Samogala scores 2 TDs and Trinity’s defense stymies PT
MCMURRAY – The days of Peters Township striking fear in their football opponents appears to be on hiatus, at least for the 2026 campaign.
Though they were a tough out Friday night at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium, the Indians’ lack of offensive flow cost them dearly as Trinity ground out a physical 14-3 win over the young Indians.
“They’ve had out number the last four years,” Trinity coach Dan Knause said. “Was good to come in here and get a win like this.”
Owen Samogala had two rushing scores and kept the Hillers’ offense on schedule all night. Though Jaden Blair had 113 yards rushing, the rest of the Indians’ offense was lacking, which was the host’s undoing.
Peters Township’s offense showed some signs of life on its first second-half possession as it moved from its own 29-yard line to the Trinity 17. From there, Brayden McGee would make a 34-yard field goal to cut the Hillers’ lead to 14-3 at the 7:19 to go in the third. A 20-yard Talen Stauffer completion to Jack Files on fourth-and-6 kept the drive alive.
Trinity appeared poised to put the game away early in the fourth as it ground its way to the Peters Township one-yard line. But the Indians would not budge on fourth-and-1 as they stuffed Owen Gardner short of the goal line, keeping hope alive for the hosts.
Peters Township then went on its longest march of the night, driving from its own one to the Trinity 20. A 38-yard Stauffer to Troy Abbiatici pass was the catalyst of the drive. But a Gardner sack on third down forced a 46-yard field goal attempt that fell short with three minutes to go, leaving the outcome pretty much decided.
“He’s been battling through some things, but he showed up for sure tonight,” Knause said of Gardner.
Trinity’s defense struck the game’s first blow on the Indians’ initial possession of the game when Chase Kostelnik intercepted a Stauffer throw on the Hillers’ 31. Trinity took advantage of the turnover and moved 69 yards to its first score of the game on a Samogala one-yard plunge. Cooper Cincinnati’s kick was good, giving the Hillers a 7-0 lead early in the second stanza.
Both squads waged a defensive slugfest for much of the remainder of the half. Peters Township’s defense did get after Samogala in the second quarter, sacking him three times. But it was the Hillers who stood more firm as they stymied Peters Township much of the evening, allowing them to only cross midfield once more in the half.
Trinity made it 14-0 thanks to complimentary football. Forced to punt from the 45, Cincinnati boomed a punt that was downed by Phil Whitlock on the one-yard line. The Hillers’ defense held strong, forcing punt that gave the ball back to them on the Indians’ 40.
Samogala then took advantage of a blitzing Peters Township defense and scampered 20 yards to the end zone with 43 seconds to go in the half.
Peters Township appeared to get a big play when Allen Kubina took the ensuing kick back 95 yards for an apparent score. But it was nullified by a holding penalty.