Nolan DiLucia threw three first-half touchdown passes and ran 39 yards for the Indians’ final score as Peters Township topped defending champion Pine-Richland, 43-17, earning its first-ever WPIAL football championship. Mickey Vaccarrello, Ethan Wertman and Carter Shanafelt each had TD grabs in the second quarter. Vinny Sarcone and Preston Blair ran for Peters touchdowns in the third. The Indians defense held Pine-Richland to 151 yards and 9 first downs. Peters Township travels to play Cathedral Prep (Erie) next weekend in the PIAA quarterfinals.
Fort Cherry rallied from a fourth-quarter deficit to beat Bishop Canevin for the second time this season. The Rangers return to the WPIAL championship game for the first time since 2001 when they lost to Rochester in the first-ever WPIAL game at then-Heinz Field. Matt Sieg rushed for 157 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Fort Cherry. The sophomore also passed for over 100 yards and now has put up more than 3,100 yards total offense for the year. His last two scores turned a 21-20 deficit into a 33-21 lead in the game’s final five minutes. Fort Cherry will play #1 South Side at Acrisure Stadium next Friday morning.
Wash High wasn’t as fortunate, falling to Beaver Falls. The Little Prexies got three defensive touchdowns and held the Tigers to just two first downs in the second half but committed five turnovers of their own, setting Beaver Falls up twice inside the WHS five yard line. Isaiah Thomas and Jaden Nemeth had interception return touchdowns while Zxavian Willis recovered a Beaver Falls fumble in the end zone for a score, his second touchdown of the night. Beaver Falls will face #1 Steel Valley Friday afternoon. Click for PIAA Soccer brackets WPIAL Football brackets
Saturday: WPIAL Football Championships
5A Peters Township 43, Pine-Richland 17
6A North Allegheny 44, Central Catholic 41
PIAA Boys Soccer Championship
1A Delco Christian 1, Charleroi 0
Friday: WPIAL Football Semifinals
1A Fort Cherry 33, Bishop Canevin 21
1A South Side 28, Clairton 12
2A Beaver Falls 28, Wash High 26
2A Steel Valley 34, Mohawk 21
3A Belle Vernon 49, East Allegheny 8
3A Avonworth 21, Elizabeth-Forward 10
4A Aliquippa 47, Mars 24
4A McKeesport 28, Montour 14