Trib HSSN high school football team of the week for Oct. 21, 2024

By: Don Rebel
Monday, October 21, 2024 | 11:02 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Montour Spartans

Coach: Lou Cerro (20th season)

Result: Montour 36, Aliquippa 35

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

#Earned: Since Aliquippa moved up to Class 4A and into the Parkway Conference four years ago, the Quips have conquered all, including Montour. In four seasons, the Quips were 4-0 and had outscored the Spartans 163-32. The dominance included a postseason contest, with Aliquippa rolling past Montour in a 2022 WPIAL 4A quarterfinal, 41-7. All those numbers made the Spartans’ first victory over the Quips in 33 years even more enjoyable. Montour scored 21 second-quarter points to lead by six at halftime. Leading 28-21 after three quarters, Montour survived two long touchdown passes to rally and win by scoring the final touchdown and two-point conversion with less than a minute remaining for the dramatic victory that moved the Spartans to the top of the conference.

Statistical standouts: While senior running back Tikey Hayes was in beast mode for Aliquippa, rushing for 228 yards and a touchdown, Montour had its 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 outstanding again. The Spartans senior quarterback connected on 19 of 32 passes for 203 yards and scoring 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 with the Halajcio 2-yard run pulling the Spartans to within one, then Hopper hitting Alson for the game winning two-point conversion.

Last year: Offense reigned supreme at the start of the 2023 season, for both Montour and their opponents. The Spartans outscored Mars, Moon and South Fayette in three wins, 114-84. In their 4A Parkway Conference opener, Montour fell for the only time in the regular season, losing 42-18 to Aliquippa. Following the loss to the Quips, the Spartans swept through their remaining six conference opponents, scoring at least 45 points in each game but one, a 21-20 victory at Central Valley. In the 4A playoffs, the high-powered Montour offense continued to shine, scoring a season-high 51 points in a 30-point victory over Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals. However, the Spartans’ season ended in the district semifinals when they failed to score over 20 points for only the second time all season in a 28-14 loss to McKeesport. Montour quarterback Jake Wolfe threw for 2,662 yards and 31 touchdowns, plus he rushed 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 won by Montour. The Spartans defeated old Arnold High School in the 1964 WPIAL Class 2A championship game, 19-7. A year earlier, Montour knocked off 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 championship following a 7-7 tie in the 1957 finals with Avella. The most recent crown for Sparty was 13 years ago when Devin Wilson led Montour to the 2011 Class 3A championship. After finishing in second place in the 3A Parkway Conference, two games behind Central Valley, the Spartans defeated Chartiers Valley, West Mifflin and Central Valley to reach the final at then Heinz Field, where they knocked off Knoch, 42-14. Montour beat Grove City in the PIAA quarterfinals but lost to Bishop McDevitt, 41-32, to end its season at 12-3. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Seton LaSalle’s most recent football championship. Lou Cerro guided the Rebels to titles in 2002 and 2004 before taking the Montour job in 2005.

Week 8 honorable mention

Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils

Don’t look now, but here comes the Blue Devils. Left for dead after starting the season 0-2 in Class 6A and 0-5 overall, Mt. Lebanon has won two of its last three 6A contests and is nearly in control of its own postseason destiny heading into Week 9. Junior quarterback Patrick Smith continues to shine, hitting on 9 of 13 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, plus he rushed for 110 yards and two scores as Mt. Lebanon knocked off host Hempfield, eliminating the Spartans and putting themselves in a position where only a loss to Norwin or wins by both Seneca Valley over North Allegheny and Canon-McMillan over Central Catholic could keep them out of the playoffs.

Freeport Yellowjackets

A lot of attention has deservedly gone to both undefeated Imani Christian and twice-beaten Deer Lakes in the race to the top in the Class 3A Allegheny 7 Conference. 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 on 6 of 8 passes for 95 yards and scoring pass to senior Sean Selinger plus a short touchdown run that helped Freeport win at host East Allegheny, 42-15. The win improves the ‘Jackets to 4-1 in the conference and 7-2 overall as they host Imani Christian for the conference title Friday.

Carlynton Cougars

Carlynton won a combined four games over the last three seasons in Class A, including a winless campaign in 2022. So with the Cougars moving up to 2A, there was not a lot of optimism outside of Crafton, Carnegie and Roslyn Farms, and even those communities may have had their doubts. However, heading into Week 9, a word not used about the Cougars football team in over 20 years could become 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.

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