12 • SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 2021 • TRIB TOTAL MEDIA
BOBBY FETTER
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Route 30
Latrobe, PA
724-539-7022
COMPLETE
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SERVICE
Open:
Monday-Saturday 8-6
Sunday 10-5
Visit us for the area's largest selection of
Pumpkins & Gourds from the usual to the unusual
Plus... Cornstalks • Indian Corn • Pansies
and of course... 1000's of MUMS!
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Coach: Jason Marucco
2020 record: 2-4, 1-3 in
Class 5A Big East Conference
All-time record: 457-540-38
SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
8.27 Derry 7
9.3 at Norwin 7
9.10 Kiski Area 7
9.17 Mt. Pleasant 7
9.24 at South Fayette 7
10.1 at Gateway* 7
10.8 Connellsville* 7
10.15 Franklin Regional* 7
10.22 at Woodland Hills* 7
10.29 Penn-Trafford* 7
*CONFERENCE GAME
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Passing Landon Carns*
59-120, 869 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing Dylan Gustafson*
107-674 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving Tucker Knupp*
16-274 yards, 3 TDs
*GRADUATED
FAST FACT
• Former Mt. Pleasant standout
quarterback Johnny Yester,
who played at Saint Vincent,
has joined the coaching staff.
He will coach receivers.
BIG EAST • LATROBE
AFTER CLOSE CALLS, LATROBE
LOOKING FOR SIGNATURE WIN
Latrobe has made things interesting late in
the season the past two years, hanging around
teams it wasn’t supposed to get in the ring with
and nearly pulling stunners.
Last year, the Wildcats took Upper St. Clair
for a wild ride, finally coming up short in a
highlight-filled 52-44 shootout.
They also gave Woodland Hills all it could
handle in a 34-31 loss in the season finale, falling
just short of a WPIAL playoff spot in the
Class 5A Big East.
“It’s nice to be in those games and have a
chance all the way to the end (of the
game and season),” Latrobe coach
Jason Marucco said. “But we want
to get over the top and win those
games. We want that signature win.”
The Wildcats finished 2-4 (1-3 in conference)
in a season marred by covid pandemic cancellations
and schedule changes. They weren’t
even supposed to play Upper St. Clair, but the
Panthers were added when South Fayette had
to change opponents.
Latrobe scored 27.8 points a game but allowed
32.3.
In its quest for sustainability, the team will
rely on experience from those close games to
potentially get it over the final hurdle this
season.
The team must replace its leading passer,
rusher and receiver.
It will start with senior quarterback Bobby
Fetter, a dual threat who can be dangerous on
the perimeter.
“He has stuck with it, and each game has
gotten better,” Marucco said. “We’re confident
in our running game. We have a lot of juniors
and seniors — a veteran team.”
Fetter only attempted six passes last season
and ran for 121 yards, but his production should
pick up.
Senior Drake Clayton also returns at running
back, and senior Kyle Brewer again will line up
in the slot. Other pass-catching targets include
junior Kollin Stevens, senior Marco Mongelluzzo
and senior Chase Sickenberger.
Clayton led the team with 56 tackles and also
rushed for 134 yards. Brewer had nine catches
for 108 yards and returned a kickoff for a score.
Marucco’s front line will include key returnees
in senior left guard Tyler Lynch and senior
left tackle Jake Brisky.
Other linemen are senior Josh Brown, senior
center Erick Landry, junior Dan Calabrace and
senior Aidan Sweeney.
Lynch, Brisky and Brown are defensive ends,
and Calabrace plays defensive tackle along
with junior Wyatt Held.
Clayton, Brewer and junior Corey Boerio are
key linebackers, a position that has produced
a number of run-stoppers in recent seasons.
“I believe a big part of our team’s strength will
be our bond, ” Boerio said. “This is the closest
team atmosphere I’ve been around for football.
We have all played together for so long that
everyone trusts each other out there, which
has caused the team’s confidence to skyrocket.
“I think we are definitely going to surprise
people with the amount of success we have
this year.”
Latrobe is disappointed the Steelers did not
have training camp again at nearby Saint Vincent,
but they were anxious to begin their camp
with the promise of a new season.
“We were happy to get a season last year,”
Marucco said. “We’re looking forward to seeing
what we can do with a full season. We wondered
that last year.”
by BILL BECKNER
JASON MARUCCO
» Roster
Page 13
Good Luck
All Area
Teams!
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