WEST MIFFLIN — For the first time in the history of the Peters Township football program, the Indians are headed to play in a WPIAL championship game after their impressive 28-10 win against the No. 1 seeded Penn Trafford Warriors.
It was a throwback type WPIAL football Friday night at West Mifflin High School in a Class 5A semifinal battle. There wasn’t a touchdown scored until the second half of the game.
Last year, Peters Township upset the Warriors in a quarterfinal meeting again at West Mifflin, 38-35. The Indians fell to Penn Hills in the semifinals the next week, and Penn Hills went on to win the 5A championship. Peters Township has never been to a WPIAL championship game in school history.
Penn Trafford quarterback Gabe Dunlap and Logan Pfeuffer of Peters Township have both been atop the WPIAL leaders in passing on the season.
Penn-Trafford got in the Indians territory the first possession of the game and capitalized with a 32-yard field goal. They were held scoreless the rest of the half. Dunlap was intercepted midway through the second quarter by Donovan MacMillan of Peters Township. Dunlap was able to find Ethan Carr and Chase Verrichio for some hookups but couldn’t capitalize on the Indians’ side of the field.
The Warriors held their 3-0 lead into the half.
Things heated up to start the second half. The heat was largely brought by the Indians. On the first possession for Peters Township’s offense, they got past the 50-yard line for the first time in the game. Then Pfeuffer connected with Breylen Carrington for 25-yards and was followed with a 20-yard elusive run by Aidan McCall to the Warriors 3-yard line.
Running back Ryan Magiske capitalized the two positive gains and ran in the first touchdown of the game to put the Indians in the lead.
Donovan McMillon caused another turnover when he stripped a Penn Trafford ball carrier, and Magiske returned it 43-yards for his second touchdown of the game. On the next possession for passing game opened up, with Penn Trafford pressing. Pfeuffer hit McCall on a 29-yard strike to put the Indians up 17 points with just under 10-minutes to play in the game.
Penn Trafford wasn’t going to lay down. Dunlap led his team down the field in two plays and connected with Carr for a 13-yard touchdown. The Warriors forced a fumble on the following Indians’ possession, but then Dunlap threw another interception that was returned for a touchdown by McCall.
Peters Township forced five turnovers on the night.
Peters Township will face the Gateway Gators next weekend in the 5A WPIAL championship game at Norwin High School.
