Neupaver scores 5 TDs as Indians stay unbeaten

1 / 5

Jeremy Poletti (1) of Peters Township attempts to shake off a Bethel Park tackler after making a reception. 

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

2 / 5

Nolan DiLucia makes his move downfield after eluding Bethel Park linemen during WPIAL Class 5A playoff action. 

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

3 / 5

Gabe Kitka sacks quarterback Evan Devine during Peters Township's victory over Bethel Park.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

4 / 5

Reston Lehman (14) of Peters Township celebrates after making a sack during WPIAL Class 5A playoff action. 

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

5 / 5

Cole Neupaver makes his move to the end zone after making a reception during first-half action in the WPIAL Class 5A playoff game. Neupaver scored the tying touchdown before the first half ended. 

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

[expand]

close

McMURRAY – Running back Cole Neupaver scored five touchdowns, including a go-ahead score in the third quarter, as second-seeded Peters Township overcame a deficit and beat Bethel Park 42-14 in a Class 5A quarterfinal game Friday night.

Neupaver scored on runs of 1, 1, 4 and 8 yards and also caught a key TD pass.

Peters Township (11-0) beat Bethel Park 35-0 in the regular-season finale two weeks ago but this time the Indians trailed 14-7 late in the first half. PT tied the score at 14-14 on a seven-yard pass from quarterback Nolan DiLucia to Neupaver with only 11 seconds left before halftime.

PT took that momentum into the second half and forged a 21-14 lead when Neupaver scored on a one-yard run midway through the third quarter.

The Indians’ lead went to 28-14 four seconds into the fourth quarter when Neupaver scored for the fourth time, this time from four yards.

After Neupaver scored for the fifth time, DiLucia scampered 13 yards to the end zone to close the scoring.

Neupaver scored his first touchdown of the night on a one-yard plunge in the opening quarter to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.

Bethel Park (7-5) answered two touchdowns in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead. David Dennison’s three-yard TD run tied the score, and a long TD pass by Evan Devine put the Black Hawks in the lead with only 1:13 remaining in the half.