The game trend between last year’s playoff matchup and this year’s was polar opposites, but the result remained the same.

The No. 5 Peters Township Indians (12-1) knocked off top-seed Penn-Trafford (11-2), 28-10, in the Class 5A WPIAL semifinals on Friday Night at West Mifflin to advance to the program’s first championship game.

After virtually no defense being played in the matchup a year ago, it was that side of the ball that was a difference maker.

The Indians returned two turnovers for a touchdown and stopped the Warriors on fourth down deep in their own territory twice in the first half and rode that momentum.

After a combined 56 points in the first half last year, the two teams mustered a combined three on Friday Night. Sophomore Nathan Schlessinger connected on a 32-yard field goal to give Penn-Trafford a 3-0 halftime lead.

The Indians’ offense found a rhythm to start the second half, taking the opening possession in for a touchdown, capped off by a Ryan Magiske 3-yard run.

Magiske scored the first of two defensive touchdowns for the Indians, returning a fumble 43 yards for the score. Andrew Massucci, who converted on all four of his extra points, made it 14-3.

Peters Township continued to roll, scoring two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Logan Pfeuffer connected with Aidan McCall for 29 yards to give Peters Township a 21-3 lead.

Penn-Trafford had a quick response on a 13-yard pass from Gabe Dunlap to Ethan Carr to cut the deficit to 11. The Warriors were able to get another stop, but a 31-yard pick-6 by McCall sealed the game for the Indians.

After its lone loss of the season a few weeks ago, the Peters Township football team continued to right the ship with a win at Bethel Park on Friday Night, 30-7.

Heading into the matchup. the Indians and Black Hawks were in a three-way tie with the Moon Tigers for first place. Now Peters Township and Moon are tied for first place in the Class 5A Allegheny Eight Conference.

The Indians never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 14-0 lead. In the first quarter, senior Ryan Magiske scampered in from five yards out for the first touchdown. Sophomore Andrew Massucci tacked on the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Peters Township (8-1, 5-1) added on with Magiske’s second touchdown of the game, this time an 18-yard pass from junior Logan Pfueffer. Bethel Park (5-3, 4-2) cut the deficit in half heading into halftime on a 1-yard run by quarterback Anthony Chiccitt.

The Indians’ defense and special teams took over in the second half.

Senior Josh Casilli returned a kickoff 90 yards and then the defense forced a safety on a holding call in the end zone for a 23-7 lead. Casilli put the finishing touches on with a 5-yard run in the third quarter.

With a win next week at Baldwin in the regular season finale, Peters Township will earn at least a share of the section title. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Peters Township used a pair of scores from Josh Casilli to knock off Upper St. Clair, 29-21, in the teams’ WPIAL Class 5A Allegheny 8 Conference opener Friday night.

The No. 2-ranked Indians (2-0, 1-1) started fast with a long return from Aidan McCall on the opening kickoff. Peters Township’s drive ended at the 1-yard line when Ryan Magiske was stopped just short of the end zone. The field position hurt Upper St. Clair as Luke Banbury was tackled for a safety on the next play, and Peters Township led 2-0.

The Indians scored the game’s first touchdown after the ensuing free kick. Quarterback Logan Pfeuffer found Casilli open in the end zone from 33 yards, and after Andrew Massucci added the extra point, the Indians led 9-0.

The Panthers got their first touchdown on a fourth-down conversion early in the second quarter. Quarterback Ethan Dahlem rolled right and threw toward Brandon Shearer at the near pylon. Shearer made a great catch and was able to tip-toe the boundary to make the score 9-7.

Peters had the answer and again it was Casilli, this time using his legs. The senior wide receiver lined up at quarterback in the wildcat formation and scampered to paydirt from 10 yards.

Peters Township took a 23-7 lead in the third quarter when Magiske scored on a 1-yard run. Upper St. Clair struck back one play later. David Pantelis took a short pass from Dahlem, found a seam and raced 84 yards to the end zone. The 2-point conversion pass was no good and the lead was 23-13 Peters Township.

The Indians focused on ball control on their next drive, taking over 6 minutes off the clock before Pfeuffer found McCall on a 26-yard scoring strike as Peters Township led 29-13.

The Panthers (1-1, 0-1) struck quickly again with an answer. Two plays later, Dahlem hit Mateo Cepullio for 65-yard catch-and-run touchdown. This time, Dahlem found Pantelis for the 2-point conversion and Upper St. Clair pulled within eight points with 9:17 left.

Peters Township was forced to punt and Upper St. Clair got the ball back with about 4 minutes remaining. The Panthers drove into Peters Township territory, but a sack and a penalty brought up a fourth and long. Dahlem found Pantelis on fourth and 35, and the junior receiver made a great effort but ended up 2 yards short of the first down marker. Peters Township ran out the clock to finish out the 29-21 victory.

The Indians will travel to Woodland Hills (0-2, 0-1) for their first road game of the season. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.