Aug 23, 2025 By Rob Burchianti 4 min read

Connellsville was playing a solid game at Latrobe Friday night but needed a little something extra to put it over the top.

Linkon Keller added the spark that lit a late explosion to propel the Falcons to a rousing 28-13 victory in the Week Zero clash at Memorial Stadium.

Keller scored Connellsville’s last three touchdowns in three different ways as the Falcons avenged last year’s 41-0 loss to the Wildcats while also ending a nine-game losing streak to Latrobe.

“I told the team as a whole, that was a complete team win with a little bit of extra Linkon spread throughout,” said Jace McLean, who is part of Connellsville’s three-man head coaching group along with Mick Lilley and Chad Lembo.

The game was tied 7-7 when Cash Achhammer put the Wildcats ahead 13-7 with a 31-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter although the extra point was missed.

The situation got bleaker for Connellsville after its next possession resulted in a lost fumble.

That’s when Keller took center stage.

The Falcons junior made a stunning, game-changing play with a 55-yard interception return for a touchdown and Hunter Brown’s extra point put the visitors ahead 14-13 with 2:15 remaining in the quarter.

With the tables suddenly turned, Connellsville took full advantage and kept the momentum going its way.

Keller scored on an 18-yard run early in the fourth quarter and Brown’s extra point made it 21-13.

Protecting a one-score lead, the Falcons defense then stepped up and forced Latrobe to punt.

Keller then delivered the victory-sealing blow, returning the punt 72 yards for a touchdown with 8:21 left. Brown stayed perfect, kicking through his fourth extra point in as many attempts, to give the Falcons a 15-point lead and the defense made it stand up from there.

“We knew as a staff at the end of last year that he was special,” McLean said of Keller, “but that game showed everyone else of his capabilities.”

McLean felt the start of the game also was key for Connellsville.

The Falcons opened with a time-consuming drive capped by Caden Matthews’ 5-yard touchdown run at 5:05 of the first quarter for a 7-0 advantage.

“Offensively our goal was to start fast and control the ball and we did just that with the first drive,” McLean said. “Took seven minutes off the clock and ended up with seven on the board. Last year we were down 7-0 after the first play of the game. Huge difference this year.”

Latrobe tied the game on AJ Yeboah’s 36-yard touchdown run and Mitchell Horner’s extra point with nine minutes left in the second quarter and the score stayed that way until halftime.

Matthews led a well-balanced Falcons ground game with 68 yards on 16 carries and completed two passes, both to Christian Thomas for 58 yards, in five attempts. Jayden Mickens had 13 carries for 64 yards and Keller ran the ball six times for 47 yards.

After allowing 41 points to the Wildcats in last year’s loss, McLean was pleased to see his defense limit Latrobe to just two scores on Friday.

“Defensively, we wanted to gang tackle and play down hill,” McLean said. “Again, our kids did just what we asked. We gave up two big plays because of some missed tackles, but still bounced back with some huge third and fourth down stops.”

McLean commended his players on their performance.

“Overall, I’m extremely proud of these boys,” McLean said. “We talked all summer long about trusting the process, focusing on their individual jobs. If all that happens, then we would be smiling at the end of the game. And we were all smiling ear to ear.

“Great to see all the hard work and dedicated time pay off, especially against a good Latrobe team.”