Defense points way as PT returns to championship game
Indians sack USC quarterbacks 10 times
By Dave Whipkey
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG – The matchup of Allegheny Six Conference neighbors Upper St. Clair and Peters Township has produced several memorable contests in recent years, both in the regular and postseason.
Friday night’s edition of the rivalry held high stakes as the winner at AHN Field punched their ticket to Acrisure Stadium in the Class 5A championship Game.
After starting slowly, Peters Township (12-0) got its game in gear and pulled away from their rivals for a 31-6 victory. It was the second win this year for Peters Township over USC as they held off the Panthers 24-20 at home in September.
It will be the third consecutive trip to the Class 5A finals for the Indians. Upper St. Clair sees its season end at 10-2.
This contest lacked the drama of the last couple matchups, but it did not take away from the Indians dominance as they turned in a complete performance.
Cole Neupaver was the catalyst on offense, churning out 143 yards on 23 carries with two scores. Pitt recruit Reston Lehman was a wrecking ball, hauling in four passes for 109 yards and a score. He also chipped in three sacks on defense.
Gabe Kita also notched three sacks for the Indians as they sacked USC quarterbacks an astounding 10 times.
The game was somewhat marred by Panther quarterback Ethan Hellman’s injury midway through the third quarter when he was tackled on a scramble. Sophomore Josh Snyder came on for the injured signal caller.
Snyder did spark the USC offense when he completed passes of 22 and 29 yards to Nico D’Orazio and Bryce Jones that put the Panthers inside the Indians’ 10. But the Peters Township defense held firm and limited USC to a 21-yard field goal by Jacobo Lozano that sliced the Indians lead to 14-6 early in the fourth.
But Peters Township showed its championship mettle when threatened. The Indians leaned on the likes of quarterback Nolan DiLucia, who found Lehman for a 55-yard catch and run that set up the Indians to answer. Neupaver took it home the rest of the way when he scored from 22 yards to push the Indians lead to 21-6 with 10:39 left.
Lucas Rost then got into the action when he intercepted a Snyder throw near midfield to squash the Panthers next possession, effectively ending the competitive phase of the ball game.
Peters Township then went to work on the clock and ground their way down to the Panthers’ six, where the drive stalled. Anthony Maiello came on to kick a 23-yard field goal at the 4:47 mark of the fourth, ballooning the Indians’ lead to 24-6.
The defense forced a turnover on downs deep in Panthers real estate, which set up Mark Ripepi’s three-yard score with 3:05 to go, making it 31-6..
The game had as much flow as a still pond in the first quarter as the squads exchanged multiple three-and-out possessions as both defenses flexed considerable muscle.
Upper St. Clair earned a 3-0 lead thanks to a 45 yard drive that stalled out on the Indians nine-yard line. Lozano knocked home the short field goal to give the Panthers the lead with 2:53 left in the opening frame.
After a sluggish first quarter that saw Peters Township gain a meager 34 yards in total offense, the Indians were able to kick start their attack by moving 80 yards on their opening possession of the second quarter. DiLucia completed his first pass of the ballgame when he found PJ Luke for a 41 yard gain that put the Indians in range. Cole Neupaver capped the march when he slashed in from the seven, Anthony Maiello’s extra point gave Peters Township a 7-3 lead midway through the second quarter.
Peters Township extended the lead to 11 points thanks to some help from the defense. James Spratt recovered an Ethan Hellman fumble that was forced by Lehman on the Panthers 35 with 4:30 to go before half. It looks as if the Panthers defense would force a turnover on downs as they put the Indians in a fourth and 7 situation. But DiLucia found Lehman for 24 yards and a first down to the Upper St. Clair 7. Two plays later, DiLucia hit Lehman in the end zone from 5 yards out, to give the Indians a 14-3 lead they carried into the halftime locker room.
The Indians defense was in charge much of the first half as they sacked Hellman six times in the first 24 minutes of the game. Lehman, a Pitt recruit notched three of them. While Stanford recruit Lucas Shanafelt, Kita and Keenan Doran each bagged a sack.