Latrobe routs Albert Gallatin to clinch 1st playoff birth since 2009

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, October 19, 2018 | 10:06 PM

Senior night was a positive one Friday in Latrobe as the Wildcats knocked off Albert Gallatin, 48-0. The win, Latrobe’s third of the year, qualified them for the WPIAL Class 5A football playoffs for the first time since 2009.

“Our No. 1 focus was our seniors and to send them out the right way,” Latrobe coach Jason Marucco said. “Four years (and) everything they’ve put into our program. (They’ve) developed as not only players but tremendous young men.”

Latrobe (3-6, 3-4 Big East Conference) jumped on Albert Gallatin early, scoring 28 first-quarter points. By halftime, the score was 42-0. Latrobe dominated the trenches on both sides of the ball, totaling more than 250 yards rushing and holding Albert Gallatin (0-9, 0-6) to negative rushing yards until well into the fourth quarter.

“Most nights in high school football, if you can control the line of scrimmage, stop the run with your defense and then run the football, it’s probably going to work out pretty well for you,” Marucco said. “That’s what we were able to do tonight.”

Zakh Williams led the way for Latrobe, running the ball three times for 43 yards and a score as well as catching one 27-yard touchdown, all in the first half.

Drew Dindl is in his first year coaching Albert Gallatin. He wants to run the ball with the option, and that involves winning the line of scrimmage, something his team was unable to do Friday.

“Weight room, weight room, weight room. We’ve got to get in there, and that has to be our main priority this offseason,” Dindl said. “There hasn’t been much of a weight program here for the last few years. We have to get it back and hit it hard.”

The Wildcats’ playoff birth comes after they lost their first four games. Winning three of their last five to put themselves in postseason position was a huge step.

“It kind of validates everything we’ve been doing here the last five years and developing our program,” Marucco said. “We knew that we’d have some chances down the stretch. If we played our kind of football and the opportunity presents itself, we could get into the postseason.”

Latrobe will end the season on the road next Friday against Highlands.

Nathanael Gabler is a freelance writer.

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Latrobe