Peters Twp. focusing on positive under Plack
From left: Albert Calfo, TJ Kpan and Alan Snyder run a sweep during practice. The trio will be three key players in this years footbll season for Peters Township High school
Peters Twp.þÄôs George Winslow, wide receiver, anchors the right side of the line for field goal drills during practice at the high school field.
In recent seasons, whenever T.J. Kpan messed up on the football field for Peters Township, he heard about it from coaches, but he didn’t learn how to fix the problem. “I just got yelled at,” said Kpan, a senior running back.
Enough issues existed for the Indians that they failed to make the postseason the past two years, finishing with 2-7 records, after going to the postseason each of the three preceding seasons. This type of criticism along with fluid rules decided on by the previous coaches on topics like what music was played in the weight room or whether or not talking was allowed while stretching, left players on edge. That led to a mental state reflected in their sub-par performance, said senior Albert Calfo.
“If your mind’s clear, I think you can play better,” Calfo said.
Kpan and his teammates haven’t had much time to acclimate to new coach T.J. Plack, a former offensive coordinator at Ringgold, and the staff since his hiring in January, but they’ve come away with positive impressions and an improved approach. “We have fun. We’re not afraid to makes mistakes,” Calfo said. “If we make mistakes, he’ll coach us up.”
Plack repeatedly mentioned positivity as one of the key aspects that he and his new staff have focused on.
“Through that, we’ll be able to build good habits,” said Plack, who served as offensive coordinator at Peters Township from 2007 through 2010. “And through that, we’ll be able to build a winning way.”
Solving problems quickly will be crucial for Peters Township because the challenge ahead remains formidable. Two of the teams also moving from the Class AAAA Southeastern Conference of last year to the newly formed 6-A class, Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon, made the Quad-A playoffs the previous two seasons. New conference mates Norwin and Hempfield also made the playoffs in 2015. Plack, meanwhile, inherits a roster that’s only all-section returner is senior kicker/punter Reagan Lawlor.
“This year is going to be a learning experience,” Plack said. “It’s (about) getting the kids to believe they can win.”
Kpan and his teammates appear unfazed by the task facing them. Stronger performances at summer 7-on-7 tournaments than in years past have helped bolster their attitude. “We’re not going 2-7 anymore,” he said.
Plack too believes the goal is to win every game and Peters Township is capable of that.
Junior quarterback Jake Cortes returns after throwing for 1,254 yards and seven touchdowns in his first year as starter. Three of Cortes’ four top targets graduated, leaving just one player, Alan Snyder, who had more than 100 receiving yards. Snyder, who caught 15 passes for 199 yards, had two receiving touchdowns.
While six offensive starters and six on defense graduated, the majority playing defensive back or receiver, Plack expressed confidence in the people who will take on those roles.
“We’re pretty set there,” he said. “We told them ‘You have to make plays,’ and they started to make plays on their own late in the summer.”
The defense gave up 33.7 points per game last year, and the offense averaged 14.6.
The top three rushers from a year ago are back in Kpan, Nathaniel Himson and Nicki Phelps, who combined for 609 yards and six touchdowns.
Plack has begun to get a sense for what he has at the skill positions, thanks to 7-on-7, but his familiarity with both lines, and the linebackers, and who fits where started with camp. Three starting offensive linemen return.
“We can watch them on tape. We can see them in footwork drills, but you really don’t know,” Plack said.
Plack said he’s not worried about size on either line, adding that any player who played tight end or fullback in a non-starting role has moved there to create competition.
While the expectation at Peters Township is to win, Plack is focused on establishing a competitive and positive team culture.
The ability of fellow South Hills schools such as Bethel Park, where Plack worked as an offensive coordinator from 2011-2013, and Mt. Lebanon, to maintain year-to-year stability gives him confidence that something similar is possible up Route 19.
Despite their school’s football history, some current PT players expressed confidence they can start that transformation. For Kpan, Calfo and other seniors, the goal is a return to the playoffs, where Peters Township hasn’t won since 2003.
“Anything can happen,” Calfo said. “Don’t set the bar low.”