CANONSBURG, Pa. — The 2024 WPIAL football season has officially started and a new year for players can bring some jitters to a team. In Peters Township’s season-opener against Canon-McMillan last night, the Indians trailed 17-0. However, a spark on special teams brought back Peters Township’s ability to score.
Peters Township senior Nick McCullough returned a 60-yard punt for a touchdown in the second quarter to open up the scoring for the Indians. After that, the Indians scored 35 unanswered points and won the game 42-17. He is blessed to be in the position on a team such as Peters Township, the reigning WPIAL 5A champions and a team that played in the PIAA 5A title game a season ago.
“I’m blessed. Amazing coaching staff, my players, I never would have made those plays if they [his teammates] weren’t blocking for me. So, I’m very thankful for this team. Senior year, live it all out.” McCullough said to Pittsburgh Sports Now after the game.Â
When Peters Township and Canon-McMillan played in 2023, the Big Macs gave the Indians and they continued to do so in last night’s game. After trailing 17-0, it looked like the Big Macs would get revenge, but McCullough thinks the reason for the early deficit was just having the jitters of starting a new season.
“First game, since we all have these young guys, first game jitters, I guess,” McCullough said. “We know what we can do. The first quarter and second quarter were tough. In the locker room, we talked it all out and we got comfortable (came out in the second half) and balled out.”
McCullough contributed significantly on the receiving side as well, recording six receptions for 178 yards in the game. The quarterback helping make McCullough shine on the field is Nolan DiLucia, who threw for 3,131 yards a season ago.
“Best QB I ever played with,” McCullough said when talking about his connection with DiLucia. “We’re like brothers on and off the field. Everything that we do is in sync. He’s like a brother to me.”
As McCullough looks to repeat as WPIAL champions and hopes to possibly win a state title this year, something else that he will have to make a decision on in the near future is where he wants to go to play college football. McCullough has Division I offers from Robert Morris University, Bucknell, Brown, Duquesne and Davidson. His first offer was from Division III Carnegie Mellon University. He is blessed to have the offers that he has.
“I’m blessed. It doesn’t matter D1, D3, no matter what it is, I’m blessed,” McCullough said. “I’m thankful for all these coaches taking the time to talk to me. I’m thankful head coach (TJ) Plack for getting me out there too.”
Next week, Peters Township will host its home opener against McKeesport. And McCullough is looking to have just as big of an impact as he did last night.
“Our mindset is 1-0 every week and to repeat what we did last year. It’s a different team with new young players stepping up.”
