Latrobe finally ends scoreless skid, shuts out Armstrong in Big East win

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, September 20, 2024 | 11:10 PM

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Scoreless for nearly 7 1/2 quarters, Latrobe finally found the end zone. It was a good thing: The Wildcats were growing tired of these three-and-out defensive struggles.

Both John Wetzel and Brady Prohovic broke loose for 34-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Wildcats finally pried open another stagnant Class 5A Big East game and topped Armstrong, 14-0, on Friday night at Latrobe Memorial Stadium.

The win was the first in conference play for Latrobe (4-1, 1-1), which last week lost to Franklin Regional, 3-0.

The Wildcats didn’t reach the red zone all night this week, and they played the second half without standout running back and linebacker Alex Tatsch, who was experiencing shoulder discomfort.

“It goes to show,” Prohovic said, “it starts with us. We had a lack of energy on offense, but we’ll fix that.”

Tatsch still rushed for 117 yards on 14 carries in the first half, opening the game with a 42-yard burst, but he could not get into the end zone. He only played a few snaps on defense.

Neither the Wildcats nor Armstrong (2-3, 0-1) could finish drives in a game that had 12 punts — seven from Armstrong — and 24 incomplete passes.

Latrobe was plagued by penalties — 8 for 60 yards — and had two turnovers, on a fumble and an interception.

“It’s concerning,” Latrobe coach Ron Prady said. “It’s not because of guys being out of position or whatever, it’s some things on offense we’re struggling with. We have to execute better.”

Armstrong only reached the red zone one time, late in the third, and nearly had the game’s first points. Hunter Reed’s 34-yard field-goal attempt was good, but it was wiped out by penalty.

He never got to kick the 39-yarder on the next play because of a bad snap.

“We’re comfortable in an up-and-down game,” Armstrong coach Frank Fabian said. “Latrobe has a great defense. Their secondary is second to none. We couldn’t get guys free.”

Latrobe limited River Hawks quarterback Jaydon Oliver to 98 yards on 13-for-30 passing. His longest completion was 10 yards.

“Their defensive line held up, and their linebackers and secondary play downhill,” Fabian said. “It just wasn’t a good night.”

Armstrong, which was averaging 30.5 points, hadn’t been shut out since 2020.

Wetzel, who tweaked his knee in the first half, was limited running the ball until the fourth. But after a 19-yard completion to Eli Meeder on third-and-11, he ran for 8 yards to the River Hawks’ 34.

On the next play, he carried again and found some space to the right side, shifting to the edge and scoring the first touchdown with 5 minutes, 35 seconds remaining.

“I saw him sprint, and I thought, maybe he can go,” Prady said of his quarterback. “He told me he wanted the ball. He wants 1,000% to have the game put on his shoulders.

“John and Brady had two great runs.”

Armstrong turned it over on downs and, after three runs, Prohovic found similar spacing and used his speed to get to the end zone.

Prohovic ran for 58 yards and Wetzel 56.

Wetzel, a Marshall commit for defense, threw for 41 yards, with 29 yards coming on a throw to Andy Tatsch.

Roman Agostoni made both extra points, and Latrobe led 14-0 with 2:04 to play.

The Wildcats held from there and took the win, wiping their collective brow like a mover who had just pushed a grand piano up to the top of the stairs.

“It was a long night,” Prohovic said. “It felt like forever, like we played until 11 o’clock.”

Kyan Kline had an interception for the River Hawks, and Jake Bowser recovered a fumble.

Latrobe outgained the River Hawks, 282-160.

There was a moment of silence before kickoff for Rick Kozusko, a former Latrobe softball, baseball, football coach and teacher, who died of a heart attack on Thursday.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Armstrong, Latrobe