MCMURRAY, Pa. — Peters Township faced challenges in their game against rival Canon-McMillan Friday night, but made enough important plays to earn the victory, 23-10, at Confluence Financial Partners Stadium to stay undefeated in 2023.
The Indians (9-0) came into their matchup with a 314-27 point differential in their favor, making this low scoring affair far more interesting than normal. Their win over the Big Macs (5-4) is the third in the past five seasons and enacts revenge for the Indians in their 26-7 loss on the road to them last season.
Both teams struggled to score at all throughout the first half. Peters Township sophomore quarterback Nolan DiLucia saw a Canon-McMillan defensive lineman tip his pass and then junior strong safety Evan Morris intercept it and take it to the 48-yard line.
The Big Macs had issues against the Indians defense on their next drive, who stopped them on third down and three at the three-yard line. Junior kicker Zach Barzd converted the short field goal attempt to put the Big Macs up 3-0 late in the first quarter.
Peters Township senior wide receiver/cornerback Elliot Schratz took the ensuing kickoff all the way to the 35-yard line, giving his team a great opportunity to score. They made it into the red zone, but two penalties pushed them far enough back that Canon-McMillan forced a punt.
That punt proved vital for the Indians, as Morris fumbled it at the two-yard line, with Schratz jumping on it and giving his team possession. The Indians would score a few plays later with senior running back Vinny Sarcone punching it in, to give his team the 7-3 lead.
Peters Township would move down the field on their first drive of the second half, but failed to convert in the red zone. They would settle for a field goal, which senior Carter Shanafelt converted from 35-yards out to increase the lead to 10-3.
The Big Macs found themselves at the five-yard line at the end of the third quarter and in need of a score. Senior running back Zach Welsh, who had some big rushes earlier in the game, ran 41 yards on the second play of the drive to get them to midfield.
The Indians committed two bad penalties, one a hit to the head from junior Nick McCullough on Big Macs sophomore Jaydin Baxter and the other, roughing the passer, which put the Big Macs closer to the end zone. Welsh would cap off the drive with a six-yard rushing touchdown to tie the game up at 10-10.
Peters Township looked like they would score on the next drive, but DiLucia’s pass to McCullough came off his hands and right into Baxter’s for an interception
Both teams failed to move the ball on the next three drives, but Peters Township got one big play to put them on top. DiLucia threw a screen pass to senior running back Preston Blair, who sped through the Canon-McMillan defense for a 55-yard receiving touchdown to put his team up 17-10.
The Indians stopped the Big Macs on fourth down the following drive and then Sarcone ran 28 yards untouched for his second touchdown of the game, to increase their advantage to 23-10.
The 10 points the Indians allowed is the most for them this season, as they hadn’t given up more than seven points in a game in 2023.
Peters Township will face rival Bethel Park at home for their regular season finale next Friday, Oct. 27, while Canon-McMillan will face Mt. Lebanon.
