DiLucia’s 3 TD passes spark PT over Canon-Mac
By Dave Whipkey
For The Observer-Reporter
McMURRAY – The public address system blared the Bruce Springsteen classic “Glory Days” as the 1975 edition of the Peters Township football team was honored and recognized before Friday night’s Week Zero contest between the host Indians and rival Canon-McMillan at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
That Indians squad finished with a 9-0 record and a Black Hills Conference title. The current squad, however, is in the throes of enjoying a new golden era of Peters Township football as it attempts to reach a third consecutive WPIAL championship game in 2025.
The Indians didn’t disappoint the home crowd as they dispatched the Big Macs 42-14 in a performance that was as complete as a season-opening contest would dictate.
“I really think our kids rose to it tonight,” Peters Township coach TJ Plack said. “It was a program win.”
Villanova recruit Nolan DiLucia completed 14 of 18 passes for 250 yards and three scores.
Cole Neupaver paced the Indians’ ground attack with 100 yards on 17 carries.
“We’re excited about him,” Plack said. “Did a real good job on defense tonight too.”
DiLucia’s second touchdown pass, a 20-yard frozen rope to Lucas Shanafelt, gave the Indians some breathing room as it extended the Indians’ lead to 28-7 with a little more than eight minutes remaining in the third quarter.
“We have four tight ends, they’re all seniors, we’re excited about that,” Plack said. “I really like our tight ends and our offensive line did a nice job against some good people tonight.”
But the Big Macs refused to go away as quarterback Ty Jansma found an open Ethan Campoli for a 54-yard scoring connection, cutting the Peters Township lead in half midway through the third.
Peters Township, however, was relentless as the Indians marched to their fifth score in six possessions. Shanafelt, a Stanford recruit, reeled in his second touchdown catch, this one from 11 yards, pushing the Indians’ advantage to 35-14 late in the third quarter.
Canon-McMillan’s last gasp to stay in the game was squashed when Ryan Blinn was stopped on fourth-and-short on the Peters Township 31-yard line at the nine-minute mark of the final quarter.
Peters Township then put the game to bed with 2:43 to go when Mark Ripepi blasted in from three yards out, pushing the Indians’ advantage to four scores.
It took 11 plays, covering 80 yards, for the Indians to get on the scoreboard as Neupaver burrowed in from the one-yard line, capping a drive that featured a 35-yard toss to Lehman and a seven-yard throw off a botched field-goal attempt to put the ball on the Big Macs’ doorstep. Anthony Maiello knocked home the extra point, putting the hosts up 7-0 10 minutes into the contest.
Peters Township struck again after forcing a Big Macs three-and-out. DiLucia made it 14-0 when he found PJ Luke behind the secondary for a 57-yard scoring strike. DiLucia had ample time behind his veteran offensive line to wait for Luke to clear before launching it downfield.
“Nolan was spot on tonight,” Plack said.
Canon-McMillan responded in kind on their next possession. A 36-yard Jansma-to-Bryce Collins completion put the Big Macs on the Peters Township six. Two plays later, TJ Sabatucci took a direct snap and plowed in for a one-yard score. Rhys Maentz’s kick was good, slicing the Indians’ lead to 14-7 early in the second quarter.
The Big Mac defense then stood tall midway through the second quarter when Braelon Wingfield intercepted a tipped DiLucia pass in the end zone, ending an Indians scoring threat. However, Peters Township’s defense forced a three-and-out.
On the following Peters Township drive, Neupaver notched his second score of the night when he took a toss around left end and glided into the end zone from eight yards, pushing the Indians’ lead to 21-7 late in the half.
Big Macs coach Brian DeLallo said his group competed hard but made too many mistakes against a quality opponent.
“We made a lot of mistakes tonight. There is a fine line between doing the things to takes to win or getting your butt kicked,” DeLallo said. “I think if we can eliminate those mistakes we’ll be fine.”