PT’s defense scores another shutout
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Nick McCullough (No. 24) stretches for the end zone for a touchdown despite the defensive efforts of Ezra Heidenreich (No. 10) during Peters Township’s victory against Mt. Lebanon.
After making a reception, Nate Miller (2) of Peters Township is stopped shy of the goal line by Timmy Jenkins (8) Vinny Sarcone scored on the ensuing play to give the Indians a 27-0 halftime lead against Mt. Lebanon
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Eliot Schratz had an interception in the first half of action during Peters Township’s victory over Mt. Lebanon.
Nick McCullough (No. 24) is off to the races for a touchdown after beating Mt. Lebanon defenders Grayson Beck (16) and Ezra Heidenreich. McCullough scored twice in the first half to stake Peters Township to a 27-0 lead against Mt. Lebanon.
Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac
Vinny Sarcone (No. 7) goes airborne to score Peters Township's first touchdown of the game against Mt. Lebanon.
Nick McCullough (No. 24) is off to the races for a touchdown after beating Mt. Lebanon defender Grayson Beck (No. 16). The score was one in the first half as Peters Township staked a 27-0 lead against Mt. Lebanon.
MT. LEBANON – It is considered a good night’s work for the defense if they limit the opposition to less than 150 yards of offense and one touchdown.
The Peters Township defense however, is setting new standards in not only the area but across the entire WPIAL.
Not only did the Indians pitch yet another shutout Friday night at Mt. Lebanon, they allowed a grand total of 10 yards of total offense.
Ten.
That’s 30 feet that the short-handed Mt. Lebanon (1-3, 4-4) offense gained in the Indians’ 42-0 whitewashing
Four times the Indians have shut out the opposition this season as they’ve outscored their foes 314-27.
“They’re a good program, but they’re pretty banged up right now,” Peters Township coach TJ Plack noted. “They were missing a bunch of starters tonight. But regardless, we worked hard all week to prepare. They take great pride on that side of the ball for sure.”
Mt. Lebanon had one first down on their first possession of the game and garnered another one via an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty following a third-down pass incompletion.
“Our coaches, the game planning is unbelievable, the work we put in, watching film, just they hours they put in,” defensive lineman Jake Velgich said. “They give us the answers before we take the test. We’re always ready.”
Velgich was part of a defense that pressured quarterbacks Pat Smith and Andrew Hyland all night, sacking them three times and pillaging the backfield all night long.
Reston Lehman put some points on the scoreboard for the defense when he intercepted a Hyland pass towards the end of the first half and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown to push the Indians lead to 35-0 at halftime.
While the defense imposed its will, the Indians offense got in gear early and never looked back.
Nolan DiLucia played only the first half, but in 24 minutes of work, the signal-caller completed 15 of 19 throws for 269 yards and two scores.
Nick McCullough was the recipient of the two tallies as he gathered in scoring passes of 69 and 44 yards in the first half.
“This week we got back to what we were earlier this year,” Plack added. “He (DiLucia) did a real nice job spreading the ball around, understanding what they were trying to do on defense and take advantage of it.”
DiLucia also benefited from tremendous protection all night long.
“We’ve been very consistent with that,” Plack said. “Our running backs do a nice job picking up blitzes and our line does a great job identifying pressures.”
Vinny Sarcone added two 1 yard scoring plunges in the opening half.
Chris Cibrone came on in the second half and capped the scoring with an 18 yard touchdown pass to Dominic Sirianni.
But the story of the evening was a defense that simply refuses to yield under any circumstance.
“We like to stay consistent, we never take our foot off the gas and we always just try to finish the job and we never let up throughout the whole game,” Velgich said.
Peters Township (4-0, 8-0) will have another job ahead of them as they take on neighborhood rival Canon-McMillan in a home non-conference game.
Notes
Peters Township linebacker/tight end Mickey Vaccarello, who currently holds an offer from Boston College, received an offer this week from Syracuse.