In a monumental shift, the Windber athletic department bids farewell to its long-time WestPAC home and embraces a new journey in the Inter-County Conference for the 2023 season. This transformation brought about an electrifying start on the football field, led by an emerging star in our midst.
Meet Luke Hostetler, the running back who seized his opportunity to shine, setting the gridiron ablaze with an astounding 326 rushing yards on 22 carries, punctuated by four remarkable touchdowns. The Ramblers delivered a resounding 51-6 victory over Glendale in an unforgettable Friday night clash at Windber Stadium.
Coach Matt Grohal praised Hostetler's outstanding performance, saying, "We know how good he is. He could've been our feature back last year, but he was just one of those guys who had to wait his turn. Back to his freshman year, he got a lot of meaningful reps in big games. This atmosphere is not too big for him." Windber's offensive onslaught wasted no time, with Tanner Barkley's first-play pass to Evan Brady for a 28-yard gain, setting up Barkley's subsequent 5-yard keeper for the opening score.
From there, it was the Luke Hostetler show, as he sprinted 79 yards to another touchdown, propelling Windber to a 14-0 lead. Hostetler expressed gratitude for his teammates, saying, "It was an honor to back up John Shuster, but I give it all to the guys up front. They did a helluva job tonight."
As the first half drew to a close, Barkley and Brady connected once more, this time on a jump pass, extending Windber's lead to 30-0.
Bryson Costa, showcasing his kicking prowess, delivered all but one kick as touchbacks and added a spectacular 41-yard field goal to his repertoire.
The only touchback Windber missed turned into a Glendale highlight as Connor Potutschnig returned it 97 yards for a touchdown.
Defensively, the Ramblers maintained their dominance, stifling the Vikings' offense and capitalizing on turnovers. Windber's revamped defensive lineup showcased their potential, holding the opposition to just 70 total yards and three first downs.Coach Grohal praised the new starters, stating, "We think we have the pieces, we just got to find the right puzzle to put them together with. Coach Tallion had them flying around. Overall, it's a good win to start the new conference."
Glendale's Coach Dave Trexler acknowledged Windber's disciplined style of play, saying, "Once you make mistakes, they capitalize, and they just magnify them." Windber's offensive onslaught amassed a total of 460 yards, with an impressive 392 yards gained on the ground from 39 carries. The Ramblers are now gearing up for their next conference battle on the road against Curwensville, aiming to secure their second conference win.
