Aug 26, 2016 4 min read

McMURRAY – At all levels of football, turnovers often tell the story.

Chartiers Valley and Peters Township had problems hanging on to the football during Friday night’s nonconference opener at Peters Township High School.

The football was tossed around like a hot potato, fitting for such a steamy August night.

Peters Township gave the ball to the Colts six times. However, Chartiers Valley was nearly as charitable, coughing the ball up four times.

Somehow, Peters Township came away with a 21-13 victory, giving TJ Plack his first victory as head coach there.

“We were worried about a lot of moving parts,” Plack said. “Special teams, substitutions, it was just being new to this, not having that second scrimmage. I expected to have a couple turnovers. Just not that many.”

The Indians, were paced on offense by TJ Kpan’s 88 yards rushing and two scores. Just as important was the play of the Peters Township defense that was regularly torched in 2015.

Drew Blon had an interception and fumble recovery and defensive end Al Calfo notched five of the defense’s eight quarterback sacks.

“He’s a program player and an animal in the weight room.” Plack said of Calfo. “We liked what we saw on film when we came here and saw he is a heck of a football player.”

Calfo sacked Colts quarterback Reed Bruggeman twice on the game’s final three snaps.

Senior Alan Snyder, who had a rough first half with two special teams gaffes, got the Indians rolling in the third quarter when he gathered in Jake Cortes’ third-and-10 pass and turned it into a 47-yard gain to the Colts 15. Three plays later, Kpan scored from nine yards out, giving PT a 21-13 advantage they would not relinquish.

The teams exchanged fumbles on consecutive possessions following Kpan’s score. Collin Eger recorded his second fumble recovery near midfield after a muffed punt. But Chartiers Valley gave the ball back two plays later when Bruggeman’s pitch went awry and was recovered by Blon.

Peters Township appeared poised to put the game away midway through the third quarter, but the Colts defense stood firm deep in its own end. Anthony Onomastico recovered a Kpan fumble on the Chartiers Valley 21.

A wild first half saw each team turn the ball over twice. Each giveaway led to a score.

The Indians made the game’s first tide-turning play when linebacker Blon intercepted a Bruggerman pass and returned it 76 yards for a Peters Township score. Reagon Lawlor’s kick was good, giving the Indians a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Peters Township’s defense, which permitted nearly 34 points per game in 2015, made its presence felt again when RJ Williams pounced on a Steve Alauzen fumble near midfield. Two plays later, Kpan rumbled 20 yards through the Colts defense for a score and 14-0 lead.

But Plack knew this game had a long ways to go before he could celebrate a victory.

“Some of the guys thought it was over at 14-0,” Plack added. “If I had to write a book about the history of Peters Township football, it is that we get too high sometimes. That is something we need to correct.”

Chartiers Valley’s special teams retrieved what the offense lost midway through the second quarter. Indians’ safety/kick returner Alan Snyder muffed Anthony Onomastico’s punt. The ball was alertly recovered by Bret Hicks, giving the Colts prime field position at the Indians’ 43. Bruggerman found Alauzen for a 43 yard pitch-and-catch touchdown play. The point after kick failed, leaving the Colts deficit at 14-6.

The Colts coverage units struck again on the ensuing kick off when Snyder misplayed the ball a second time. Eger fell on the ball at the Peters Township 23. Connor Barrett capped the short drive when he plowed into the end zone from three yards out. Zach Thomas’ kick was good, slicing the Indians lead to one near the end of the half.

Though the Indians held a slim lead, it was Chartiers Valley that for the most part dominated first half play, running 33 offensive plays to 14 for Peters Township. But the Colts could draw no closer in the second half thanks to the solid play of the Indians’ defense.

“Before we came out for the second half, I told the kids that turnovers would be the difference,” Plack said. “I lied, I guess. But it was almost the difference here.”