Peters Township, Upper St. Clair ready for the real thing in Week Zero action
TJ Plack enters his eighth season as head football coach at Peters Township. The Indians host Fox Chapel at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 in the 2023 opener. Even though he has been in the coaching business for more than a quarter of a century, Plack says he learns something new every year because each season brings different struggles. In 2022, because of a small senior class and injuries, the Indians missed the playoffs, posting a 6-4 overall record. The season “reinforced” how important PT’s middle school and junior varsity are. “It’s building a program,” Plack explained. “It’s always about preparing players because you never know when it’s going to be their turn.”
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Mike Junko says Upper St. Clair has a culture of winning and he is trying to figure out how to maintain that as the Panthers start the season at 7 p.m. Aug. 25 against Norwin. As he enters his fifth season at the helm, Junko will rely upon the lessons learned when he took over the reins in 2019. “This is one of the younger groups that I have had, but I can draw upon my training and influences, the experiences of going through the highs and lows, from when I first arrived here.” Junko added that while the players don’t have a lot of Friday Night Lights experience, they have been part of the program and indoctrinated into the culture since middle school and youth league. “We have focused our energy on getting these kids on board with our traditions. I feel more connected with this group,” he added.
Practice is over, partially, for football teams opting to play their first games instead of conducting a second scrimmage this week, and area coaches are thrilled to open the 2023 campaign at 7 p.m. Aug. 25.
“Every team is ready to begin Friday night,” declared Peters Township coach TJ Plack. “We’ve had countless reps against our team. It’s always fantastic to get out their this first night and work against your opponent.”
Fox Chapel will be the Indians’ foe. The Foxes are coming off a winless season in which they were outscored, 436-105.
However, the Foxes have a new coaching staff headed up by Dave Leasure and return a veteran quarterback in Ben DeMotte, who passed for 1,191 yards and six scores in 2022. Leading receiver Tyrese Samuels (39 grabs for 649 yards) also is back in the lineup.
“We’ve spent some time preparing for things we may see, but we need to be ready for anything,” said Plack. “We are looking for Fox Chapel to come in with a lot of new energy from the coaching staff.”
Their is a positive pulse at Peters Township as the Indians return plenty of veterans that are hungry to return to postseason play. The Indians were 6-4 overall last fall and missed the playoffs.
“We have had a ton of guys step up to their competitive challenge. Guys pushed each other in camp,” Plack said. “It’s been a great environment.”
Because they are young, they are equally enthusiastic at Upper St. Clair. The Panthers open the 2023 season at home against Norwin. Pregame will feature “Senior Night” festivities.
Noting it has been some time since the Panthers have opened at home, USC coach Mike Junko is looking forward to honoring the seniors as well as “welcoming the community” back to the stadium to face the Knights.
“We will have a lot of new faces under the lights for the first time,” Junko said. “We will find out who wants to compete and who is most comfortable playing on the big stage. We will learn a lot about ourselves in this game.”
The Panthers know they are confronting one of the most talented skill players in the WPIAL in Jackson Pons. The 6-2, 185-pound senior had 22 receptions for 348 yards receiving and played some quarterback last fall for the Knights. He had 38 tackles and three interceptions on defense.
Pons entertained 17 Division I scholarship offers but chose Miami of Ohio, where he will play safety in for Mid-American Conference competitor.
“(Pons) he has big play abilities on both sides of the ball,” Junko said.
The Knights also have a new coach in Mike Brown. The 32-year-old coach spent the past two years at the helm at Hempfield. Since graduating from Penn-Trafford and Mercyhurst, he spent time coaching at Robert Morris, James Madison and Greensburg Central Catholic.
“With a new coach there is a lot of excitement around their program right now,” Junko said. “I I am sure they will be looking to make a statement in their first game with their new staff.”
USC and Junko exhibit their own exuberance. The Panthers are as young as Junko’s first squad when he assumed the reins in 2019.
Juniors Julian Dhalem and Nate Stohl have had strong camps, conditioning has been good and will play a role in the early games played in the heat of August and early September.
“We have had a very competitive camp and we have had a lot of guys fighting for jobs,” Junko said. “That high level of competition will help us on Friday nights.
“We are a young team and we will certainly run into our share of adversity at some point. I think our ability to overcome setbacks and focus on the next play will be a big part of our success.”
Week Zero action The 2023 high school season kicks off with Week Zero action at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Listed are the games and opponents involving teams in The Almanac readership area: n Bethel Park travels to North Hills n Chartiers Valley visits South Fayette n Mt. Lebanon entertains Gateway n Peters Township hosts Fox Chapel n Upper St. Clair hosts Norwin
The 2023 high school season kicks off with Week Zero action at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Listed are the games and opponents involving teams in The Almanac readership area:
• Bethel Park travels to North Hills
• Chartiers Valley visits South Fayette
• Mt. Lebanon entertains Gateway
• Peters Township hosts Fox Chapel
• Upper St. Clair hosts Norwin