The Rochester defense let one seven-point lead slip away. It did not allow a second one to get away from it.

Clinging to a 14-7 four-quarter lead, the Rochester defense thwarted two late-minute red-zone drives from North Catholic (9-3) to escape with a 14-7 victory in a Class A semifinal last night at Mars.

The Rams (12-0) failed to covert on critical third downs late in the game and allowed North Catholic to stay within a score. The Trojans mounted a furious fourth-quarter rally, twice driving into the Rams' red zone. The first drive that began at the their 25 ended when a Martin Long pass was deflected and intercepted in the end zone by Rochester's offensive star of the game, Trey Johnson, with under four minutes to play.

After a defensive stop North Catholic had another chance. It took over at Rochester's 48 after a punt and drove inside the 10, but on fourth down Long was sacked by Terry Gettings, another offensive hero, to seal the game and send Rochester to Heinz Field for the first time since 2006. Clairton won the other semifinal against Laurel, 33-0.

Johnson carried the load on offense for the Rams with 104 yards on 20 carries, but it was Gettings who came up with the game-changing play. After the Trojans came out of the locker room and drove down the field for a score on their first offensive possession of the second half to tie it, quarterback Jasson Adamson found a wide-open Gettings for a 65-yard touchdown pass on a critical third down.

"That was a big play. I thought we had some momentum at that point." North Catholic coach Bob Ravenstahl said.

The Rochester defense, the second best in Class A, bent throughout the game, but came through with three critical red-zone stops.

"They're a potent offense," Rochester coach Gene Matsook said of North Catholic. "We're not going to blow out everyone. To hold them to seven points that's a tribute to our guys."

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