PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike McCarthy wasn’t the only homecoming success story on Sunday as the Steelers beat the Falcons 20-13. A number of locals returned home to impact a 1-0 start.
Gateway grab
The first interception of the season, is from a Gateway HS star who signed back home for a one-season, prove-it contract. Possession after Chris Boswell’s field goal cut the Falcons lead to 7-6, safety Jaquan Brisker intercepts Cooper Rush setting the Steelers up at the Falcons 31-yard-line. Four plays later, Steelers took the lead.
“I dreamed of this moment,” Brisker said. “I’m so serious, I didn’t know what team I was going to be on, but literally I had a dream of a pick in the middle of the field. It came today, it’s actually crazy. The crowd went crazy, got the first win of the year, it was amazing.”
“I’m sure he’s going to have that ball, put it in a case and say this is my first interception as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” said Steelers veteran Cam Heyward. “Hopefully he’s got bigger goals in mind and hopefully he can continue to ball the way he is.”
Brisker had a day at training camp where over 100 family members and friends showed up in Latrobe. Now a sold-out Acrisure Stadium for his first game in black and gold.
“It was different,” Brisker said admitting he was emotional while the National Anthem played. “Being in the city, Pittsburgh, being at home, being around family the night before is super-exciting and then for me, not playing in the preseason. Knowing his is my first actual game, it was definitely different.”
Swiss Navy Knife
From star at Mt. Lebanon High School to record-setter at the US Naval Academy through seventh-round pick and making the 53-man roster, Eli Heidenreich was on the field for the very first play of the game. While he didn’t get the first kickoff, he did the next two for a 23.5 yard average.
He said leading into Sunday he would have at least 30 family members at the game, likely had more. Did he take a moment to appreciate the accomplishment?
“Just maybe a second in pregame, once the game actually rolling you are locked in out there, I’m real focused,” Heidenreich said. “Afterwards a little bit, looked at the crowd and took a second.”
Several others returned with Western Pennsylvania ties
- Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio, special teams coordinator Danny Crossman & senior offensive assistant Frank Cignetti were coaches at Pitt
- Defensive backs coach Jason Simmons played with the Steelers for four years
- TE coach Robert Kugler went to North Allegheny HS and his father was a Steelers assistant coach
- Head Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Lovat got his masters at California University of Pennsylvania
1st interception, special teams returner, 7 coaches all from here
1st interception, special teams returner, 7 coaches all from here
