Resurgent Latrobe has star power for move back to Class 5A

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Thursday, August 8, 2024 | 6:01 AM

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Editor’s note: Trib HSSN will publish team-by-team previews for one conference per day until the start of the high school football season Aug. 23.

Having coached at Penn-Trafford for a decade, Ron Prady has a good idea what it takes to win in Class 5A.

That should help the third-year Latrobe coach’s team as it transitions back to 5A after two positive years in 4A.

“Depth is a big key,” Prady said. “You need to be able to spell guys and have dependable (backups) you can sub in.

“Everyone says they don’t have depth, but you have to develop guys. (Class) 5A is more of a grind week in and week out.”

Back-to-back winning seasons and a pair of playoff victories, along with some Division I college talent and a renewed sense of pride, has Latrobe determinedly back in the hunt.

The team went 8-4 last year and 7-5 two years ago — the Wildcats hadn’t won that many games in a season since 1971 — and has the talent to make a third straight postseason run.

Rejuvenated Latrobe upset West Allegheny in the first round last year before giving perennial power Aliquippa a scare in the quarterfinals with a 37-29 loss.

“Ultimately, we haven’t won anything yet,” Prady said. “But we’re getting there. We’d love to be like a P-T or a Belle Vernon, programs like that. I feel like we can do some good things and build on what we’ve done.”

Senior Division I commits Alex Tatsch (Penn State) and John Wetzel (Marshall) will lead the way. Tatsch is a physical linebacker who had 111 tackles and four sacks last season, and Wetzel is one of the WPIAL’s top dual-threat quarterbacks and a gifted safety. He ran and threw for more than 1,000 yards as a junior — the only player in school history to do so — and accounted for more than 30 touchdowns. He also made 73 tackles and pulled in three interceptions.

He was the team’s leading rusher, but he should get significant help.

Tatsch also plays running back and gives the Wildcats a power ball carrier to complement hard-nosed senior Brady Prohovic (590 yards) and speedy senior Chris Cochran.

“We have a bunch of really good team guys who don’t get a lot of recognition,” Prady said, “and they are all right with that. But they are just as important to what we want to do.”

Junior Andy Tatsch, who has an offer from West Virginia, should be among the go-to receivers along with junior Sawyer Butina, junior Josiah Finch Kutzer and seniors Vince Gaskey and Tyler Bauer.

The Wildcats must replace deep threat and leading pass catcher Ja’Tawn Williams, who is now at Clarion. Williams also was a threat on kick and punt returns.

H-backs will be senior Jack Drnjevich, who tore his ACL in the playoff game against Aliquippa but has recovered, and junior Owen Burket, with senior Tim Meyers at tight end.

Drnjevich is the top returning receiver with 20 catches for 240 yards.

Two key linemen return in seniors Cody Krall and Caleb Lehman. Both are three-year starters.

The return of senior center Marco Scarton should benefit the line, as well. He broke his ankle last year during heat acclimation week.

Other linemen are senior right tackle Anthony Scarton (6-4, 250), junior Luke Kolenc, junior Wade Enick and sophomore John DiPasquale.

“One of the things I learned at Penn-Trafford was how valuable it was to play subs in the second half,” Prady said. “Those reps are important for those guys going forward.”

Defensively, Alex Tatsch (6-3, 220) will spearhead the pass rush and Wetzel (6-0, 185) will hold down the secondary — both are known for their hard hits — but keep an eye on senior middle linebacker and three-year starter Bradan Bronson, who quietly was second on the team in tackles behind Tatsch.

Also in the rotation at linebacker are Drnjevich, Cochran, Burket and Prohovic, along with junior Cash Achhammer, and junior Izzy McMahon.

Wetzel and Andy Tatsch are the safeties, with help from junior Luke Tomko and sophomore Clayton Burket.

With both starting cornerbacks gone, Prady was looking at five players to compete for time there: Gaskey, Butina, junior Danny Noonan, Bauer and senior Aidan Roach.

Meyers is a dependable defensive end, with Krall at nose tackle and Lehman at the other end.

Marco Scarton and DiPasquale are down linemen — the Wildcats use three.

Latrobe forced 20 turnovers last year, including 13 interceptions, and that continued trend could give the offense more time on the field.

“Turnovers are game changers,” Prady said. “Those translate to success. With the same token, you have to take care of the football.”

Latrobe

Coach: Ron Prady

2023 record: 8-4, 4-2 in Class 4A Big Eight Conference

All-time record: 475-556-38

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.23 at Connellsville, 7

8.30 Plum, 7

9.6 at Norwin, 7

9.13 at Franklin Regional*, 7

9.20 Armstrong*, 7

9.27 Woodland Hills*, 7

10.4 Kiski Area*, 7

10.11 at Pine-Richland, 7

10.18 at Gateway*, 7

10.25 Penn-Trafford*, 7

* Conference game

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: John Wetzel

69-119, 1,289 yards, 17 TDs

Rushing: Wetzel

159-1,117 yards, 16 TDs

Receiving: Ja’Tawn Williams*

33-756 yards, 14 TDs

* Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Latrobe has made the WPIAL playoffs 13 times in school history, but never has qualified three years in a row.

• Latrobe has not hosted a playoff game since 1984.

• Penn State linebacker commit Alex Tatsch had 20 scholarship offers from Power Five schools, including Notre Dame, USC, West Virginia, Stanford, Pitt and others.

Former linebacker Tyler Altman (2003, Indiana) was the last Latrobe player to sign with a Power Five program straight out of high school.

Also from Latrobe, lineman Chad Reed signed with Pitt in 1998, while linebacker Bob Baum signed with West Virginia in ‘93.

• John Wetzel, the Wildcats’ playmaking quarterback and safety, is a Marshall commit for defense. He had 14 Division I offers.

ROSTER

No., Name, Pos., Cl.

1, Roman Agostoni, K, sr.

2, Brady Prohovic, RB/LB, sr.

3, Tyler Wisniewski, QB/S, so.

4, Sawyer Butina, WR/CB, jr.

5, Chris Cochran, RB/LB, jr.

6, Jack Dmjevich, HB/LB, sr.

7, Izzy McMahon, TE/LB, jr.

8, Clayton Burket, QB/S, so.

9, Luke Tomko, QB/S, jr.

10, John Wetzel, QB/S, sr.

11, Aiden Roach, WR/CB, sr.

12, Logan Jeskey, QB/DB, fr.

13, Dom Scarton, QB, so.

14, Josiah Finch, WR/CCB, jr.

15, Andy Tatsch, WR/S, jr.

16, Aaron Gaskey, QB/DE, fr.

17, Austin Slezak, QB/LB, fr.

18, Cash Achhammer, RB/LB, jr.

19, Eli Meeder, WR/CB, so.

20, Danny Noonan, WR/CB, jr.

21, Mason Barley, RB/LB, jr.

22, Alex Smith, RB/CB, so.

23, Vinnie Gaskey, WR/CB, sr.

24, Owen Burket, HB/LB, jr.

25, Alex Tatsch, RB/LB, sr.

26, Russell Fry, TE/LB, jr.

27, Ethan Echevarria, WR/S, jr.

28, Grady DePalma, WR/CB, jr.

29, Dakota Haupt, TE/LB, so.

30, Ramone Williams, WR/CB, jr.

31, Josh Hodge, RB/LB, sr.

32, AJ Yeboah, RB/LB, fr.

33, Avery Chappel, RB/LB, fr.

34, Dom Angelicchio, RB/S, fr.

35, Tyler Bauer, WR/CB, sr.

37, Austin Coffman, TE/LB, so.

39, Ben Slater, WR/LB, so.

40, Nick Bauer, WR/CB, so.

42, Nolan Miney, WR/S, fr.

43, Kalvin Clayton, RB/LB, fr.

44, Bradan Bronson, HB/LB, sr.

45, Dylan Frye, WR/CB, so.

46, Colton Calabrace, RB/LB, fr.

47, Joey Favata, WR/LB, jr.

48, Joe Mahoney, TE/LB, jr.

49, Gio Castillo, HB/DL, so.

50, Shawn Myers, OL/DL, fr.

51, Anthony Scarton, OL/DL, sr.

52, Gamin Owens, OL/DL, fr.

53, Brady Kronenwetter, OL/DL, so.

54, Ray Firek, OL/DL, so.

55, Sandro Castillo, OL/DL, sr.

56, Gunner Deuel, OL/LB, fr.

57, Michael Brosnick, OL/DL, jr.

58, Joe Poche, OL/DL, fr.

59, Jon DiPasquale, OL/DL, so.

60, Sage Sevacko, OL/DL, so.

62, Wade Enick, OL/DL, jr.

63, Joe Lauber, OL/DL, jr.

65, Vince Wirick, OL/DL, fr.

66, Vinny Calabrace, OL/DL, fr.

67, Seth Watt, OL/DL, fr.

68, Dylan Miller, OL/DL, so.

71, Cody Krall, OL/DL, sr.

72, Caleb Lehman, OL/DL, sr.

73, Luke Morrison, OL/DL, jr.

75, Landon Nipar, OL/DL, fr.

76, Dakota Mullooly, OL/DL, sr.

78, Marco Scarton, OL/DL, sr.

79, Lucas Kolenc, OL/DL, jr.

80, Cass Helman, WR/CB, so.

81, Austin Hazen, TE/DL, jr.

82, Patrick Shaker, WR/CB, fr.

83, Trevor Krull, WR/S, fr.

84, Daniel Fisher, HB/LB, jr.

86, James Rafferty, WR/CB, jr.

87, Tim Myers, TE/DL, sr.

88, Alex Amond, WR/CB, so.

89, Vince Razza, WR/LB, fr.

91, Max Dominick, WR/S, fr.

92, Aidan Maestrole, WR/CB, fr.

93, Ryan Haber, WR/DB, fr.

94, Luke Thompson, TE/LB, fr.

97, Warren Agostoni, K, so.

99, Mitch Horner, K, jr.

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

Tags: Latrobe