Reality show helps Montour

By John Enrietto Eagle Sports Editor

November 23, 2011 Last Updated: November 23, 2011 01:58 PM High School

ROBINSON TWP — Montour is taking its third shot at a WPIAL football championship in five years.

And the Spartans have a reality TV show to thank for it.

Montour (10-2) takes on undefeated Knoch (12-0) for the WPIAL Class AAA title at 2 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field. The Spartans are looking for their first WPIAL title since claiming the Class AA crown in 1964.

Montour lost the title game to Central Valley, 24-7, last year. In 2007, Thomas Jefferson bested the Spartans by a 34-0 count at Heinz Field.

From 2003-05, Montour football lost 24 of 27 games. The team allowed ESPN to do a reality show on its football program in 2005, bringing in NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus and others to join head coach Lou Cerro in working with the kids.

“A lot of people treated that as a negative thing, as a bit of an embarrassment to the football program,” Cerro said. “Looking back, I think it served as a springboard for us.

“We got new uniforms, a new scoreboard and weight room out of that deal. It sparked new interest in what had been a struggling program with little life in it.”

Montour went on to finish 3-6 in 2006 and has been to the playoffs five consecutive years since.

Only four starters were lost from last year's team that took a 12-0 record into the WPIAL title game.

“We're a veteran group and we've got some playmakers,” Cerro said. “We can put together some drives, but we've made a lot of big plays this season.”

Senior 6-foot-4 quarterback Dillon Buechel has completed 139 of 206 passes for 2,130 yards, 35 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. His two top targets are Devin Wilson (47 catches-658 yards-9 TDs) and Darren Massey (42-857-16 TDs).

“Devin is a 6-4 target and moves the chains for us quite a bit,” Cerro said. “Massey is the fastest kid on the team. We like to stretch the field a lot with him.

“Buechel is a third-year starter for us who just broke the career passing record at Montour. He went over 6,000 yards. He's been making great decisions with the ball this year.”

Senior running back Julian Durden has 196 carries for 1,711 yards and 21 TDs on the campaign. Fellow back Aaron Reed has caught 27 passes for 323 yards and six scores.

Durden has 14 catches for 195 yards and four TDs.

“Julian runs well between the tackles and he can get loose outside,” Cerro said. “He's a very versatile back.”

Montour has a pair of large offensive linemen in seniors Joe Victorelli (6-3, 290 pounds) and Dom Martinelli (6-4, 290).

Defensively, Reed has 105 tackles — 46 solo — while Kevin Klemmer has 75 and Massey 64. Massey also has three interceptions and four fumble recoveries.

“Reed was our strong safety and we moved him to middle linebacker a few games into this season because we weren't stopping the run at all,” Cerro said. “We're still not great against the run, but we're better than we were.”

And they're winning.

The Spartans carry a six-game winning streak into this game. Their last loss was a 27-16 decision to Central Valley in Week 6 of the regular season. Their other loss was 22-19 to Hopewell in Week 2.

Montour reached this game by defeating defending Triple-A champion Central Valley 21-14 last week, stopping its opponent on the 1-yard line to end the game.

“Believe me, we feel fortunate we're still playing,” Cerro said. “Class AAA is the deepest it's been for as long as I can remember.

“Knoch is playing with a lot of emotion and they are very physical. That defense flies to the ball ... The way they shut down Franklin Regional last week was very, very impressive.

“Honestly, I can't get a feel for this game. I have no idea how it's gonna go,” Cerro asdded.

Montour is plus 13 in turnover-takeaway margin this year, forcing 26 turnovers. Wilson has four interceptions, Massey, Reed and Sherrod Naylor three each.

Placekicker Nathan Dearth has connected for three field goals on the year.

“We have experience at Heinz Field and that may help us,” Cerro said. “There's different rules you have to follow there, you stretch out in the hallway, you don't get much field time. Pre-game preparation is a lot different.

“Maybe that will play to our advantage. We'll see.”

A Knoch preview will appear in Friday's edition