Latrobe gets all phases clicking in convincing opening-night win over Derry

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Friday, August 25, 2023 | 10:06 PM

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A few weeks ago, Latrobe Memorial Stadium hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers’ annual “Friday Night Lights” practice.

About 14,000 people showed up to catch a glimpse of the team.

While the crowd wasn’t quite as large this time, Latrobe fans filled the bleachers and looked on with similar interest as their Wildcats saw their first game action of the season.

Latrobe ran over visiting Derry, 56-14, in the season opener Friday night.

What did the fans learn while batting away swarms of gnats all night? They learned this: Latrobe might bug a lot of teams this year.

Latrobe (1-0) was forceful and sharp on both sides of the ball, using a dominant first half to institute the mercy rule and cruise past its neighbors.

John Wetzel threw four touchdown passes and had an interception on defense, Jack Drnjevich had two TD receptions and Ja’Tawn Williams caught a scoring pass and added a pick-6, as the Wildcats built a 42-0 lead by the break.

“We know if we can get the passing game going, it can open up the run,” Wetzel said. “Our offense and defense fed off each other tonight. We came out and scored, and our defense was hyped up.”

Wetzel finished 6 of 9 for 125 yards, sitting the second half.

“It was nice to have a good start like that,” Latrobe coach Ron Prady said. “Derry is better, and I think they are a team on the rise. Ja’Tawn had a heck of a game. John was efficient, and that is what you get from him.”

Derry (0-1), unable to establish the run early, saw its losing streak reach 20 games.

Latrobe, still feeding off the adrenaline of a seven-win season and its first playoff win since 1968, forced three turnovers: the two picks and a fumble recovery by Tim Myers.

Derry went for it on fourth down on its first three drives, but Latrobe made the Trojans pay, as Wetzel zipped a 36-yard pass to Williams to open the scoring, and Wetzel picked off quarterback Mason Beeman to set up a touchdown pass to Alex Tatsch.

“It wasn’t perfect, but we did some good things,” Prady said. “I think we’re going to be pretty balanced. We have some guys who are going to get involved in the passing game.”

Williams took his interception back 41 yards to make it 28-0.

“We actually weren’t comfortable with our punters, so anything from our 30 out, we were going for it,” Derry coach Mike Arone said. “It’s different when you see their speed up close. (Wetzel) beat us with his feet to the outside. When we came up, he hit us with a throw over the top.”

Drnjevich had consecutive scoring catches in the second quarter.

Derry hit a big play early in the third against backups as Beeman fired a 72-yard scoring strike to Damauri Robinson to cut it to 49-7.

“That is something that can help our confidence,” Arone said. “This was a learning experience for our guys. We could have been more tough mentally. It says a lot to the other team when you hang your head.”

Robinson had three catches for 114 yards.

Backups played for both teams late and kept competing.

Freshman Anthony Frank’s first varsity touchdown was a 4-yard score for the Trojans.

Ty Wisniewski, a 5-foot-5 third-string quarterback for Latrobe, also had a late scoring run. Brady Prohovic and Izzy McMahon added rushing touchdowns for the Wildcats.

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

Tags: Derry Area, Latrobe