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Peters Township reflects on season and future

By Eleanor Bailey 5 min read
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Thomas Aspinall consoles Darius McMillon (9) after Peters Township lost its first and only game of the football season in the PIAA 5A final against Imhotep Charter, 38-13. The Indians finished the 2023 season with a 15-1 record and their first WPIAL title in school history. They were conference champions as well as state runners-up.
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Mickey Vaccarello (10) shakes off Imhotep Charter tackler Zykee Scott after making a reception that set up Peters Township's first score, a TD reception by Thomas Aspinall.
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Dante Recker (50) picks up yardage after making an interception for Peters Township before being brought down by Imhotep Charter defender Nick Williams.
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Thomas Aspinall (8) pulls in one of his two touchdown passes during Peters Township's 38-13 loss to Imhotep Charter in the PIAA 5A championship game.

After guiding Peters Township to its first appearance in a state championship game, TJ Plack earned a well-deserved day off. The Indians head football coach spent the time doing ordinary things like raking leaves, arranging doctor appointments and putting up Christmas decorations.

“Getting my life in order,” he explained. “Taking care of all the things I pushed off.”

From August through Dec. 8, when the Indians dropped a 38-13 decision to Imhotep Charter in the PIAA Class 5A championship game, Plack had dedicated his life to his football family, which consisted of 11 assistant coaches, three trainers and 84 teenage players that he often calls sons when addressing them on and off the field.

Hence, delaying everyday tasks was understandable, even worthwhile, because the Indians experienced the best season in the history of Peters Township football.

The Indians racked up 15 consecutive victories before the state final loss at Chapman Memorial Field on the campus of Cumberland Valley High School. Their 15-1 record included a conference championship and the school’s first WPIAL football banner.

“It’s been an incredible season,” Plack said.

The disappointing ending did not negate the Indians’ body of work, which included five shutouts from the best defense in the district. The crew had allowed only 123 points before surrendered a season-high 38 against the Panthers in the state final. Imhotep Charter featured a handful of Power Five recruits including Kenny Woseley (Penn State), Jabree Wallace-Coleman (Georgia) and Mikal Davis (Army).

Moseley kicked five extra points and a 30-yard field goal. Wallace Coleman rushed for 214 yards on 30 carries and scored a touchdown on a 68-yard run in the third quarter. Davis rushed for three touchdowns and tossed a 50-yard scoring strike to Johann Hennigan. He finished with 70 yards rushing and 184 yards passing on eight completions.

The Indians could only muster 152 yards of offense and two TD receptions by Thomas Aspinall against the Panthers, who managed 481 total yards.

“I think our kids played extremely hard. They just ran up against a very talented, tough team,” Plack said.

The Indians were skilled enough to dominate the district this autumn. They defeated Pine-Richland, 43-17, to win their first WPIAL title.

“Winning the WPIAL championship game had to be the most special moment of the season,” said Plack, who had guided the Indians to two other district championship appearances in 2019 and 2010.

“Sure, we have never experienced playing in Heinz Field or Acrisure stadium with all those yellow seats but the WPIAL did make it feel special. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon and win or lose, it felt like it had a different feel.

“The student section,” Plack added. “They were amazing. They were positive all year and this group was phenomenal. In it for the right reason and it was awesome sharing our accomplishment with them and the entire community, which has been so supportive of us. I never realized how many Peters Township football fans there were. I keep getting texts and notes. I don’t know if any of us do that enough but I have gotten hand-written letters and emails from a lot of people. It’s good stuff.”

The senior class and its 16 members set the tone. While Jake Velgich, Carter Shanafelt, Ethan Werman and Justin Tornatore filled the roles as captains, Dominic Sirianni, Nate Miller, Matt Orsi, Vinny Sarcone, Chris Cibrone, Eliot Schratz, Dante Recker, Brady O’Connor, Tegan Antosh, Tanner Mindach, Paris Fishell and Aspinall contributed their leadership skills.

“Our senior class upheld the standard of what we have been trying to accomplish these last six to eight years. Our locker room was great. When you have a bunch of talented athletes it could go one of two ways and this group was special especially in how they all interacted with the sophomores and juniors. You never knew who was in what class. There was such a good relationship among the players. Nobody cared who got the credit. They all just wanted to win and they sacrificed and did what needed to be done for the team.”

Next autumn, the expectations will be high as the Indians return six to seven starters on both sides of the ball, including sophomore quarterback Nolan DiLucia, who passed for more than 3,000 yards this fall, as well as Division I recruits Mickey Vaccarello and Reston Lehman. Nick Courie and Nick McCullough are also juniors who played key roles on the stout defensive unit.

“The theme will be ‘back to work’ and these underclassmen understand that,” said Plack. “It’s back to ground zero and we need to build a new team. It will be interesting to see the chemistry of that team and who emerges and becomes the leaders.”

After the holidays, the Indians will ramp up for the 2024 campaign with weight room work and team-building activities and drills. Plack will be busy too, entertaining college recruiters as well as designing championship t-shirts and working with new booster club administrators while continuing his duties as dad and educator.

“My first two jobs are being a father and teaching,” he said. “During the season, myself and players have been stretched so thin. We were maxed out. There will be a little bit of time to relax but duties are not done yet.”

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