Mt. Pleasant’s potent ground game faces toughest test yet in Elizabeth Forward defense

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 6:52 PM

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It’s been seven years since Mt. Pleasant started the season 5-1.

But that’s where the No. 4-ranked Vikings find themselves heading into Friday’s WPIAL Class 3A Interstate Conference first-place showdown with No. 2 Elizabeth Forward at Mt. Pleasant Stadium. Belle Vernon (4-1, 1-0) also sits atop of the conference.

Mt. Pleasant (5-1, 1-0) has won five consecutive games since it opened the season with a road loss at Greensburg Central Catholic.

“Sure, we’d like to have that first game back,” Mt. Pleasant coach Jason Fazekas said. “But we learned from the loss. I feel good about how we have progressed this season. The players are buying into what we’re teaching.”

The Vikings are coming off a 38-7 victory at Greensburg Salem, and the ground game has been clicking. Last week it was Dante Giallonardo who had a big game. The week before, it was the Hutter brothers — Jackson and Brody — who carried the load against Freeport. Garrett Eicher and Brody Poole also have had big games this season.

“We’re spreading the ball around,” Fazekas said. “The players are accepting their roles. The kids are playing with more confidence after rallying for wins against McGuffey, Valley and Freeport. The Freeport win was a really big win for the players.”

Now the Vikings face an unbeaten Elizabeth Forward squad that leads the all-time series 17-10-1 and has won the previous six meetings. The first meeting between the schools came in 1961 when the Vikings posted a 41-25 win.

Junior Charlie Nigut has scored 12 touchdowns this season, and his two fourth-quarter scores last week helped the Warriors (6-0, 1-0) rally to defeat Southmoreland.

“Charlie came up big for us,” Elizabeth Forward coach John DeMarco said “We need him, and he delivered. I knew Southmoreland would come and play hard. They kept us off balance. They played a great game.”

The Warriors also got a big game from sophomore quarterback Ryan Messina, who threw for 296 yards. Isaiah Turner has 21 catches for 374 yards, and Nigut 11 catches for 161.

“Ryan is getting better and better every game,” DeMarco said. “He’s playing well.”

DeMarco, however, said his team will have its hands full with Mt. Pleasant’s Wing-T offense.

The Vikings have three running backs who have rushed for more than 300 yards this season in Eicher, Jackson Hutter and Giallonardo. Eicher has rushed for 366 yards and scored seven touchdowns, Giallonardo had gained 354 and scored four touchdowns, and Jackson Hutter has rushed for 330 yards and scored five times.

“You don’t see a lot of offenses like Mt. Pleasant,” DeMarco said. “I equate it to the triple option. You have to be disciplined and do what you’re assigned to do. They do a good job hiding the football, and if you don’t follow your assignment, you’ll get yourself out of position.”

“Our defense has played well,” DeMarco added. “There have been times we’ve only allowed one or two first downs in a game.”

DeMarco said defensive linemen Chris Climes, a junior tackle, and Charlie Meehleib, a senior end, are anchors, and Turner has been the Warriors’ shutdown defensive back.

Turner will be assigned to Mt. Pleasant wide receiver Luke Nicotera, who has 17 catches for 314 yards and three scores. Mt. Pleasant quarterback Cole Chatfield has completed 34 of 62 passes for 686 yards and eight touchdowns.

“Elizabeth Forward is a good team,” Fazekas said. “They’ve played well and are well coached.

“Nigut is definitely a special talent, a special player. We have to be able to contain him. He makes things happen.”

The series

EF leads, 17-10-1

2022: EF, 42-14

2021: EF, 35-0

2020: EF, 16-14

2019: EF, 24-0

2018: EF, 55-13

2017: EF. 50-7

2016: MP, 49-13

2007: MP. 35-3

2006:: EF, 27-21

2005: EF, 41-8

2004: EF, 19-14

2003: MP, 32-7

2002: EF, 60-15

2001: EF, 35-0

2000: EF, 15-0

1999: EF, 29-7

1998: EF, 18-7

1997: MP: 46-6

1996: MP, 31-29

1995: MP, 17-14

1994: T, 7-7

1993: MP, 41-13

1992: MP, 12-0

1991: MP, 28-7

1990: EF, 22-10

1985: EF, 23-12 (playoffs)

1962: EF, 31-0

1961: MP, 41-25

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Elizabeth Forward, Mt. Pleasant