IN Peters Township February/March 2020 | Page 54

2019/2020 Peters Township High School Football Team GAMECHANGERS Peters Township Football battles Gateway in first-ever WPIAL title game. T BY JENNIFER BROZAK he Peters Township High School football team may not have clinched the 5A WPI- AL championship title, but that didn’t stop them from hav- ing plenty to celebrate. Although the Gateway Gators defeated the Tigers 21-20 in the rain-soaked battle at Norwin High School on Nov. 23, the Indians made school history by play- ing in their first-ever WPIAL champi- onship game. 52 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ “It was truly an incredible sense of accomplishment, seeing how our players handled the challenges and success all season,” says Head Coach T.J. Plack, who just finished his fourth season with the team. “They were able to remain humble and hungry throughout our playoff run and into the WPIAL championship, while taking their families, classmates and com- munity on a memorable journey.” Peters Township put points on the board in each quarter of the game, scor- ing touchdowns in the first and third quarters and field goals in the second and icmags.com fourth. Senior running back Ryan Mag- iske scored twice against Gateway, with two touchdown runs of 16 and 10 yards. Sophomore kicker Andrew Massucci made two field goals of 24 and 33 yards, as well as both extra points, to keep the Indians in the game. Despite the loss, the team ended the season on top, finishing 12-2 overall. They also captured first place in the Allegheny Conference with a 6-1 record, tied with Moon Township. This was the second consecutive year that the Indians clinched