Trib HSSN football team of the week for Nov. 24, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Monday, November 24, 2025 | 5:37 PM

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Trib HSSN football team of the week – Peters Township Indians

Coach – T.J. Plack (10th season)

Result – Peters Township 20, Pine-Richland 19

Record – 13-0 overall, 5-0 in Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference

#Earned – Depending on if you were gang green or the red alliance, the two halves in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game were night and day, a nightmare or a dream, forgetful or never to be forgotten. Defending district champion Pine-Richland dominated the first half, outscoring Peters Township, 19-0, and limiting the Indians’ offense to 38 total yards on 18 plays and only two first downs. But momentum in any sporting event can be a fickle thing. The pendulum swung the way of Peters Township in the third quarter and never swung back. The Indians rallied for 14 fourth quarter points and claimed the program’s second district football crown, with both coming in the last three years, as they dethroned the Rams, 20-19.

Statistical standouts – On offense, Peters Township was led by senior running back Cole Neupaver. The hockey player turned football player finished with 107 yards on 25 carries with most of those yards coming on a momentum- changing 74-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He added two more scores in the fourth quarter, first on a 22-yard run, then following a turnover, he provided the game-winning touchdown on a 1-yard plunge. Senior quarterback Nolan DiLucia threw for 76 yards and ran for 32 yards, but was a standout on defense with eight tackles. The defense was a big part of this golden win for the Indians, limiting Pine-Richland to 19 points in the first half when everything was going the Rams’ way, then blanking the defending champs in the second half. Senior linebacker James Spratt supplied 22 tackles and a shared sack. Senior linebacker Reston Lehman had nine tackles and a sack and a half while senior Lucas Rost had seven tackles.

Last year – A year after capturing its first WPIAL football championship, Peters Township had to settle for second in both the regular season standings and the district playoffs in 2024. The regular season began with five straight wins, including two shutouts, and allowing a total of 30 points in those nonconference wins. However in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference opener, the Indians came up short on the road, losing at Upper St. Clair, 21-7. PT would finish second in the conference to USC after ending the regular season with four straight victories. In the WPIAL playoffs, Peters Township earned a spot in the finals for a fourth time in six years with victories over Penn-Trafford in the quarterfinals, 42-13, and then avenging their lone loss to that point with a triumph over Upper St. Clair, 7-3. In a rematch of the 2023 title game, the Indians trailed Pine-Richland by one point at the half, but were kept off the scoreboard in the second half as the Rams prevailed, 20-9. Then-junior QB Nolan DiLucia threw for 161 yards and a touchdown and led the team in rushing with 61 yards.

Remember when – These are the glory days of Peters Township football. In the last seven years, the Indians finished with perfect regular seasons four times (2019, 2020, 2023, 2025) and have been to the WPIAL Class 5A championship game five times (2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025). PT has two WPIAL championships (2023 and 2025) and hopes to win the program’s first PIAA crown with two more wins. The program had never been to a WPIAL championship game before 2019, but twice the team finished undefeated in the regular season only to lose in the WPIAL playoffs. It was 53 years ago when Peters Township finished 9-0, but lost in its first playoff game in school history to Beaver in the 1972 playoffs, 44-16. Then 50 years ago, the Indians once again finished 9-0 in the 1975 regular season, but fell to Beth-Center in the postseason, 34-13.

WPIAL Week 13 Honorable Mention

Avonworth

We’re not sure where the deer hang out in mid-November, but the Antelopes have made it a habit to play on the North Shore around Thanksgiving. For the fourth straight season, Avonworth earned a spot in the WPIAL Class 3A championship game at Acrisure Stadium, and for the second year in a row, the Lopes brought home district gold. Lopes quarterback Carson Bellinger threw for 100 yards and a score, and Luca Neal rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown as Avonworth beat Imani Christian, 30-6.

Clairton

The calling card for Clairton all season has been a suffocating defense. In winning 12 straight games, Clairton registered nine shutouts in earning a return trip to the WPIAL Class A final. You dance with the one that brought you and the Bears leaned heavily on their ‘D’ for a 15th district championship. Quarterback Jeff Thompson III threw for 61 yards and a touchdown while the black and orange defense limited Laurel to one score and stopped a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt for the 8-6 win.

Aliquippa

While Clairton captured a 15th WPIAL title on Saturday, the Bears still trail the all-time leaders by six crowns. Aliquippa earned a 21st district championship last week by upending McKeesport in the Class 4A finals. In the PIAA quarterfinals on Friday, Aliquippa drilled Oil City to advance to the state semifinals. Akiva Woods and J.J. Work scored on TD runs, Marques Council Jr. connected with Josh Lay for a score and QaLil Goode returned an interception 100 yards for a TD as the Quips beat the Oilers, 28-6.

2025 HSSN Teams of the Week

Week 12 – Laurel Spartans

Week 11 – McKeesport Tigers

Week 10 – Frazier Commodores

Week 9 – Steel Valley Ironmen

Week 8 – Moon Tigers

Week 7 – North Allegheny Tigers

Week 6 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings

Week 5 – Albert Gallatin Colonials

Week 4 – Aliquippa Quips

Week 3 – Avella Eagles

Week 2 – Southmoreland Scotties

Week 1 – Mars Fightin’ Planets

Week Zero – Upper St. Clair Panthers

Tags: Peters Township