Trib HSSN High School Football Team of the Week for October 21, 2024

From: Don Rebel

Monday, October 21, 2024 | 11:02 p.m

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Trib HSSN Football Team of the Week – Montour Spartans

Trainer: Lou Cerro (Season 20)

Result: Montour 36, Aliquippa 35

Record: 8-0 overall, 4-0 in the Class 4A Parkway Conference

#Earned: Since Aliquippa moved up to Class 4A and the Parkway Conference four years ago, the Quips have conquered everyone, including Montour. In four seasons, the Quips had a 4-0 record and outscored the Spartans 163-32. The dominance included a postseason contest in which Aliquippa rolled past Montour 41-7 in the 2022 WPIAL 4A quarterfinals. All of those numbers made the Spartans’ first win over the Quips in 33 years even more gratifying. Montour scored 21 points in the second quarter and led by six points at halftime. Montour led 28-21 after three quarters and survived two long touchdown passes to rally and win, scoring the final touchdown and two-point conversion. Less than a minute before the dramatic win that moved the Spartans to the top of the conference.

Statistical features: While senior running back Tikey Hayes was at his best for Aliquippa, rushing for 228 yards and a touchdown, Montour had his own black and gold heroes to lean on in this instant classic of a game. Former Trib HSSN Player of the Week Trey Hopper was another standout. The Spartans’ senior quarterback connected on 19 of 32 passes for 203 yards and scored passes to senior wide receivers Andrew Alston and Daniel Batch. Senior Kaleb Platz and junior running back Caden Halajcio each scored a touchdown for Montour. Halajcio’s 2-yard run brought the Spartans within one point, and Hopper hit Alson for the game-winning two-point conversion.

Last year: Entering the 2023 season, the offense was dominant for both Montour and their opponents. The Spartans topped Mars, Moon and South Fayette in three wins (114-84). In the 4A Parkway Conference opener, Montour fell for its only time in the regular season, losing 42-18 to Aliquippa. After the loss to the Quips, the Spartans outscored their remaining six conference opponents, scoring at least 45 points in every game except one, a 21-20 win at Central Valley. In the 4A playoffs, the potent Montour offense continued to shine, scoring a season-high 51 points in a 30-point win over Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals. However, the Spartans’ season ended in the district semifinals when they failed to score over 20 points for the second time all season in a 28-14 loss to McKeesport. Montour quarterback Jake Wolfe threw for 2,662 yards and 31 touchdowns and ran for 786 yards and 14 touchdowns for an offense that averaged nearly 40 points per game.

Remember when: This is the 50th anniversary of the fourth WPIAL championship Montour won. The Spartans defeated old Arnold High School 19-7 in the 1964 WPIAL Class 2A championship game. A year earlier, Montour defeated Freeport to win gold in 1963. It was the second time the program successfully repeated as champions, winning a Class A title in 1958 and sharing the championship with Avella after a 7-7 tie in the 1957 final. The last title for Sparty was 13 years ago, when Devin Wilson led Montour to the Class 3A championship in 2011. After finishing second in the 3A Parkway Conference, two games behind Central Valley, the Spartans defeated Chartiers Valley, West Mifflin and Central Valley to reach the finals at then-Heinz Field, where they defeated Knoch 42-14. Montour defeated Grove City in the PIAA quarterfinals, but lost to Bishop McDevitt 41-32 to finish the season 12-3. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Seton LaSalle’s most recent football championship. Lou Cerro led the Rebels to titles in 2002 and 2004 before taking over at Montour in 2005.

Week 8 honorable mention

Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Don’t look now, but here come the Blue Devils. After going 0-2 in Class 6A and 0-5 overall, Mt. Lebanon is presumed dead, has won two of its last three 6A contests and is all but in control of its postseason fate by Week 9. Junior quarterback Patrick Smith continued to shine, completing 9 of 13 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, as well as rushing for 110 yards and two scores as Mt. Lebanon defeated host Hempfield, eliminating the Spartans and putting itself in position to win who suffered just one loss to Norwin or wins by Seneca Valley over North Allegheny and Canon-McMillan over Central Catholic could keep them out of the playoffs.

Freeport Yellowjackets

In the race for the top spot in the Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference, a lot of attention has rightly been focused on undefeated Imani Christian and twice-beaten Deer Lakes. However, Freeport has quietly put together a resume that has the Yellowjackets knocking on the door of a possible conference crown. In Week 8, junior quarterback Drew Ross hit 6 of 8 passes for 95 yards and scored on a pass to senior Sean Selinger and a short touchdown run that helped Freeport to a 42-15 victory at host East Allegheny. With the win, the Jackets improve to 4-1 in the conference and 7-2 overall as they host Imani Christian for the conference title on Friday.

Carlynton Cougars

Carlynton has won a total of four Class A games over the last three seasons, including a winless campaign in 2022. So with the Cougars moving up to 2A, there hasn’t been much optimism outside of Crafton, Carnegie and Roslyn Farms and even there communities may have had their doubts. However, as Week 9 begins, a word that hasn’t been used about the Cougars football team in over 20 years could become a reality: playoffs. Senior quarterback Devontae Dean threw for 129 yards and running back John Sciulli rushed for 129 yards and two scores as Carlynton stunned Washington 28-27 to stay alive in the hunt for a wild card and a postseason berth for the first time since 2001 remain.

2024 Trib HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 7 – Woodland Hills Wolverines

Week 6 – Ellwood City Wolverines

Week 5 – Central Catholic Vikings

Week 4 – Central Valley Warriors

Week 3 – South Allegheny Gladiators

Week 2 – Jefferson-Morgan rockets

Week 1 – Bethel Park Black Hawks

Week zero – Blackhawk Cougars

Tags: Montour