Bishop McDevitt knocks out Peters Township on last-second field goal in PIAA Class 5A semifinals
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Saturday, November 29, 2025 | 5:50 PM
Bishop McDevitt kicker Aidan Grella kicks the winning field goal over Peters Township’s Lucas Shanafelt, Reston Lehman and Lucas Rost as time expires in their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Peters Twp.’s Reston Lehman hugs Lucas Shanafelt after their last second loss to Bishop McDevitt in their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Peters Township’s Lucas Shanafelt and Nolan DiLucia take the field before the start of their PIAA Class 5A semifinal against Bishop McDevitt on Saturday.
Peters Township quarterback Nolan DiLucia carries against Bishop McDevitt during their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
Peters Township’s Cole Neupaver scores against Bishop McDevitt during their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
Peters Township’s Lucas Rost scores against Bishop McDevitt’s Austin Mack during their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
Peters Township’s PJ Luke scores during the fourth quarter against Bishop McDevitt in their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
Peters Township coach TJ Plack talks with officials during the Indians’ PIAA Class 5A semifinal against Bishop McDevitt on Saturday.
Peters Twp. quarterback Nolan DiLucia throws a pass under pressure from Bishop McDevitt’s Maurice Barnes Jr. during their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Peters Twp.’s Reston Lehman picks up yardage past Bishop McDevitt defenders during their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Peters Twp.’s James Spratt tackles Bishop McDevitt’s Nazir Jones-Davis during their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Bishop McDevitt kicker Aidan Grella kicks the winning goal, as Peters Twp.’s Lucas Shanafelt and Reston Lehman defend, as time expires in their PIAA Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, at Mansion Park in Altoona.
Bishop McDevitt kicker Aidan Grella celebrates, as Peters Township’s Lucas Shanafelt reacts, after kicking the winning goal in their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
Peters Township’s James Spratt hugs Lucas Shanafelt after their last-second loss to Bishop McDevitt in their PIAA Class 5A semifinal Saturday.
ALTOONA — Teary-eyed and hurting for their own, Nolan DiLucia’s family and friends were there for him when it mattered most.
On the football field after a crushing outcome in the PIAA playoffs.
“Every good thing comes to an end,” DiLucia said.
And while many in his entourage were fretting, Peters Township’s ace quarterback did his best to hold a smile in the aftermath of the Indians’ 31-28 loss to defending champion Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt in the Class 5A semifinals on Saturday at Mansion Park Stadium.
Aidan Grella’s game-ending, 24-yard field goal lifted District 3 champion Bishop McDevitt to its 12th consecutive victory after a pair of season-opening losses.
“It’s so hard to say goodbye to this,” said DiLucia before hugging his family. “It’s going to hit me on the bus. It’s going to hit me later.”
The outcome set up a rematch of last year’s championship game between Bishop McDevitt and Philadelphia Roman Catholic at 7 p.m. Friday at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg.
The Crusaders survived 18 penalties for 173 yards and overcame Peters Township tying the score 95 seconds earlier on Anthony Maiello’s second field goal of the game, a 24-yarder of his own.
“They’re a really good football team, well-coached,” Bishop McDevitt coach Jeff Weachter said.
Bishop McDevitt (12-2) quickly marched downfield, aided by Ishmael Palmer’s 41-yard run to the Peters Township 8, setting up Grella’s game-winning kick that sent Bishop McDevitt’s players racing around the field and Peters Township’s troops trudging to the sidelines after their first loss.
“I told them if we didn’t win the state championship, I would want to walk off the field with one second left, knowing that we were right there fighting to the end,” Peters Township coach T.J. Plack said.
“Believe me, we fought ‘til the end.”
District 12 champion Roman Catholic defeated District 1 champion Springfield-Delco, 48-20, in Saturday’s other semifinal.
Coincidentally, Grella’s 19-yard field goal in overtime of last year’s championship game carried Bishop McDevitt to a 34-31 victory over Roman Catholic.
“I’m sure Roman Catholic wants to get some revenge on us,” Weachter said. “From what I’ve seen of them, they’re probably better than they were last year. We definitely have to cut down on the penalties.”
On Saturday, Sebastian Williams passed for 260 yards and two touchdowns and Nazir Jones-Davis rushed for 114 yards and another score for Bishop McDevitt.
Peters Township (13-1), making just its second PIAA playoff appearance, was bidding for its second trip to the state finals after losing to Imhotep Charter in 2023.
The WPIAL champion Indians overcame deficits of 14-0 and 21-10 after coming back a week ago from a 19-point deficit to beat Pine-Richland, 20-19 in the WPIAL championship game at Acrisure Stadium.
“We always think today’s our day,” Plack said. “We’ve got a great group of kids, guys that can play football, can believe, trust in each other and trust in the coaching staff. Game day is our day. We always talk about going 1-0, stay the course with everything we do. Everyone makes adjustments, but there’s always a chance with us.”
And there certainly was plenty of opportunity for the Indians after Bishop McDevitt bolted to a 14-0 lead on Williams’ 58-yard pass to Howard Holton Jr. and Palmer’s 27-yard punt return.
Peters Township survived a blocked punt on its first possession when Grella’s 39-yard field goal sailed wide right.
“That blocked punt woke us up,” Plack said.
Peters Township (13-1) got on the board in the second quarter on Maiello’s 28-yard field goal, cutting the McDevitt lead to 14-3.
The Indians closed within 14-10 on Cole Neupaver’s 6-yard run after his interception stopped a Bishop McDevitt drive at the PT 40.
Bishop McDevitt took a 21-10 lead into halftime following a 42-yard touchdown run by Jones-Davis, an Eastern Michigan commit, who finished with 114 yards rushing on only 12 carries.
Peters Township’s latest comeback try began in earnest behind DiLucia in the third quarter when he found Lucas Rost on an 8-yard touchdown pass, then connected with Reston Lehman on the two-point conversion.
His 70-yard touchdown pass to P.J Luke in the fourth gave the Indians their first lead at 25-21.
DiLucia, a Villanova commit, finished 19 for 37 for 254 yards, while Williams was 16 for 23 for 260 yards for McDevitt, which retook the lead minutes later on Williams’ 26-yard TD toss to Jontai Quick, putting the Crusaders ahead, 28-25.
When Peters Township drove deep inside Bishop McDevitt territory, DiLucia had two passes tipped for incompletions that led to Maiello’s 24-yard field goal, tying the score at 28-28.
“I kind of knew they were going to just jump for the ball, but they weren’t sending any blitzes,” DiLucia said. “My eyes saw the touchdown. I got too excited, too happy, and I tried to force the throws.”
With the season over and DiLucia’s high school career a wrap, he made sure to tell his teammates how much he loves them. He’s going to miss the camaraderie, too.
“I’ve always had hopes for this team,” he said. “I know this team can do great things. We’ve done great things this season. I love every single one of these guys. I’ve got their backs for life and they’ve got mine.”
Tags: Peters Township
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