CRANBERRY TWP — Middle linebacker Luke Harris called it “the best decision of my life so far.”

Left guard Matt Altsman is grateful for “the brotherhood.”

Quarterback Dom Pieto said everybody “just grows together.”

The trio of Cranberry Township residents were talking about their football careers at Central Catholic. All three were seniors on the Vikings team that won the WPIAL Class 6A championship this season.

Central's season ended at 12-2 Saturday with a 31-24 overtime loss to St. Joseph Prep in the PIAA semifinal round.

“It was strange when I first went (to Central) as a freshman. You feel nervous because you don't know anyone,” Pieto said. “Then the football players practice together every day and you just evolve together.

“Even after we lost such a tough game Saturday, we realized we're still a big family. We were able to joke around and enjoy the bus ride home.”

Pieto, Altsman and Harris were football teammates since age 7. Altsman and Harris were teammates on Seneca Valley youth teams that lost the Super Bowl game in consecutive years.

Altsman was a three-year starter at guard for Central. Pieto and Harris were two-year starters.

The Vikings finished 10-3 in 2017 — their sophomore season — and lost to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL championship game. They finished 7-4 last season before nipping Pine-Richland 10-7 in the WPIAL finals this year.

“This was a great way to go out, winning the WPIAL in our last year together,” Altsman said.

Their first couple of years at Central, their mothers took turns driving the trio to school and home from practice. They developed their own transportation after that.

“Matt was such a physical kid,” Central coach Terry Totten said. “He's a high-character person who just gave everything he had day after day.

“He was one of our captains (along with Harris) and was an anchor on our offensive line.”

That line enabled Central to rush more than 3,000 yards this season.

Harris was middle linebacker for a defense that did not allow more than 14 points to any opponent until the PIAA playoffs.

“Luke is an old-school middle linebacker,” Totten said. “He ranges from sideline to sideline and squares up tackles. That kid is a tackling machine.”

Pieto threw for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was intercepted only three times and ran for six scores.

“Dom has an extremely live arm,” Totten said. “His leadership skills are outstanding and he decided to let it loose this year. The results were fantastic.”

When players arrive at Central Catholic, “it doesn't take them long to realize they're in a special place. They learn the tradition set before them and they want to live up to it,” the coach added.

Harris echoed those sentiments.

“In the football locker room, there's pictures of Dan Marino and Marc Bulger and others,” he said. “You learn quickly that there's so many people who want to help you succeed.

“The coaches will talk to you about school, football and life. The teachers want you to succeed. The environment is incredible.”

Harris has football scholarship offers from Rhode Island and Valparaiso. Altsman is considering offers from San Diego, Valparaiso and Howard. Both plan on playing football in college.

Pieto has committed to playing baseball for Long Island University.

All three are honor students at Central.

“The brotherhood is something we'll share forever here,” Altsman said.

They actually share it wherever they go.

“I walked into a Giant Eagle wearing a Central Catholic hoodie and an older gentleman stopped me and we talked,” Pieto said. “He was a Central graduate from 1953. That was awesome. There is so much pride in that school.”