Sports

Last Updated on Friday, 28 October 2022 21:30

By Matthew Peaslee

Joining the festivities of Ringgold’s championship teams were players and coaches (Left to Right): From 1982, Shawn White and Lynn Price. And from 1987 Dave Strange, coach George Overton, Coach Joe Ravasio, Don Law, and Jason Thompson.

Two teams from Ringgold High School were honored at Joe Montana Stadium on Friday, Sept. 16, before the Ringgold High vs. West Mifflin game. The 1982 football team coached by Billy Connors won the WPIAL Quad A championship title and the 1987 football team coached by Joe

Ravasio won the Big Ten Conference championship and went undefeated during section play as the first team in school history to go without a loss in the regular season.

“I was blessed to coach that team,” Ravasio said.

There is a unique connection between those teams, too. In 1982, the Rams beat New Castle, 6-3, at old Pitt Stadium to win the WPIAL title. In the closing minutes as New Castle was driving toward a touchdown, the Ringgold defense came up with a big stop. On a fullback dive within the Rams’ two-yard line, New Castle fumbled and Ringgold’s Harry McCullough recovered. It.

In 1987, McCullough’s brother, Marcus, was a team captain. Marcus is now the head coach of the present-day Rams. “It’s a common denominator between two great teams,” Ravasio said.

Marcus McCullough has been a high school football coach in the area for nearly 30 years with other stops at Clairton, Monessen, Yough, McKeesport, Summit Academy and South Allegheny.