Peters Township travels to North Hills
When Peters Township steps onto the field Sept. 21 at Martorelli Stadium to battle North Hills at 7:30 p.m. the Indians will treat this non-conference clash like any other contest on the schedule featuring a league opponent.
“There is no off switch with these guys,” said PT head coach T.J. Plack. “We will remain consistent in everything we do. North Hills has historically been a tough, physical team. We need to enter that game the same way and match their intensity. There may be a sense of urgency from our coaching staff just to ensure we are all on the same page.”
This contest against a 4-0-1 squad that competes in the WPIAL’s Class 5A Northern Conference ranks as critical as last week’s impressive victory against West Allegheny, 42-28, in the Allegheny Eight Conference or future contests down the road, including home matches against Moon, Bethel Park and Baldwin, all in October.
“We hope to respond with execution, focus, and physicality,” Plack said. “We responded to an emotional loss against USC in a positive manner,” he noted of a shutout win against Woodland Hills that followed on the heels of that 16-14 defeat to the league-leading Panthers. “We would like to respond after an emotional win in a consistent, positive manner.”
And, the win, last week against West-A at Joe P. DeMichela Stadium in Imperial, was electrifying and moved the Indians into the WPIAL rankings as the No. 4 team behind top-rated Gateway, Penn Hills and USC. All are undefeated.
“We have always felt like a contender,” said Plack, “but there are still very good teams out there, including one to which we lost. Evaluating our conference each week, it is beginning to look very competitive, top to bottom.”
From the top, Peters Township dominated the action against West-A. The Indians scored on the opening play of the game, had three interceptions, a strip sack for a score and long, physical touchdown drives when West-A threatened to climb back into the fray, closing to within seven, 35-28, with 26 seconds left in the third quarter.
Ryan Magiske rushed for 107 yards on 12 carries. His 41-yard romp on a third-and-four set up Seth Luksik’s 1-yard score with 10 minutes to play. Magiske scored twice on four-yard runs in the first half.
Logan Pfeuffer completed 11 of 15 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
Josh Casilli hauled in both of those scores. On the first play of the game, Casilli pulled in a 65-yard scoring strike. He caught a 22-yard TD aerial in the third quarter. Casilli finished with seven receptions for 135 yards.
Plack had much praise for Casilli.
“I could talk about Josh for days,” said. “I have not met too many people, if any, that could out-compete him. He is not only athletic, but he is a warrior. He is not a vocal leader, but he is the perfect model of a student-athlete for our younger players. He makes us better in so many ways both on and off the field. His peers like him.”
The Indians liked what Shane O’Connell and Logan Clark did on defense to put an exclamation point on their 21-point first quarter. O’Connell sacked the quarterback, forcing a fumble, that Clark recovered for a 15-yard touchdown.
Aidan McCall or Corban Hondru led the defense with seven and five tackles respectively. McCall had two tackles for losses and two interceptions. Magiske had the other to go along with a fumble recovery.
The Indians, however, are by no means overlooking North Hills. They know the Indians, who blanked Hampton, 3-0, last week are dangerous. Tyler Tomasic rushed for 160 yards and Dan Wagner converted a 23-yard field goal in the victory.
“From their roster, they remind me of us. Very few seniors and juniors, same guys on offense and defense, with a couple young players sprinkled in,” said Plack.