O-R Athlete of the Week: Nick McCullough, Peters Township
Name: Nick McCullough
School: Peters Township
Class: Senior
Sport: Football
McCullough’s week: The Indians’ wide receiver and cornerback went from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in 13 seconds of game time last Friday in the WPIAL Class 5A semifinals against Upper St. Clair at Bethel Park.
McCullough had a pass bounce off his chest that was intercepted and led to a 28-yard field goal by USC’s Jacobo Echeverria for a 3-0 lead with 22 seconds left in the second quarter.
McCullough, however, took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to the end zone for a score and Peters Township took a 7-3 advantage that would end up being the final score. McCullough saw an alley on the right side of the field and sprinted past the Upper St. Clair kickoff team.
Before crossing the goal line, McCullough ran along the plane to bleed the clock before scoring with three seconds left before halftime.
“I had caused an interception that led to them scoring so I had to redeem myself,” McCullough said. “There wasn’t a lot going on for us in that game until I made that play. We knew it was going to be a tough, defensive-minded game, so it was important to get a big play from special teams.”
McCullough said the one frustration with returning kicks is that most teams direct that ball away from him.
“I know that’s a sign that they respect my abilities as a kick returner, but it can get annoying at times,” McCullough said.
PT plays Pine-Richland on Saturday at Acrisure Stadium for the WPIAL Class 5A championship. The Indians defeated the Rams, 43-17, for the district title last season.
Like father, like son: McCullough’s father, Gary, returned a kickoff for a touchdown during his playing days at Peters Township. The game was also at Bethel Park, and in relatively the same spot.
Gary McCullough is the defensive backs coach for the Indians.
“It is pretty neat to score a touchdown on a kickoff return at the same place my dad did,” Nick McCullough said.
Gary McCullough played defensive back for Kent State.
Nick McCullough hasn’t made a decision on what school he would like to attend, but he wants to continue to play football and study business.
Hoop dreams: McCullough plays guard for the Indians’ boys basketball team. Practice has already started and Peters Township’s first game is scheduled for Dec. 3, but McCullough doesn’t want to think about trading in his shoulder pads and helmet for shorts and basketball shoes until after Dec. 6, which is the date of the PIAA Class 5A football championship game.
“Basketball is great and it used to be my first love, but when I returned my first kickoff for a touchdown when I was in fifth grade, I fell in love with football,” McCullough said. “I am definitely looking forward to the basketball season, and I think we can do well, but I want to get as far as we can in football.”
Compiled by Jonathan Guth