Peters Township hopes differences yield similar results
Luke Petrarca (right) works on his blocking techniques during a pre-season football camp workout. A 6-4, 210-pound linebacker, Petrarca is expected to be one of Peters Township's top tacklers on defense this fall.
Peters Township linemen Luke Cortes, Jake Velgich, Adam Velgich, Joe Orsi and Trey Jones work on their foot skills under the watchful eye of assistant coach Darrin McMillon.
Peters Township head football coach T.J. Plack (center) discusses strategy with his assistant coaches (from left) Steve Macri, Darrin McMillon and Troy Grunseth during a pre-season training camp session.
Peters Township football coach T.J. Plack (center) and his assistant coaches (from left) Steve Macri, Darrin McMillon and Troy Grunseth during a pre-season training camp session. watch players practice during football camp.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tanner Pfeuffer throws a pass during a quarterback drill while quarterback Chris Cibrone, left, running back Rich Woods, center, await their turn to participate in the action.
By Eleanor Bailey
Almanac Sports Editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
McMURRAY – Peters Township has been the WPIAL Class 5A runner-up the past two seasons and conference champions for the last three years. Though the Indians lost 15 seniors, including two all-state and NCAA Division I commits, from last fall’s 8-1 club, there is no reason to think they won’t still be on top of the heap when the 2021 campaign culminates in November.
“There is a trust in each other and within the program that allows us to get better and develop into a quality team,” said PT coach T.J. Plack. “This year, we will have a different identity with different parts and a different way of getting there.”
Instead of relying upon Corban Hondru, who is now at Miami University of Ohio, and Donovan McMillon, who is at Florida, the Indians will depend upon a variety of players.
Hondru played every skill position on offense, including tight end and quarterback, and excelled as a punter with a 35.7-yard average. He also started four years at linebacker as the Indians mounted a 37-10 record during his tenure. He racked up 234 tackles and 26 sacks.
A defensive back, McMillon led the Indians in tackles last season with 57. He also averaged 33.2 yards per return on special teams and returned one kickoff for a 96-yard touchdown. He also ranked second on offense with 17 receptions for 301 yards and three TDs.
“Dynamite players like Hondru and Donovan don’t walk through the door every day,” said Plack. “There’s no replacing them. You do it with a couple different guys doing different things.
“We’ll probably use six guys. We need a guy who can block like Corban, run routes like him, direct on defense. Donnie was on the field all the time, too. So it’s going to take a lot of skill guys but we have depth at the skill positions.”
Sam Miller may be the Indians’ most critical skilled performer. A returning starter at cornerback, he fills the void at quarterback caused by the graduation of Logan Pfeuffer.
A Grove City College freshman, Pfeuffer finished his career as the school’s all-time passing leader. Last year, he completed 99 of 148 passes for 1,254 yards and nine touchdowns.
“We do have big shoes to fill because Logan was a three-year starter and its hard to get that kind of magic out of the gate,” Plack said. “So we plan to keep things simple until we find the guys who can make the plays on the outside and see how Sam grows and see what he likes.
“Sam has a nice arm and the ability to run the ball. Plus, he has game experience. He got to play with the lights on as a starter at cornerback.”
Jacob Macosko will be PT’s go-to receiver along with tight end Luke Petrarca. Both are two-way returning starters.
On defense, Macosko shines at safety while Petrarca excels at outside linebacker.
After a good year on the scout team, Bryce Thompson is prepared to be a “dynamic” receiver, says Plack, along with a bunch of other guys who “look alike, are about 6-2 with above-average speed.”
Nico Pate ran the ball well enough last season to be PT’s leading rusher. Pate gained 200-plus yards against West Allegheny. He will be in the backfield with senior Ethan Kirsch, who starts at middle linebacker on defense, and junior Rich Woods, who shows a lot of promise.
The line is PT’s biggest concern as it graduated seasoned veterans like Austin McKinnon, Ethan Spangenberg, David Dicio and Dylan Wente.
Anthony Brunette and Dante Lahet are expected to anchor the lines. Brunette started at center while Lahet is a three-year veteran on the defensive side. The two will play both ways.
“We are starting over with developing our line,” said Plack. “We need to find other guys because the offensive line determines how the offense goes. But we do have guys who have waited their turn playing behind some good players. As for the way our defense is structured, we’ve used smaller, quicker linemen and we’ll be able to roll people in there.”
At linebacker, while Petrarca and Pate are expected to control the outside along with Mason Mehl and Pat McDonnell, Kirsch has “big shoes” to fill because of the vacancy of Hondru on the inside.
“We have faith in him,” Plack said. “He had an exceptional JV season and played a key role on special teams for us last year. He loves the weight room and he’s become a quiet leader.”
PT’s defense, which allowed 10.9 points per game, will mimic last year’s schemes, including in the secondary that will feature Thompson, Carter Shanafelt and Brendan McCullough on the corners and Mehl, McDonald and possibly Miller in the safety slot vacated by McMillon.
“We know Macosko will be one but who the other will be? We’ve not found him yet because there is nobody like Donovan, but we do have guys who can fill the position,” Plack said.
The Indians again fill the placekicking spot with Andrew Massucci. He led the Indians in scoring with 33 points. The WPIAL’s Quad-A soccer player of the year kicked three field goals and converted 18 extra points, including the game-winner against Gateway.
The Indians, like all of their Allegheny Six opponents, start the season with five nonconference games. That’s a bonus for a young club such as Peters Township.
“This year’s nonconference games are so beneficial because we are so young and still learning and growing as a team,” said Plack.
“We need to come together. We had good leaders the last few years and these guys are coming along. We are excited to see who steps out of their shell and takes on that leadership role.
“Our goals are small-minded. We all want to win the conference but in the short term we want to put ourselves in a position to play for that championship. The only way to do that, and I know it’s a cliche, is to go 1-0 and improve every week.
“We do that, then we are going to have an exciting season,” Plack predicted. “We are going to get better and better until we are hitting on all cylinders.”