Nov 18, 2023 6 min read

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Nolan DiLucia (17) is pushed out of bounds on this rushing play, but the sophomore quarterback threw for three scores and run for another touchdown as Peters Township defeated Pine-Richland, 43-17, for its first WPIAL football championship. In the Class 5A final, DiLucia completed 14 of 25 passes for 184. He rushed for a 39-yard touchdown to cap the scoring for the Indians.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Carter Shanafelt rushes for the first down after faking a punt during Peters Township’s victory over Pine-Richland, 43-17, in the WPIAL Class 5A football championship game. In the game, Shanafelt also caught a 13-yard touchdown pass.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Mickey Vaccarello hauls in a 13-yard pass from Nolan DiLucia for Peters Township’s first touchdown in a 43-17 win against Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 5A football final.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Jake Velgich hoists the WPIAL championship trophy after Peters Township defeated Pine-Richland, 43-17, in the Class 5A final played at Norwin High School stadium.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Peters Township players celebrate after receiving the WPIAL trophy for winning the Class 5A football championship with a 43-17 win over Pine-Richland. Pictured are Reston Lehman (back), Chris Cibrone (12), Nick Courie (holding trophy), Ethan Wertman (4) and Matt Miller (58).

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

After opening up a hole on the offensive line, Paris Fishell (74) and Tanner Mindach (66) celebrate as Preston Blair (26) races for the end zone. Blair scored on this 63-yard run as Peters Township coasted to victory against Pine-Richland, 43-17, to win its first WPIAL football championship in school history.

Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

PNolan DiLucia (17) breaks free for a 39-yard touchdown run, putting the exclamation point on Peters Township’s 43-17 victory against Pine-Richland in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game. DiLucia also completed 14 of 25 passes for 184 yards and three more scores in the victory.

By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

n@observer-rewsroomeporter.com

IRWIN – The WPIAL championship game site used to be a house of horrors for Peters Township High School’s football team.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, it became a home away from home as it became the site of the Indians’ first WPIAL title in school history.

Peters Township, which suffered two heartbreaking losses in the 2019 and 2020 finals, one at Norwin and one at North Allegheny, routed Pine-Richland 43-17 in the Class 5A finals at Norwin Stadium.

It was a remarkable run for the Indians (13-0), who did not earn a spot in the WPIAL playoffs last year. All they did was roll over every opponent, including Pine-Richland, which was the defending WPIAL and PIAA champion.

“I can’t tell you how I’m going to celebrate,” a smiling PT head coach T.J. Plack said. “You have that tape recorder on so I can’t tell you how I’ll celebrate.”

Peters Township, the top seed in Class 5A, can celebrate a good day on offense, defense and special teams. You don’t lose many games if you play well in those facets of the game.

That’s why it’s been a running debate which Peters Township team was better: the 2019 squad, 2020 or 2023. There is no doubt now.

The Indians move on to the PIAA quarterfinals Friday against Cathedral Prep (7-3) in Erie at the Hagerty Events Center. Kickoff will be 7 p.m.

“Those kids always compared themselves to these kids,” Plack said. “We told the team all you have to do is win Saturday and you seal the deal about what team is better.”

Quarterback Nolan DiLucia, only a sophomore, completed 14 of 25 passes for 184 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 81 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown that stretched the PT lead to 43-10.

“It feels awesome to make history,” said DiLucia. “I love these guys. My team believed in me and all I had to do was to make some plays.”

Peters Township rushed for 298 yards, helped by a 33-yard touchdown run by Vinny Sarcone, who ran for 94 yards, and a 63-yard jaunt by Preston Blair, who also had 94 yards, with 21 seconds left in the third quarter.

“I always knew this was a possibility,” said Plack of the team’s first title. “I was here before as an offensive coordinator and I was surprised how tough the kids were. I knew they were intelligent but they also would run through walls for you. … So yeah, I definitely thought we had a shot at it.”

Peters Township’s defense was outstanding. The Indians stopped third-seeded Pine-Richland on 13 straight third down conversions. They intercepted two of Kanan Huffman’s passes. Peters Township held Pine-Richland to 13 rushing yards on 27 carries.

“To us, this is probably the most hyped game I’ve ever been a part of,” said senior defensive back Justin Tornatore. “It’s just amazing. I don’t think we are ever upset at being down. Our defense can bounce back from anything.”

Peters Township took command of the game in the first half, taking a 23-3 lead over a self-destructing Pine-Richland.

The Rams had three turnovers and misplayed a pooch kickoff to see an early 3-0 lead quickly dissolve. The Rams took the early lead when Grant Argiro nailed a 40-yard field goal. It was the final time Pine-Richland would seriously lead the game.

Peters Township took advantage of a bad snap from center from the Pine-Richland 19-yard line. The football rolled through the end zone for a safety, cutting the Rams’ lead to 3-2.

“We got on the board (first) but then had a snap go over our guy’s head,” said Pine-Richland head coach Jon LeDonne. “It should have been 9-3 or 16-3 at the half but we had some miscues on special teams. Our offense isn’t built to chase that many points. So hats off to Peters Township for what they did defensively. They kept our offense in check.”

Peters Township got the football after the safety and drove 80 yards in five plays, the big play coming on a 13-yard reception by Mickey Vaccarello from DiLucia. Carter Shanafelt’s first of three extra-point attempts in the half gave PT a 9-3 lead.

Peters Township broke the game open in the final 1:33 of the half.

Ethan Wertman caught a 32-yard pass from DiLucia and Shanafelt snagged a 13-yard scoring pass from DiLucia to give the Indians a 20-point lead.

To add insult to injury. Pine-Richland lost starting quarterback Aaron Strader with an ankle injury. He was replaced by Huffman, who had lots of playing time during the season.