Sep 15, 2024 By Eleanor Bailey 8 min read

Peters Township quarterback Nolan Dilucia (17) picks up big yardage after eluding Mt. Lebanon defenders Noach Schaerli (81), Dominic Huff (7) and Jackson Kraemer (55). In addition to being one of the top passers in the WPIAL, DiLucia is a three-year starter in the PT secondary. The Indians are allowing just 7.5 points per game.

Nick McCullough (24) celebrates with Peter Luke (3) after scoring a touchdown on a pass from Nolan DiLucia during Peters Township’s shutout against Mt. Lebanon. McCullough is a two-way standout for the Indians, ranking as a top receiver in the WPIAL as well as a defensive back on a unit that is allowing just 7.5 points per game.

Because Peters Township returned a quarterback that led the WPIAL in passing in 2023, the Indians were expected to operate a high-powered offense this fall and they have.

After beating Trinity, 35-6, on Sept. 13, the Indians were averaging 36.7 points per game, slightly better than the 36.5 average when they rolled up a 15-1 slate that featured a WPIAL title and PIAA runner-up trophy last year.

In 2024, however, the Indians continue to dominate on the defensive side of the ball. They are allowing just 7.5 per game, two less than last season, and are the fourth-best scoring defense in the WPIAL. They recently posted their first shutout, a 28-0 decision at Mt. Lebanon.

Head coach TJ Plack was pleased with the effort against the Blue Devils, which featured a 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback in Patrick Smith.

“He’s a big kid to take down and they are running a different offense so we knew what we were up against and we expected a physical match-up,” Plack said. “Our goal was to eliminate big plays, prevent them from moving the sticks and gaining momentum and we did that.”

Under defensive coordinators Troy Grunseth and Darrin McMillon, the Indians have been doing exactly that for approximately eight years. In fact, Peters Township has been ranked among the top WPIAL defenses since Plack arrived in McMurray.

“Without a doubt (Grunseth and McMillon) have been a big part of our success,” Plack said. “Defense is their passion. They do such a great job, studying the film and coming up with different ways to offset other team’s offenses week in and week out. They also know how to deal with the kids and how to motivate them to play with an edge.”

The Indians excel on the edges.. Linebackers Mickey Vaccarello and Reston Lehman dominate the outside. In fact, they are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 as most disruptive defensive players in the WPIAL.

A 6-3, 215-pound senior, Vaccarello is a Stanford commit. Just a junior, Lehman already has a plethora of Division I offers thanks to his prowess as well as his 6-4, 230-pound stature.

“The reason why we have been successful through the years is that we have been blessed with guys on the edges that are so long and athletic and with Mickey and Reston we continue to have that,” Plack said. “They are so physical, athletic and smart. They are suffocating at times.”

In the middle, Peters Township features Nick Courie. A three-year starter, Courie lacks the size of a Corban Hondru but he is as good as the redshirt junior middle linebacker for Miami (Ohio) University, says Plack.

“Nick is hard to block. He is pound for pound the toughest player on the team. Physical and fast. The heart and soul of the defense,” Plack added.

The Peters Township defense puts offenses behind schedule and behind the sticks because of the play of Franco Muscatello, Nick McCullough, Darius McMillon, Lucas Rost and even Nolan DiLucia.

A 6-2, 230-pound senior, Muscatello starts at nose tackle. He’s been an all-conference performer on both sides of the ball.

“He may be the best nose tackle in 5A if not the enitre WPIAL,” Plack said. “It all starts in the middle.”

While McMillon is a two-year starter that continues to “do a great job”, Rost has been a pleasant surprise at middle safety. He has progressed faster than the Indians anticipated.

“We thought he would be doing what he’s doing at mid-season but he’s there right now,” Plack said. “He’s grown into his position. Making a lot of calls and putting guys in the right position,” Plack added.

McCullough and DiLucia are veteran defenders that have distinguished themselves on both sides of the ball. They single-handedly dominated Mt. Lebanon.

While DiLucia completed 14 of 21 passes for 206 yards and three touchdown passes, including a 35-yard scoring strike to Lehman, McCullough pulled in five aerials for 134 yards and two scores of 41 and 48 yards. He also had an interception on defense.

Courie had the other touchdown, he rushed one-yard for the initial score.

In three games, DiLucia is 46 of 655 for 675 yards while McCullough has 15 receptions for 366 yards. However, they continue to be all-conference performers on defense.

A three-year starter, DiLucia, says Plack, is in the secondary until the Indians get other guys ready. “He’s a good safety,” Plack added.

“We ask a lot of our guys, particularly in the secondary. Run and cover and tackle,” he continued. “Nick’s able to cover guys. Man-to-man. He can tackle, too.”

Look for the Indian defense to continue swarming. In their final tune-up before opening defense of their Allegheny Six Conference crown, they battle West Allegheny at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 in Imperial.

“We pin our ears back and come back for more,” Plack said. “It’s what our defense does. We take it week by week.”

Hampton at CV

After starting the season with three straight road games, Chartiers Valley finds itself in the middle of a three-game home stand. The Colts, who hosted Baldwin on Sept. 13, will entertain Hampton at 7 p.m. Sept. 20. The contest is the final prep before the Colts open Big Six Conference action on Sept. 27 against Laurel Highlands. The Colts then visit Belle Vernon on Oct. 4.

The Colts picked up their first win of the 2024 campaign at Indiana on Sept. 6 and the triumph was a big one in the form of a 62-0 shutout.

In the victory, Tayshaun Lewis rushed nine times for 147 yards. He scored three touchdowns, measuring 54, 50 and 18 yards.

Michael Lawrence and Luke Miranda both threw for touchdowns and rushed for two scores.

Julius Best caught scoring strikes of 20 and 12 yards. Best also caught a 2-point conversion.

Zach Efthimiades contributed two rushing touchdowns.

While the CV defense forced a fumble, Pat Jurisic led the special teams. In addition to four touchbacks, he connected on six extra points.

Trinity at BP

The one-two punch of JaVaughn Moore on the ground and Tanner Pfeuffer through the air continues to spark Bethel Park as the Black Hawks prepare for their final tune-up before embarking on Allegheny Six Conference action. Bethel Park hosts Trinity at 7 p.m. Sept. 20. The non-conference clash is the second of three straight home games after the Hawks started the season with three road wins against Seneca Valley, Mars and Armstrong.

Armstrong proved another display of BP’s power as the Hawks rolled up 46 points and surrendered just one touchdown.

In the triumph, Moore rolled up 255 yards rushing. He scored twice on 1- and 19-yard runs.

Pfeuffer completed 17 of 22 aerials for 326 yards and four scoring strikes.

Mitchell Paschl pulled in three of those TD aerials, measuring 19, 24 and 22 yards. In addition to nine receptions for 130 yards, Paschl returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown.

Jack Bruckner grabbed five passes for 144 yards. He had a 74-yard TD reception.

Luke Kim kicked two extra points and David Dennison added a two-point conversion.

Cat Fight

After thrashing the Franklin Regional Panthers, 45-7, Upper St. Clair prepares for another cat fight when the Panthers visit McKeesport for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 20.

In the win against FR, the Panthers reeled off six unanswered scores. Variety proved the spice for USC as Dante Coury crossed the goal line twice, Julian Dahlem rushed for a 53-yard touchdown, Nico D’Orazio (65 yards) and Charlie Bywalski (9 yards) pulled in scoring strikes from Ethan Hellman and Jacob Echeverria kicked a 30-yard field goal. He tacked on five extra points.

Josh Snyder concluded USC’s scoring with a 33-yard TD run in the third quarter. Ryan Popp added the PAT.

Dahlem finished with 122 yards rushing on four carries while Hellmann completed six aerials for 157 yards.

Defensively, Austin Middleton had four sacks while D’Orazio and Caffery Duplessis had interceptions. Leading tacklers included: Randy Yan (6), Nate Stohl (4) and D’Orazio (4).

Other games

Drew Welhorsky continues to engineer the South Fayette offense to victory. He completed 11 passes for 152 yards and the decisive touchdown – 32 yards to Ben Cavenaugh – in a 13-10 win against Canon-McMillan. Welhorsky also rushed for a 6-yard score while Cavenaugh has four receptions for 101 yards in the triumph

The Lions will visit Belle Vernon at 7 p.m. Sept. 20 while the Big Macs will visit Mt. Lebanon in a Quad-County clash in Class 6A.