Peters Township returns to WPIAL final with win over USC
Nick McCullough’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown coupled with Darius McMillon’s defensive play catapulted Peters Township to victory over Upper St. Clair, 7-3, and into the WPIAL Class 5A championship game.
The Indians (11-1) will face Pine-Richland (10-1) in the finals set for 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at Acrisure Stadium. The Rams defeated Bethel Park (10-3) in their semifinal game, 28-7, played at Martorelli Stadium in the North Hills.
With the loss, USC finished 11-1 overall and as the Allegheny Six Conference champions. The Panthers previously defeated Peters Township, 21-7, in conference action on Sept. 27.
“It’s a slugfest. South Hills football,” said PT skipper TJ Plack. “You’ve got three of the four best teams in 5A within a few miles of each other.”
Mere yards separated the Indians from the Panthers.
USC took the lead, 3-0, on a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the first half. The scoring drive was set up by Charlie Bywalski’s interception.
The Indians immediately erased USC’s advantage. McCullough took the ensuing kickoff and rambled 98 yards down the sideline for the decisive score nine seconds before intermission.
McCullough said he was motivated to make a big play after a pass earlier in the quarter bounced off his body and was intercepted by Julian Dahlem.
“I caused an interception and knew I’d owe my teammates after that,” he said.
After the earlier loss to USC, McCullough also said the Indians were primed for the rematch against the then-No. 1 ranked team in the state.
“Our team was really, really sad,” he said. “We were terrible after that loss. So this was personal for us.”
The previous loss toppled Peters Township from its own perch. At the time, the Indians were the No. 1 ranked team. They also were and are the reigning WPIAL champions and PIAA runners-up.
McMillon played like a champion.
After Mickey Vaccarello recorded a sack and forced USC into a 4th-and-26 situation with under two minutes to play, McMillon broke up a pass from Ethan Hellmann intended for Nico D’Orazio. D’Orazio caught the ball at the 2-yard line but McMillon’s hit slammed him to the ground and the ball popped loose. The officials ruled an incompletion.
“Darius made a heck of a play on that ball,” said McCullough, a fellow defensive back who had a hand in the play.
Plack noted the “unreal” play of McCullough and McMillon and complimented both teams on a hard-fought game.
“There were great defenses on both sides of the ball and really great offensive lines,” he said. “Both defenses were able to tighten up.”
Both teams had a difficult time chalking up yardage. The Indians gained 144 total yards and never reached the end zone. Nick Courie was the top rusher, grinding out 63 yards on 20 carries.
The Panthers produced just 167 yards of offense. Julian Dahlem, who terrorized the Indians for all three touchdowns in the previous loss, was limited to 26 yards on 17 carries. The Panthers also were hindered by 11 penalties for 136 yards.
The WPIAL 5A final is a rematch of last year’s championship game where Peters Township defeated Pine-Richland, 43-17.
In the Rams, Peters Township faces a team similar to the Panthers as they, too, boast an impressive line. The Rams used that advantage to dispatch Bethel Park in their semifinal clash.
Behind P-R’s offensive line, Mac Miller rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns, one on a 27-yard run in the second stanza and the other on an 11-yard jaunt in the fourth frame.
Jalen Neals also caught a 76-yard scoring strike from Aaron Strader. Tanner Cunningham’s 39-yard interception return ignited the Rams in the first frame.
BP’s lone score came in the third quarter and with the Hawks trailing, 21-0. JaVaughn Moore rushed for a 3-yard touchdown.
David Whipkey from the Observer-Reporter contributed to this story.