Dominant Peters Township defense stops South Fayette cold

By: Antonio Rossetti
Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 12:01 AM

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Peters Township put on a dominant defensive display Friday night, defeating South Fayette, 38-3, in a Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference clash.

Peters Township racked up 436 of total offense and held the Lions to minus-20 rushing yards and 3 total yards in the game.

Mickey Vaccarello spearheaded the Indians defense, tallying three sacks and three tackles for loss.

“Our game plan was to get after the quarterback,” Vaccarello said. “He’s a great player. He’s really dynamic. He can throw and run, so we knew we had to contain him. We stuck to the game plan and it worked out today.”

Drew Welhorsky was held to minus-12 yards on 20 carries. He was 9 of 23 for 23 yards passing.

Vaccarello wasn’t the only player who shut down South Fayette (6-2, 1-2). Reston Lehman and James Spratt each notched two sacks. Lehman was in the backfield the entire game.

“Everyone knows Reston,” Vaccarello said. “Best in the WPIAL and the state. Spratt went to my middle school actually. St. Louise. He’s a player, man. He’s played behind some people, but he’s getting his chance and making the best of it. Both are exceptional players.”

Lehman lauded the defense that held the Lions to minus-1 total yards in the second half.

“Our defense played out of our minds,” Lehman said. “Everything is starting to click together. When we get (lineman Franco Muscatello) back, we will be even better. They run the tunnel screen. They run the draw play. We shut that down all game. We practiced that all week. They had no chance.”

Nolan DiLucia led the offense for Peters Township (7-1, 2-1), completing 15 out of 21 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown. DiLucia ran for 111 yards on nine carries with a touchdown from 38 yards out.

“They were dropping a lot of guys into coverage, so when the play breaks down, you’ve just got to get out of the pocket and do something,” DiLucia said. “When guys aren’t open, I just have to use my legs.”

Vaccarello liked what he saw from his teammate.

“Everyone knows who Nolan is,” Vaccarello said. “He’s one of the best QBs in the WPIAL. He just did his thing tonight and will continue to do so for the rest of the season. Best quarterback in the WPIAL.”

Nick Courie ran for 90 yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns.

DeLucia’s leading target was Nick McCullough, who caught four passes for 77 yards.

DeLucia also connected with Lehman on a 2-yard pass that put Peters Township ahead 24-3 in the second half.

“We’ve been boys since we were young in termites,” DiLucia said. “We’ve always had that connection. I saw him wide open down the field and I knew I had to get it to him, and hey, he caught it.”

“I might drop it in practice, but I’ll definitely catch it in a game,” Lehman said jokingly.

Peters packed the first punch when Nick Courie punched in a 3-yard touchdown run to cap off a 67-yard drive, taking an early 7-0 lead.

The score was set up by a DiLucia pass to Eli Prado for 11 yards on third-and-2.

After Peters forced another three-and-out, South Fayette had a 1-yard punt, setting Peters up at the South Fayette 22-yard line.

DiLucia ran 17 yards to the Lions’ 5-yard line. Courie punched in another 3-yard score out of an elephant goal line package to take a 14-0 lead five minutes into the game.

The Indians forced another punt, but the Lions got the ball back when Sylas Aitken picked off a DiLucia pass.

Nonetheless, the Indians made another stop.

Pinned at their own 7, a big pass from DiLucia to Nick McCullough for 30 yards and a 35-yard run put Peters into Lions territory.

The Indians were held to an Anthony Maiello 32-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead at the end of one quarter.

Peters forced its fourth punt, but McCullough muffed it, which led to a Luke Gillen 43-yard field goal, making it 17-3.

The Lions had two possessions in Indians territory but went scoreless both times. One was a blocked 48-yard field goal attempt.

Peters held South Fayette to 4 yards of total yardage in the first half. South Fayette had minus-8 rushing yards.

A DiLucia 15-yard run and an illegal hands to the face penalty on the Lions put the Indians into South Fayette territory. DiLucia finished the drive with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Lehman, making it 24-3 in a drive that took less than two minutes.

The Indians increased their lead to 31-3 on a 58-yard drive that was finished with an Darius McMillon 8-yard touchdown run.

The Lions had one of their longest drives of the game, but McCullough put a stop to it, picking off a Welhorsky pass.

DiLucia tacked on a 38-yard run, escaping a sack to extend the Peters lead to 38-3.

“After that loss to USC, everyone had a chip on their shoulder,” Lehman said. “We’re coming for it all now.”

DiLucia was happy to keep the momentum up in front of the home crowd.

“Being back home is amazing,” DiLucia said. “Being in front of our fans is amazing.”

Tags: Peters Township, South Fayette