Special victory for Peters Township
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Aidan McCall finds the pass just beyond his fingertips during Peters Township football action against Bethel Park.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ryan Magiske makes his move on the Bethel Park defense. The senior tailback staked Peters Township to a 14-0 lead with his two, first-half rushing touchdowns.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Ryan Magiske bolts for the end zone for his second score of the game against Bethel Park.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Adrian Williams celebrates after stopping Sean McGowan in the Bethel Park backfield.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Adrian Williams celebrates after stopping Sean McGowan in the Bethel Park backfield.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Adrian Williams makes the hit on Sean McGowan.
BETHEL PARK – The strongest football teams, regardless of level, are sound in all three phases of the game.
Peters Township showed that it can beat teams with its special teams Friday evening at Bethel Park as the Indians defeated the Black Hawks, 30-7.
The win inched Peters Township (8-1, 5-1) closer to an Allegheny Eight conference title, which they would clinch at least a share of should they win next week at Baldwin.
Bethel Park falls to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in conference.
“That was a complete performance in all three phases,” Peters Township coach T.J. Plack said.
Although Ryan Magiske controlled tempo for the Indians with 114 yards on 18 sledgehammer-like carries and the defense was solid throughout, it was the Indians’ special teams that led to 21 of their 30 points.
“We have some guys who we like having the ball in their hands,” Plack said. “If they’re going to kick off to us, we have guys who will block and who will take it back if necessary.”
Plack added that his squad emphasizes special teams play in practices, something that was evident throughout the contest.
The Indians kickstarted their evening when Donovan McMillon blocked Austin Cortopassi’s punt midway through the first quarter, setting up Peters Township with possession at the Bethel Park 34-yard line.
Two plays later, Magiske steamrolled off left tackle and scored from five yards. Andrew Massucci’s extra point gave Peters Township an early 7-0 lead.
Peters Township struck again early in the second quarter, thanks to their punt return unit as Josh Casilli returned a kick 40 yards to the Black Hawks’ 37. Several plays later, Logan Pfeuffer beat a Bethel Park blitz and found Magiske for a 19-yard scoring connection, giving the Indians a 14-0 lead.
Bethel Park responded on its next drive as the Black Hawks moved 55 yards in six plays. Anthony Chiccitt capped the march with a one-yard scoring plunge, cutting the Indians’ lead in half to 14-7. Chiccitt connected with Jehvonn Lewis for 28 and 20 yards on the drive.
But Peters Township’s return unit struck again as Casilli, fielding a kick angled toward the sideline at the 10, took off behind a wall of blockers and raced 90 yards to the end zone, increasing the Indians lead to 21-7 midway through the second.
“He’s just a special guy when he gets the ball in his hands,” Plack said in reference to the Penn commit.
Peters Township’s defense announced its presence when it forced a Bethel Park holding call in the end zone on the Black Hawks’ first second-half drive, resulting in a safety, pushing the Indians’ lead to 23-7.
The Indians held Bethel Park’s Sean McGowan to 31 yards on 15 carries. They limited the Black Hawks to 54 yards rushing for the contest.
“We do some things that are unorthodox on defense,” Plack added. “We like to play five guys in the secondary and five up front.”
The Indians put the game out of reach on their ensuing drive as Casilli took a direct snap and plowed three yards into the end zone as Peters Township added to its lead at 30-7 midway through the third.
“It looks like we kind of wore them down there at the end and that’s what we want to do,” Plack said.