Allegheny Six rivals Peters Township, Upper St. Clair won’t ease into conference slate

By: Chris Harlan
Thursday, September 25, 2025 | 11:28 PM

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The biggest games usually arrive a little later in the season, but Peters Township and Upper St. Clair won’t be easing into their conference schedules this year.

The South Hills rivals meet in an Allegheny Six opener Friday night.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Week 7 or Week 8 or Week 5. You’re always looking at this game as a huge matchup,” Peters Township coach T.J. Plack said. “It’s Upper St. Clair week.”

No. 2 Peters Township (5-0) hosts No. 3 Upper St. Clair (5-0) at 7 p.m.

They played one another twice last season — and both game were huge.

A 21-7 win by Upper St. Clair in Week 5 ultimately earned the Panthers the conference title a year ago. But a 7-3 win by Peters Township in a playoff rematch let the Indians advance to the WPIAL Class 5A finals.

“At Peters Township, we’ve been looking for teams to be our rivals,” Plack said. “Obviously, this is one of the teams we want on our schedule all the time. I told our kids these are the games you play high school football for.”

Neither offense scored a touchdown when they met in the playoffs last year, but that scenario seems far fetched this time.

Combined, they’re averaging 10 touchdowns a game behind two offenses that rank among the highest-scoring units in WPIAL Class 5A. Upper St. Clair averages 42.2 points, which ties Pine-Richland for the most in the classification. Peters Township ranks fourth at 34.2.

Yet in last year’s low-scoring semifinal, the only touchdown came on a kickoff return.

Each is now led by a senior quarterback, and both offenses have changed their identity somewhat since last season. Upper St. Clair added more balance to its offense while Peters Township embraced a passing scheme heavy in tight ends.

“I really feel like both teams offensively are a little further along,” Upper St. Clair coach Mike Junko said. “Of course, you never know with these games. Both defenses have played really well.”

The defenses are ranked first and second in WPIAL Class 5A in points allowed. Peters Township is allowing 5.2 points per game while Upper St. Clair gives up 7.4.

Peters Township posted its third shutout of the season last week in a 28-0 victory over West Allegheny. Quarterback Nolan DiLucia has passed for 1,120 yards and 10 touchdowns in an offense that can incorporate multiple tight ends, either on the line or spread out.

“It’s been pretty good for us,” Plack said. “Honestly, as a play caller, it has taken some getting used to. It is different.”

Four receivers have 10 or more catches, including senior tight ends Lucas Shanafelt and Reston Lehman, who both are FBS-bound linebackers. Shanafelt is a Stanford commit, and Lehman is headed to Pitt.

Running back Cole Neupaver has 542 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.

Upper St. Clair quarterback Ethan Hellmann is a four-year starter who stepped into a leading role this year.

Hellmann has thrown for 1,273 yards and 18 touchdowns, with Brown recruit Nico D’Orazio (16 catches) and Bryce Jones (13) his top receivers. D’Orazio has a team-high seven touchdowns, and running back Dante Coury scored four times.

A year ago, Upper St. Clair leaned heavily on wildcat runs but has more yards through the air than on the ground this year. USC used a fourth-quarter touchdown pass from Hellmann to Jones last week to rally past McKeesport, 17-14. It was the first time an opponent came within three touchdowns of the Panthers.

Junko thought the timing was ideal, knowing Peters Township was up next.

“Playing a tough game last week was good for us,” Junko said. “It was physical for four quarters. We hadn’t gotten to halftime with our starters all season. That, I think, is going to help us.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Peters Township, Upper St. Clair