Nobody believed in them. Well, they better start believing.
Coming into the WPIAL Class 4A Parkway Conference season, all the talk was about the Central Valley Warriors and the Aliquippa Quips. The Montour Spartans (6-1, 3-1) put themselves on the map Friday night with a 21-20 victory over host Central Valley (5-2, 3-1).
“We knew it would be a hard-fought game tonight,” Montour coach Lou Cerro said. “They tried to keep our offense off the field tonight. They did a great job with that. As soon as we got the ball back, we were able to chew up some clock. It’s a big win for our program after they beat us [43-0] last year. Our kids are confident right now, and I hope it keeps going the rest of the year.”
Right in the middle of the action was senior wide receiver and defensive back Keino Fitzpatrick II.
The teams traded rushing touchdowns to open the game. Montour got back on top with 9:47 left in the second quarter. On the second play of the drive, senior quarterback Jake Wolfe fired the ball to his trusted teammate and Fitzpatrick did the rest.
“I threw it to him,” Wolfe recalled. “It was him one-on-one with a safety. I knew he had the speed — touchdown.”
“[Junior receiver Daniel] Batch blocked a kid for like 25 yards down the sideline,” Cerro said of the 71-yard catch and run. “Right now we are playing great team football.”
When Fitzpatrick came to the Montour district in third grade, he and Wolfe hit it off immediately.
“He’s my Day 1,” Wolfe said. “It’s always been me and him, and I’ll take that matchup any day.”
Central Valley evened the score on the first drive of the third quarter. Montour answered on the ensuing drive to take a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter.
Central Valley put together another long drive and punched it in on a 5-yard run from junior Mason Dixon.
Right away, the Warriors left their offense on the field and lined up for a 2-point conversion. Cerro, who said he was “very surprised” by the decision, called timeout to allow his defense to prepare for a stop. Central Valley quarterback Steven Rutherford looked to throw, but Montour senior defensive lineman R.J. Gardner hit Rutherford’s arm on the throw. Junior Cody Lugaila picked off the errant pass, all but sealing the win.
Montour got the ball back with 5:41 left in the game and put together a long, steady drive. Fitzpatrick had two key catches on the drive. As time wound down, and the Warriors exhausted all of their timeouts, the ball moved down to the 4 on a fourth-and-1.
Similar to the play the NFL Philadelphia Eagles have perfected on Sundays, Wolfe took the snap and punched it straight up the gut. As the referees dug through the mass of humanity to spot the ball, it was clear the Spartans had earned the first down, and the win.
“I know when it is a crucial moment, [No.] 11 is going to get it done,” Fitzpatrick said of his quarterback. “It’s nothing new to me, I’m just glad it could be shown on a big stage.”
Fitzpatrick finished the game with five catches for 124 yards and a score. His 4.46-seconds, 40-yard dash speed shined bright Friday.
“We know he’s one of the best players in the WPIAL,” Wolfe said. “He’s got great speed and anytime he touches the ball, he can change the game.”
Fitzpatrick grew up around football. His father, Keino Fiztpatrick Sr., played at Westinghouse. When his father coached, Fitzpatrick got to see the game up close. Fitzpatrick has been through the highs and lows of the game as a starter the past three years. He has been to the playoffs twice, but has yet to see his team win in the postseason.
“I’m very thankful for the journey and excited to see where it goes,” Fitzpatrick said.
One thing is for sure. The Spartans are poised to take that journey to the playoffs. They have a chance now to claim at least a share of the conference title.
Fitzpatrick, Wolfe and many of the other Montour players remember the feeling of playing Central Valley at home a year ago.
“I remember they whooped us,” Wolfe said. “It was bad. We were embarrassed. We came back this year with our get back and got our revenge.”
Saul works in sports for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Reach him at saulbt2009@gmail.com.