Some accomplishments deserve to be remembered forever. One of those belongs to Perry Traditional Academy.
More than three decades after its historic run, Perry remains the only school from the Pittsburgh City League to capture a PIAA football state championship, a feat no other City League program has matched.
On Dec. 7, 1989, the Commodores shocked defending state champion Berwick, 20-8, at Hershey Park Stadium to claim the PIAA Class AAA title. It wasn’t just a championship victory, it was one of the biggest upsets in Pennsylvania high school football history.
Led by legendary head coach Gus Catanese, Perry built its identity on a relentless defense known as “Blue Steel.” The unit allowed only three touchdowns the entire season and saved its biggest performance for the state championship game. A memorable 100-yard interception return for a touchdown sealed the victory and cemented the Commodores’ place in Pennsylvania football history.
The significance of that championship extends far beyond Perry’s campus. For decades, the Pittsburgh City League has produced outstanding athletes, NFL players, college stars, and championship-caliber teams. Yet despite all of that talent, no other City League football program has been able to bring home a PIAA state title.
That makes Perry’s accomplishment even more remarkable.
Today’s generation may know Perry for its proud athletic tradition, but many don’t realize the Commodores once stood alone atop Pennsylvania high school football. History matters.
Great teams deserve to be remembered, and the 1989 Perry Commodores earned a permanent place among the greatest teams ever produced by the City League. Their championship wasn’t just a victory for one school, it was a defining moment for Pittsburgh football. More than 35 years later, the standard they set still stands.
Perry remains the only Pittsburgh City League school to win a PIAA football state championship. And until another team accomplishes it, the 1989 Commodores will continue to hold one of the most unique achievements in Western Pennsylvania sports history.