For the majority of last season, Latrobe was without a win. Then, finally — a breakthrough.
The last game of the season everything seemed to click for the Wildcats in a 63-6 victory against Connellsville. The win changed the perception of the season for the team, according to coach Jason Marucco.
The focus this offseason, he said, has been bottling the feeling of success the win brought and channeling it into this season.
“It was huge, especially for our players, our fans, our coaches,” Marucco said. “Sitting back and looking at the season as the head coach, we could see it was coming. It was just us not being able to close the door when we had leads. I knew if we stayed the course and kept plugging away, it was going to happen.”
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Marucco noticed a new level of excitement in offseason workouts. He said the level of participation from January to now is the highest it has ever been. And now that he is entering his fourth season as head coach, he said, the sense of urgency to take the next step as a program is growing after consecutive one-win seasons.
“The taste of learning how to win and now the realization that we’ve been together for three years, we’re in year four of our program,” Marucco said. “And knowing what it takes leading up to the real season, especially in our conference, the type of work ethic and the paying attention to detail that it takes to win games in our league. We continue to work on that on a daily basis, and I think with the way the season ended last year the belief in our players’ heads is heading in the right direction.”
Senior quarterback Jason Armstrong’s transition from tight end/wide receiver will be a major key. He led Class 5A in receptions with 45.
He also emerged as a leader in the locker room, Marucco said, and is a huge part of the team’s mental makeup.
“The fact [is] that he’s just a tremendous athlete,” Marucco said. “He plays basketball, he ran track and played baseball up until this past year. Really, what we’ve worked on, and that’s what’s great about the summer, it’s 7-on-7 season, but the passing game. Him being definitely a dual threat, we’ll be able to use him in the run game as well.”
Junior center Trent Holler, a two-year starter, should be another source of stability for the team.
Coach: Jason Marucco
Years at school: 4
2016 record: 1-8
WPIAL playoff appearances: 9
Returning starters: Offense 9, Defense 3
Key returners: Jason Armstrong (6-2, 220, Sr., QB), Trent Holler (6-3, 280, Jr., C), Preston Boerio (5-8, 165, Sr., RB-S)
Schedule
Aug. 25 at Derry* 7
Sept. 1 at Gateway 7
Sept. 8 Chartiers Valley* 7
Sept. 15 at Kiski Area 7
Sept. 22 Penn-Trafford 7
Sept. 30 at McKeesport 1
Oct. 6 Armstrong 7
Oct. 13 at Franklin Regional 7
Oct. 20 Plum 7
Oct. 27 Connellsville 7
* Non-conference
First Published: August 23, 2017, 5:14 p.m.
