Enthusiasm building as Latrobe continues climb toward postseason berth

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, August 16, 2018 | 8:39 PM

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Cheers erupted when Nathan Clair’s 52-yard field goal during kicking drills at Latrobe barely cleared the crossbar near the conclusion of a practice this week on his final attempt.

It is the kind of timely enthusiasm that’s been getting in step with coach Jason Marucco’s aggressive agenda to reverse the Wildcats’ fortunes.

“All right, let’s get in and get ready to lift at 12,” Marucco said, his team at full attention.

Zakharee Williams, carrying his shoulder pads to the locker room, was greeted by a visitor and stopped long enough to explain what it’s been like at Latrobe during the team’s first week of camp.

“We’re not going to give up, even though Greater Latrobe isn’t so much known for football success,” said Williams, a senior with 22 catches to lead the team last year. “I’m playing for my teammates. The guy next to me is busting his butt for me, so I’m going to bust my butt for him. Our goal is to put Latrobe on the map.”

Williams, who also is a track star at Latrobe, couldn’t predict any degree of success for the Wildcats football team but hopes they’ll be no shortage of desire.

Latrobe nearly qualified for the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs last season, finishing just outside the cutoff with a 4-5 record, its best showing in six years.

Williams anticipates a continuation of that trend, despite the loss of quarterback Jason Armstrong, who graduated after passing for 1,484 yards. He’s moved on to the college level at Mercyhurst.

“We know what we want. We don’t really talk about it that much,” said Williams, whose 5-foot-9, 170-pound chiseled frame packs a punch. “Last season we weren’t .500, but now our goal is .500 and then just continue to improve, improve, improve after that. Baby steps.”

Marucco, a Latrobe graduate now in his fifth season as coach of the Wildcats, made the trek toward the locker room at a lively pace. His players already were well ahead of him, seemingly moving with a purpose.

“We’re headed to lunch now,” Marucco said. “Not a lot of time for that, but certainly time well spent.

“The guys are getting reacquainted in this atmosphere and our camp is moving along nicely. I’m excited for what we have here. We’re in year five now, and I think its logical for us to take another step.”

Marucco called Williams “a leader,” and said Latrobe has a number of guys who he’d label as such.

“Trent Holler, Caleb Domenick, Trey Sweeney, Reese Mueseler, Tucker Knapp … I probably could throw out a few more names,” Marucco said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who are hungry, and we’re hoping that will carry over for the entire season.”

Those names primarily represent players on the interior line. Mueseler is a tight end, Knupp a linebacker.

“With guys like that, we’ve got a lot of experience in a lot of places,” Marucco said. “I like the potential of this team. We’re going to try to develop a quarterback to replace (Armstrong).”

That may be asking a lot. Williams said he’s ready to do his part. Marucco didn’t doubt it for a moment.

“We’re in the third year of this offense now, and we think we can pick up where we left off last year,” Marucco said, referring to Latrobe’s 2-1 record in its final three games.

“Zak was an honorable mention at receiver in the conference last year as a junior, so that’s only going to help our quarterback situation. He is a playmaker and can get the ball in the end zone. He can help our young quarterback along.”

Junior Branden Crosby is the leading candidate to take over the position after playing with the JV team last year.

“It’s going to be an adjustment not having Jason out there,” Williams said. “Right now, we may not have been winning a lot, but we’re still out there grinding hard the whole time.”

Dave Mackall is a freelance writer.

Tags: Latrobe