Pine-Richland Tops Peters Township for Ninth WPIAL Title

PITTSBURGH — Since 2018, Pine-Richland has produced a pattern of winning a WPIAL title every two years. The Rams won a title in 2018, 2020 and 2022. The year is now 2024 and No.1 Pine-Richland is back in the championship game once again as it faced No.3 Peters Township Saturday in the WPIAL 5A Championship at Acrisure Stadium.

Both teams met last season in the 5A title game with Peters Township defeating Pine-Richland 43-17. For the Rams, they wanted revenge after a disappointing loss to end last season. The Indians entered the game scoring an average of 31.9 points per game. But Pine-Richland has had the reputation of playing lockdown defense and having a good secondary.

The Rams defense showed up when the lights were bright, forcing the Indians to only nine points en route to a 20-9 win. For Pine-Richland, it was their ninth WPIAL title in program history.

Pine-Richland rushed three times to start the game. Maclane Miller rushed for three straight plays gaining eight yards but did not gain a first down.

After Peters Township rushed on two consecutive plays, Indians quarterback Nolan DiLucia connected with Jeremy Poletti down the left side of the field for a 30-yard reception. The Indians committed a false start penalty, but right after DiLucia rushed for 16 yards on two carries. On fourth-and-1 from the Rams 34-yard line, the Indians tried to convert. DiLucia looked to connect to Nick McCullough, but his pass was a little far, forcing a turnover on downs.

Right before the end of the first quarter, Pine-Richland made a big splash. Rams’ sophomore quarterback Aaron Strader connected deep down the left side of the field to Lawrence “Jay” Timmons for a 40-yard reception. Timmons took a couple of steps before McCullough made a touchdown saving tackle. At the beginning of the second quarter, Timmons made another big play on the same drive. On an end-around, Timmons rushed for a 21-yard gain. His two big plays set up Grant Argiro to convert on a 24-yard field goal to give the Rams the first points of the game.

Peters Township answered quickly, taking its first lead of the night, 7-3. After McCullough caught a 20-yard pass, DiLucia threw right back to McCullough, as he ran past Rams’ defensive back Eli Wentz for a 39-yard reception. Those big plays set the Indians inside the red zone as the drive concluded with DiLucia throwing a 23-yard touchdown to Eli Prado.

With less than two minutes left in the second quarter, the Rams faced third-and-16 from their own 36-yard line. With good protection from the offensive line, Strader had time in the pocket. He then heaved the ball down the field to Tanner Cunningham, who took it in for a 64-yard touchdown.

Right before halftime, Peters Township got a couple quick first downs and then faced third-and-13. DiLucia threw an incomplete pass but a roughing the passer penalty by the Rams gave the Indians new life. DiLucia completed two passes for 21 yards and that was good enough to get the Indians in field goal range. Kicker Anthony Maiello barely got the football above the crossbar, but he converted on the 29-yard field goal as time expired to narrow the Rams lead, 10-9.

Both quarterbacks were efficient in the first half, Strader completed 4-of-7 passes for 123 yards for Pine-Richland. DiLucia was even better completing 11-of-15 passes for 150 yards.

Nolan DiLucia rushes with the football during the WPIAL 5A Championship Game on November 23, 2024. // Ed Thompson. PSN.

Despite Peters Township scoring points to end the first half, it was Pine-Richland that started to roll in the third quarter. The Rams forced the Indians to go three-and-out to begin the half and Pine-Richland used its defensive stop to its advantage.

Strader rushed for 23 yards up the middle to set the Rams inside the red zone. Strader then threw a jump ball to Timmons, who hauled it in over McCullough for a 22-yard touchdown. Pine-Richland extended its lead to 17-9.

Later in the third quarter, Strader threw a pass down the field to Wentz. Unfortunately for the Indians, a pass interference penalty was called, setting the Rams inside Peters’ 35-yard line. Right after, Miller rushed twice and Strader threw an incomplete pass. But the Rams were still able to get points thanks to Argiro converting on a 47-yard field goal.

Trailing by 11, Peters Township needed to make a play. With less than three minutes left in the third quarter, Strader threw a deep ball down the field intended for Cunningham, but McCullough jumped in front of him to intercept the pass.  The Indians started at their own 10-yard line after the interception but only gained six yards and was forced to punt.

In the middle of the fourth quarter, Peters Township was able to go down the field and enter inside the Rams 10-yard line after getting two pass interference calls go their way. DiLucia looked to cut the Rams lead to one possession, but his pass intended for Eli Prado was picked off by Cunningham and returned it 28 yards.

The Indians had one more possession but could not convert as DiLucia got sacked on fourth down from his own 39-yard line. For the Rams, Miller rushed for a 28-yard gain up the middle to run out the clock. Despite the Rams committing 13 penalties for 111 yards, they still managed to win.

Pine-Richland now takes on Bishop McDevitt — the District 3 champion, who beat Exeter Township in the quarterfinals 48-14 — in the Class 5A PIAA semifinals on next weekend with a specific date, time and location still to be determined.