Foxes’ football head coach Tom Loughran has a tradition of having his players swim during Saturday morning practices before they do a light workout in the weight room. It’s something he started years ago when he coached at South Park High School saying, “It gets the kinks out after a game, and the boys enjoy it because it relaxes their muscles.”
Lately, the squad might need a little more time to unwind after playing some seriously rigorous games – games that resulted in four straight wins thus far in October, the most consecutive victories the program has enjoyed since 1997.
The season-defining victories started in week six when the team beat Moon Area High School, 47-27, then Hampton High School, 41-7, and Baldwin High School, 35-14. At homecoming on October 21, the squad had their most lopsided win of the year so far, outscoring Chartiers Valley High School 51-12. Besides the string of wins, the school’s records do not go back far enough to find the last time the Foxes put up that many points in one game.
“We started off the year 0-5, but we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves,” says Coach Loughran. “During the first stretch of the season, we played reasonably well against some of the best schools in the WPIAL. We just didn’t play well enough to win. We got over the hump by doing a better job at staying with the plan and not hurting ourselves with the kind of penalties and mistakes that can kill your game. We’re in the second year of our program now and have a better understanding of our offense, defense, and special teams, and I think our players have a better understanding of their roles as individuals and as a team.”
The turnaround may be due to more than that. An astute coaching staff made some shrewd, yet tough adjustments midseason, and in one week, it was hard to recognize them as the same team.
Two players, neither of them starters at the beginning of the season, have emerged as leaders in an offensive boom unlike anything the school has enjoyed for decades. Both players top the leader board in rushing in the Allegheny Nine Conference and are considered two of the top rushers in the WPIAL.
In just the past four weeks alone, junior quarterback Nick Gizzo rushed for 599 yards and 11 touchdowns, and junior Micah Morris had 770 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. For the year, Nick has 14 touchdowns and is averaging 98 yards rushing per game, while Micah has a total of 10 touchdowns so far and averages 123 yards each week.
Even though the team lost its first five games, Micah, who is in his rookie year as a running back, wracked up enough yardage to become the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly two decades, maybe longer. He had played on the defensive line for the past two seasons, but wanted to have a shot at a new position. “I thought I could be a good running back because I have good field vision, but I didn’t ever imagine rushing for over 1,000 yards,” he says.
Nick, previously a back-up quarterback who also played on special teams and defense, potentially can join Micah in the 1,000-yard club in the final matchup of the season. That game will be played this Friday, October 28, on home territory against Plum Senior High School.
Yet the evolution to a brilliant offensive ground attack would not have been possible without a strong, productive front line, and Micah is well aware of the role the other players have on his success. He is beyond grateful when saying, “The whole line and our tight ends have been a huge factor. I thank them everyday for what they do for the team and for me.”
The front line includes seniors Jack Feczko, Ron Tran, and Houruiyang Zong, and juniors Jesse Cohen and Riley Michael. “Our line is very intelligent and works well together,” remarks Coach Loughran. “They click as a group and have done a great job for us.”
Seniors Jack Brown, Gary Davis, Sincere Plummer, and Conner Romango, and juniors Luke Brown and Brayden Thomas make up the backbone of the defense. Jack leads the team in tackles and tackles for a loss and is tied for most sacks with his brother, Luke. Sincere leads the team in forced fumbles and is tied with Conner for interceptions. Others who have contributed to the effort are senior Al Patsko and junior Adam Woo.
“The defense has been doing a better job against the score and that helps you from a team perspective because you’re not always playing from behind,” states Coach Loughran.
“We always knew what we were capable of, it was just a matter of doing it,” says Jack Brown, a team captain who admits it’s been nice hearing his classmates congratulate him on their recent success
“I’m thrilled for the players and the coaches,” remarks Michael O’Brien, director of athletics. “The boys are finally starting to gain confidence and there’s been a shift in how they play. They now are playing to win as opposed to playing so they won’t lose.”
For the players, coaches, and fans, the fast-approaching season finale is a bit melancholy. The comeback team missed the playoffs, but to have been in contention at all is a huge achievement. They have a chance to end with a 5-5 season, but even if they finish 4-6, no one would consider this year anything but a success. These young men are winners who never give up, even when facing adversity, and are quick to give their talented coaching staff enormous credit for drawing out the best in them.
“This whole season is all about us coming together and working as a team to reach our ultimate goal,” Micah adds. “Coach Loughran and his staff have made us competitors.”
“This is a really special coaching staff,” says Jack Feczko. “They are improving us as players and people.”