PT defense scores another shutout
Peters Township defensive lineman Franco Muscatello (60) sacks Upper St. Clair quarterback Julian Dahlem (2).
Peters Township quarterback Nolan DiLucia (17) eludes the grasp of Upper St. Clair defenseman Brock Gillespie (55) during conference action.
By Eleanor Bailey
Nick McCullough (24) celebrates as Peters Township band members applaud after his 59-yard touchdown reception spearheaded the Indians to victory over Upper St. Clair.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Peters Township defenders Jake Velgich (6), Reston Lehman (14) and Mickey Vaccarello (10) hem in Upper St. Clair quarterback Julian Dahlem (2) and hold him to a short gain.
Peters Township tailback Preston Blair (26) rushes through an opening created by offensive lineman Tanner Mindach (66) during action against Upper St. Clair.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Peters Township receiver Carter Shanafelt (5) hangs on to the football despite being tackled by Upper St. Clair's John Banbury (44).
Ethan Wertman (4) picks up big yardage after a reception before being tackled by Van Hellman (23).
Ethan Wertman (4) and Eliot Schratz (21) contain Bryce Jones (9) and hold him to a short gain during Peters Township's conference clash with Upper St. Clair.
McMURRAY – Friday night’s Allegheny Six Conference clash between Upper St. Clair and Peters Township had all the makings of a classic heavyweight bout that is usually reserved for the Las Vegas Strip or the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.
Peters Township, however, overcame a slow start and overwhelmed the rival Panthers 31-0 in front of a packed house at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium.
The Indians (2-0, 5-0) have established themselves as a true power in Class 5A as they have now outscored their opponents 183-14 this season.
Upper St. Clair, which defeated the Indians last year, falls to 1-1 in conference play and 4-1 overall.
“There was a lot of excitement in the air tonight. Our kids rose to the occasion,” Indians coach TJ Plack said. “There were some distractions during the week, but our kids handled them well.”
Peters Township’s offense started slowly, but perked up as the game wore on. Nolan DiLucia finished with 21 completions in 28 attempts for 252 yards and two scores and a harmless interception. Nick McCullough had five catches for 116 yards and a score.
But the story was the Peters Township defense as it pitched its second shutout in a row and held the Panthers to 156 total yards, including 51 on the ground.
Ethan Hellman finished with 105 passing yards passing but was sacked five times and picked off twice by the Indians’ defense.
“Those guys just do a great job,” Plack said. “I can’t say enough about the coaches and the players on the defense.”
That defense was tested early in the third quarter when USC drove to the Indians’ three-yard line. But the defense stuffed Mason Chambers at the two, who then fumbled the ball which ended up rolling through the back of the end zone for a touchback.
Mickey Vaccarello short-circuited another Panthers drive when he broke up a fourth-and-two pass to give the ball back to the offense late in the third near midfield.
It was here that DiLucia put out the lights on USC when he fired a strike to McCullough for a 59-yard touchdown connection that gave the Indians a 24-0 lead with 3:49 left in the third.
“They played a three over two and the linebacker bit on the play fake. All I had to do was hit Nick down the sideline,” DiLucia said.
Vinny Sarcone’s three-yard scoring run midway through the fourth quarter ended the scoring on the evening.
The first quarter passed without a point being scored by either squad as each probed with jabs and body shots to the other. Peters Township had an opportunity to score in the opening frame when Eliot Schratz intercepted his first pass on the Panthers 21 thanks to some late pass rush from the Indians front.
The turnover was also set up by Carter Shanafelt’s clutch 48-yard punt that was downed on the one by Thomas Aspinall.
“He’s a dynamic guy for sure,” Plack said in reference to Shanafelt. “He’s a three-way guy: offense, defense, and special teams.”
Upper St. Clair’s defense held firm however and forced a turnover on downs.
The Indians struck with a defensive lightning bolt when Schratz gathered in his second interception and set sail down the sideline for a 56-yard pick-six interception for a touchdown. Shanafelt knocked in the extra point, giving the hosts a 7-0 lead two minutes into the second frame.
“He’s incredible,” Plack said regarding Schratz. “He’s a great punt returner as well. Just a very opportunistic football player.”
Schratz said he saw an opportunity to make a big play and went ahead and made it.
“I just saw him (the receiver) break slow and said I am going to pick this,” Schratz explained.
Peters Township made it 10-0 thanks to an 80 yard drive from their own 13 to the USC 7 that ended in a 24 yard Shanafelt field goal. The march was highlighted by a 40 yard DiLucia completion to McCullough.
Upper St. Clair’s next possession ended at midfield when they were stopped on fourth and 1 by the Indians defense. Hellman attempted a play action pass that was snuffed out and was forced to throw the ball away with Reston Lehman in hot pursuit, giving the ball back to Peters Township in the waning minutes of the half.
The Indians took advantage and drove 50 yards to make it 17-0 when DiLucia capped the march with a 15 yard scoring strike to Shanafelt with less than a minute left in the first half.
Upper St. Clair 0 0 0 0 — 0
Peters Township 0 17 7 7 — 31
PT: Eliot Schratz 55 yard interception return; Carter Shanafelt kick; 10:01 2nd
PT: Shanafelt 24 yard FG; 4:20 2nd
PT: Shanafelt 15 yard touchdown pass from Nolan DiLucia; kick good 0:39 2nd
PT: Nick McCullough 59 yard touchdown pass from DiLucia; kick good; 3:49 3rd
PT: Vinny Sarcone 3 yard run; kick good; 7:20 4th