against Windber. Webb ran for 114 yards and completed 4 of 8 passes for 69 yards, all the while gaining even more respect and trust from his teammates.

"He's the man right now," Weatherspoon said. "Don't get me wrong, Andrew was one of the best when he was in there, but we're confident in Troy."

Weatherspoon and Webb hope to be up for the job against a Farrell team that has won 12 in a row since opening the season with consecutive losses. The Steelers, who blanked Cameron County, 31-0, in the quarterfinals, love to run the ball, and do it well with a host of players supplying the damage.

The Steelers have five players who ave run for more than 300 yards this season, led by senior running back Terrell Jackson. They may also be the first opponent to match Clairton's overall team speed.

"They're very quick, just like us," said Nola. "And they have a big back [Jackson]. Plus, their quarterback [Dan Odem] is a left-hander and throws pretty well."

A win tomorrow would put Clairton into a spot no other Bears team has ever been -- playing for a state title.

But with the season-ending loss two years ago still vividly captured in his mind, Weatherspoon said neither he nor his teammates are even thinking about overlooking the Steelers. That would go against the principles of this Bears team that Weatherspoon calls more disciplined than the 2006 squad, and much more inclined on keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize.

"We just play as a team. There are no 'I's.' We're all boys. A group. A whole family," Weatherspoon said. "We know we have to focus on Farrell, and then we'll be in the state championship."The game

• What: Clairton (14-0) vs. Farrell (12-2).

• When: 7 p.m. tomorrow.

• Where: Newman Stadium, North Allegheny High School.

• The skinny: Farrell, the District 10 champion, is a former WPIAL member. The winner plays in the PIAA final 1 p.m. Dec. 12 at Hersheypark Stadium.