Coming into the 2024 season, there was a whole lot to like about the Montour Spartans.
Fresh off a 10-win campaign and a trip to the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals, the Spartans returned eight starters on offense — including a crop of dangerous receivers led by A.J. Alston and Daniel Batch — and nine on a fierce defense headlined by standout linebacker Kaleb Platz (92 tackles, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions in nine games in 2023). Throw in a stout offensive line and the steady leadership of longtime coach Lou Cerro, and No. 5 Montour’s place as one of the top teams in Class 4A was already solidified before the season kicked off on Friday night.
Still, one question mark loomed large over the host Spartans’ heads going into their Week 0 clash against former conference rival and Class 3A No. 1 Central Valley at Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium — how would Trey Hopper handle the pressure of following in PUP All-Star quarterback Jake Wolfe’s footsteps?
Well, 230 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 marquee season-opening win later, it’s safe to say that question has been answered.
“He needs to get better. I think he knows that. There’s a lot of stuff we still have to work on,” Cerro said. “It’s all he’s played his whole life. He’s meant to be a quarterback.”
Hopper was far from perfect in the 24-14 victory, underthrowing a couple deep balls that could have propelled him to an even gaudier stat line — and he lamented the meat left on the bone after the game. But in taking down the top-ranked team in Class 3A while playing mistake-free football in his first career start, “Touchdown Trey” announced his presence to the rest of the WPIAL while cementing Montour’s status as a true title contender.
In fact, it says here right now that these Spartans are the biggest threat to mighty Aliquippa’s throne in Class 4A.
“We had never beaten [Central Valley] at our place,” Hopper said. “It was a big win.”
Hopper completed 11-of-20 passes and committed zero turnovers in the win, dissecting the defense like a polished veteran while displaying a soft, accurate touch and plenty of poise in the pocket. The 6-foot-4, 175-pound gunslinger might not match Wolfe’s record-setting production from 2023, but Montour certainly appears to be in good hands with his former understudy taking the reins.
“It was a lot of pressure. A lot of people talking about Jake,” Hopper said about the buildup to his debut. “[Wolfe was] a three-year starter. He was a dog. It was great learning from him.”
Of course, it sure does make Hopper’s life a lot easier having weapons like Alston, Batch, Marcus Battles and James Bundridge at his disposal.
A dynamic receiver-defensive back who earned all-conference honors on both offense and defense last season, Batch provided an early spark for the Spartans with a spectacular diving interception to spoil Central Valley’s opening drive. Twelve plays later, Batch plunged into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run to give Montour an early double-digit lead.
“I saw the QB look, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to bait this a little bit,'” Batch said about his highlight-reel INT. “I knew that my speed was going to get me there. … I tipped it, and I was like, ‘I’ve just got to grab it.'”
Batch caught 29 passes for 523 yards with nine TDs last year, but it was Alston who led the team with 42 receptions for 815 yards and 12 TDs in 2023 — including a five-TD performance in a playoff rout against Thomas Jefferson. And with the Spartans nursing a 10-7 lead early in the second half on Friday and momentum seemingly shifting in the Warriors’ favor, Alston showcased his elite run-after-catch ability by taking a simple bubble screen to the house for a 26-yard TD reception.
“I’ve been playing with Trey since I was a kid. Him and I already have that connection,” Alston said. “I saw that Kaleb [Platz] made a great block [on the 26-yard TD], so I just had to work with what I had.”
Not to be outdone, Battles got in on the fun to help seal the win with two huge receptions in a span of three plays early in the fourth quarter. First, Hopper hit him over the middle for a 33-yard catch-and-run, then Battles broke free up the seam for a wide-open 42-yard TD on a busted coverage by Central Valley.
That made it a 24-14 lead for Montour, which thwarted the Warriors’ comeback attempt with its stifling defense, refusing to let Central Valley cross midfield in the final quarter.
“We were baiting the bubble [screen] all game,” Hopper said. “As soon as we pumped it, bubble-and-go, easy touchdown.”
Elsewhere, junior running back Caden Halajcio quietly carried the ball 20 times for 107 yards in the victory, adding yet another layer to Montour’s potent offense that might be as deep and balanced as any in the WPIAL. Put it all together, and you have the recipe for a team that could find itself playing late into November — and maybe even December.
“Our first four games of the year are brutal. It’s going to be a great test before conference play,” Cerro said. “[Hopper] has to improve, and so does everybody else on our team. Hopefully we have a great week of practice here coming up. Playing Moon, it’s another rivalry game, so we’ll see what happens.”
Steve is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at srotstein@unionprogress.com.
