(Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh PA) - Peters Township overcomes 19-0 halftime deficit and defeat Pine-Richland in the 5A WPIAL Championship, behind Cole Neupaver’s three second half touchdowns.
The Rams opened their first drive to the Peters 1-yard line and were faced with a 4th and 10. Aaron “Oobie” Strader used his legs for a 15 yard run to the Peters 5 and the Rams with a first and goal. Three plays later, Jay Timmons scores the touchdown and the Rams drew first blood. The 2-point conversion was stopped.
Peters with a shanked punt that went just 15 yards gave the Rams the ball at the Peters 45-yard line. The Indians defense bailed out the punt, Jeremy Poletti with an interception at the Indians 3-yard line. They would punt again after a 3 and out. Pine-Richland out gained Peters 106-5 in the first quarter.
Strader called his own number from the Peters 3 and scored to extend the lead 12-0. The 2-point try was denied again.
On the next drive for Peters, the Rams defense got to Nolan DiLucia and forced the fumble and recovered it. They would end up punting on that possession.
Pine-Richland faced with a 4th and 12 at the Peters 23-yard line, Strader connected with Khalil Taylor for the touchdown, extending the Rams lead to 19-0.
Peters couldn’t get anything going in the first half. They were held to just 38 yards of offense. The Rams had 205 yards of offense.
The Indians struck big with under 8:00 to play in the third quarter, Neupaver found a crease and ran for 74 yards for the touchdown. The point after failed. The Rams took a 19-6 lead into the 4th quarter.
On 4th and 6 at their own 46, DiLucia to Reston Lehman all the way to the Pine-Richland 22-yard line. Neupaver plunged in his second touchdown of the game on the next play and with 10:58 to go, the Indians cut the Rams lead to a one score game.
Peters Township at the Pine Richland 46-yard line, on 4th and 4 DiLucia throws a lob to Lucas Rost for a 31 yard gain and a Peters first down. A couple of Neupaver carries put the ball at the 1. He punched it in on the next carry from the 1-yard line. Peters took the lead with the point after, 20-19 Indians with 4:50 to play in the game.
The Indians defense comes up massive with pressure on Strader, they knock the ball out of his hands and James Spratt jumped on it for the recovery at the Pine-Richland 14-yard line. Pine-Richland’s defense held Peters Township to a field goal attempt. Anthony Maiello missed the field goal try on a bad snap, keeping the score 20-19 Indians.
Strader connected with Timmons for 35 yards to the Indians 37. The Rams with the ball on 4th and 6, Strader ran for 5 yards and came up a yard short. The Indians complete the comeback and win the 5A championship 20-19.
Peters Township held Pine-Richland to 54 yards in the second half, the Indians offense totaled 150 in the second half.
Spratt totaled for 22 tackles in the game. Neupaver ran 25 times for 107 yards.
“They are resilient. That’s the definition of being resilient. We’ve been battle tested we kicked back before. This is just another chapter,” said head coach TJ Plack.