The Greater Latrobe Wildcats took the field on August 23 at Derry to kick off a new season of Wildcats football. The Wildcats won a thriller at Derry in overtime, by the score of 20-14 and starting off the season 1-0. They would host the defending State Champs the Penn Hills Indians at Memorial Stadium for their home opener. The Wildcats lost to the Indians by the final score of 41-14. Both teams after this game would be 1-1. 

Latrobe would be on the road next week to play the Franklin Regional Panthers. Latrobe entering this game was 1-1, and Franklin Regional coming into the game was 1-0. Latrobe and Franklin Regional were neck and neck going into halftime, but then in the third and fourth quarters, Franklin Regional pulled away winning by a score of 42-21. Latrobe’s next task would be a home game with the Gateway Gators. The Gators had a record of 2-1 beating Plum and Mt. Lebanon and losing to the Penn-Trafford Warriors. In the Wildcats matchup with the Gators, head coach Jason Marucco decided to start sophomore quarterback Bobby Fetter over Senior quarterback Branden Crosby. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they couldn’t get going against that Gateway defense. The Wildcats lost 49-0 and would fall to 1-3 on the season. 

Latrobe was now on a three-game losing streak, and in need of a win. They would play the Connellsville Falcons the following week. Connellsville started off fast jumping out to a 20-0 lead, but Latrobe battled back. Latrobe got an 18-yard touchdown run by Kam Stevens and a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ray Henderson which made the score 20-13. Latrobe got another touchdown, and the score was 20-19. On the Falcons’ next possession, they went down the field and scored and the touchdown to take the lead 27-19. On Latrobe’s next possession the Wildcats went down the field and scored off a 39-yard touchdown run by Bobby Fetter, and the two-point conversion to tie the game. The Wildcats would end up getting the win by the score of 34-27. The Cats got a much-needed win on the road against a conference rival.

For the Wildcats 6th game of the season, they would be headed out to Mckeesport to play the Tigers. Latrobe coming off a 34-27 win over the Connellsville Falcons to make their record 2-3. Mckeesport is coming off a win over Plum 62-40. Turnovers were the main story in the first half of the game between the Tigers and the Wildcats. Two turnovers by the Wildcats led to two Mckeesport touchdowns to make it 13-0. Latrobe was able to cut the deficit to 7 but the Wildcats defense gave up the big play for a touchdown and the two-point conversion to make it 21-6 at the half. The Wildcats just couldn’t keep up with the Tigers and ended up losing 34-14 falling to 2-4. Latrobe would be back at home to play the Penn-Trafford Warriors.

The Wildcats hosted the Penn-Trafford Warriors and couldn’t get anything going. Penn-Trafford scored first, but Latrobe responded with a 97-yard kickoff return by Kam Stevens. After that it was all Penn-Trafford, they scored the next 32 points and won 39-7. Latrobe would fall to 2-5, and could possibly fall out of playoff contention. Latrobe would play Plum for the final conference game of the season. 

This next game for the Wildcats could be an end of their 2019 postseason dreams. Latrobe didn’t waste any time they jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead thanks to running back Logan Gustafson and quarterback Bobby Fetter. But Plum wouldn’t go down without a fight. The score was 21-6 at halftime, and then Plum was rolling. Plum then made it 21-13. Latrobe scored a touchdown to make it 28-13. Plum scored and made it 28-20. Latrobe had a bad punt, and Plum got in a great position. But Latrobe stopped Plum on 4th and Goal at the Latrobe 1 yard line. Latrobe was headed back to the playoffs. “No doubt and you can let the pressure get to you and fold under, or you welcome it and once the game was over last week we said our playoffs have begun. And we confronted it all week and said we knew what we had to do to get into the postseason and win this football game, and our guys came out and won it tonight.” Head Coach Jason Marucco after the game.   

The following Friday the Wildcats played the Midd-West Mustangs. The Wildcats put on a great show, with their special teams doing what they needed to do, the defense playing lights out, and the offense putting up enough points. Latrobe won by the score 35-7 making their record 4-5. Latrobe would be coming home to play the Highlands Rams for their last regular-season game of the season. The Rams were leading 12-0 going into the Wildcats first possession of the second half. Then the Wildcats offense turned on the switch. Dylan Gustafson ran for two Latrobe touchdowns to put the Wildcats on top 13-12. Rams then took the lead with seconds left in the game 18-13. Then a big kickoff return by Dakota Morrison to the Rams 1 yard line, and Bobby Fetter took it in to win the game for the Wildcats. Latrobe finished the season 5-5, and head coach Jason Marucco became the second coach in Wildcats history to lead his team to back-to-back playoff appearances.  

The Wildcats eventually lost in their postseason game against Penn-Hills 56-17. The Wildcats had a great season and will look to have a better season next year. Let’s Go Cats!