PT flexes defensive muscle against McKeesport
By Dave Whipkey
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
McMURRAY – Peters Township knew another slow start this week could cost them the ballgame.
The Indians were punched in the face last week in Canonsburg as Canon-McMillan rolled out to a 17-0 second-quarter lead. No harm no foul as the Indians went on to score 42 unanswered on their way to victory.
This week presented a different challenge as Class 4A power McKeesport came calling to Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
Fair to say McKeesport had the Indians’ attention as Peters Township scored first and never looked back in a 42-7 win Friday evening.
McKeesport’s vaunted flexbone offense featured a 1,200-plus-yard rusher in 2023 in Anthony Boyd and Penn State commit Kemon Spell. The Indians (2-0) however held the attack to 52 yards total rushing in the win.
“This maybe the first time they’ve seen a defense like ours,” Peters Township coach TJ Plack said. “They’re used to scheming up against different defenses than ours. Our guys just having their eyes right and seeing the play.”
The Indians defense was again the star, forcing four turnovers and never allowing the Tigers’ flexbone to get going all night long.
Reston Lehman got the Indians engaged early when he scooped up a Boyd fumble midway through the first quarter near midfield and returned it to the Tigers 39.
Peters Township rode their rushing attack to their first score as they drove those 39 yards to paydirt. Nick Courie sealed the march with a one-yard dive into the end zone, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead with two minutes left in the frame.
After forcing a McKeesport punt, DiLucia marshaled the offense on an 11 play, 86 yard drive for the second score of the game. His 7 yard run capped the drive which featured the signal caller completing all five of his throws during the march. Anthony Maiello’s kick was true and Peters Township led 14-0 with a little less than eight minutes remaining in the half.
The Tigers seemed to snatch momentum midway through the third when Spell recovered a Courie fumble on the Peters Township 31. But McKeesport’s offense gave it right back when Keenan Doran recovered a Brady Eastman fumble near midfield three plays later, putting the Indians back in business.
DiLucia cashed in when he found Nick McCullough for a 35-yard touchdown pass and a 21-0 lead. Lehman then struck again when he intercepted Eastman on the next play from scrimmage. A personal foul penalty put the Indians on the McKeesport 36.
DiLucia finished with 157 yards passing and 77 yards rushing. Cole Neupaver added 111 yards rushing on 18 carries. Both were the beneficiaries of a strong performance by the offensive line.
“Our O-line did amazing tonight,” DiLucia said. “Whether or it was in the run game or the passing game, they were great. I have to credit to them and the running backs for hitting the holes hard.”
Courie scored his second touchdown, this one a 2 yard run with 4:30 remaining in the third to push the Indians lead to 28-0.
Neupaver sent the contest into a continuous running clock when he scored from three yards to push the Indians advantage to 35-0 at the 9:26 mark of the final frame.
Peters Township recovered a Boyd fumble on McKeesport’s next possession on the McKeesport 45. The Indians appeared poised to score again when Mark Ripepi sprung free for a long run, but he was hit hard by McKeesport’s Javien Robinson who recovered the ball and raced 77 yards to the end zone, cutting the Indians lead to 28 points with 6:40 left in the game.
The Indians did push the final margin out to 35 points when Ian Watson scooped up a McKeesport fumble and rolled 20 yards to pay dirt with less than three minutes remaining adding insult to injury for the Tigers.