EQT Regional High School Football Tour: Peters Township 42 - Kittanning 6

McMurray, Pa.— Triple-A Kittanning (0-3) was no match for quad-A Peters Township (2-1) Friday night.

Running back Andrew Erenberg scored four touchdowns and ran for 172 yards on 21 carries to power the Indians to a 42-6 win at Peters Township Stadium.

“I think the last time I ran for four touchdowns in a game I was in middle school,” Erenberg said. “Our offensive line really opened up the holes so my job was easy.”

Erenberg, son of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rich Erenberg, gained over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns in the first half alone.

The mismatch was evident on the line of scrimmage as the Indians were bigger and stronger than the Wildcats, which was a key to the win, according to Peters Township head coach Nick Milchovich.

“They [Kittanning] were dealt a bad hand in this game and couldn’t match up with our size but still played with a lot of effort,” Milchovich said. “Give them credit. They were a hard-hitting scrappy team that was well-coached.”

Peters Township’s second option, running back Justin Miller, added 62 yards on 9 carries while helping to give Erenberg a breather. Milchovich described the backfield tandem as a formidable force.

“What a nice problem to have two running backs that can contribute the way they [Erenberg and Miller] can to give us a one-two punch,” Milchovich said. “Andrew [Erenberg] had a great game. He’s a great runner and an even better kid.”

The Indians were just as dominant on defense. They held the Wildcats to only 12 offensive plays in the first half and gave up a measly 24 yards and only one first down before the break, and 63 yards overall.

Peters Township quarterback Austin Hancock looked poised as he completed 7-of-12 passes for 139 yards. He also ran for 40 yards and scored a touchdown.

“Austin [Hancock] is experienced and he was in control the whole game,” Milchovich said. “He really led us tonight.”

On the Indians’ opening drive, Hancock hit tight end Will McClure on a 34-yard strike to the Wildcat 8-yard line to set up a first and goal, but Kittanning's Bo Bowser intercepted Hancock in the endzone to snuff out the scoring threat.

The Indians did not waste their second trip into the red zone, as Erenberg slashed through a hole for a 9-yard touchdown with two minutes left in the first quarter to give the Indians a 7-0 lead.

Erenberg hit the century mark on a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Indians a 14-0 lead with 5:41 left in the second quarter.

Hancock then barreled in for a 1-yard touchdown to push the Indians' lead to 21-0 with 42 seconds left in the half. He threw for 108 yards with 6 completions on 9 attempts in the first half. His favorite target, McClure, had 97 receiving yards on three catches in the first half alone.

Kittanning's Taylor Fink fumbled the second-half kickoff and Peters Township Mike Ranali recovered at the Wildcat 42 yard line. Kittanning held, however, and forced a punt -- but they were flagged for encroachment on the punt attempt, giving the Indians a fourth-and-4 rather than a fourth-and-9.

They went for it and Hancock hit Chad Loether on a 30-yard strike to give the Indians a first down on the seven yard line. Two plays later, Erenberg banged in from the 5 for a touchdown to push the Indians lead to 28-0.

Kittanning broke the scoreboard on a gadget play midway through the third quarter. Logan Atwood caught a lateral and threw it toward the endzone. Bo Bowser fought off the Indian defender and caught the pass for a 34-yard flea flicker touchdown to break the ice for the Wildcats, now down 28-6.

It only took five plays for the Indians to push the lead back to four touchdowns. Erenberg broke off the left side for a 19-yard touchdown, his fourth of the game, to cap a 58-yard drive and push Peters Township to a 35-6 lead with 6:14 left in the third quarter and activate the continuous game clock.

On the ensuing possession, Kittanning quarterback Andrew Scholl was sacked and fumbled the ball on the first play from scrimmage. Greg Lippert recovered at the Wildcat 10-yard line, and two plays later Hancock scored from the 2 to give the Indians a 42-6 lead 30 seconds later and end the scoring.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS HERE!

Score by quarter
Kittanning  0 0 6 0
Peters        7 7 28 0

SCORING PLAYS
First Quarter
PT - Erenberg 9 run (Binotto kick) 2:03

Second Quarter
PT – Erenberg 6 run (Binotto kick) 5:41
PT – Hancock 1 run (Binotto kick) :41.8

Third Quarter
PT – Erenberg 4 run (Binotto kick) 9:46
K – Bowser 34 pass from Atwood (kick failed) 8:13
PT – Erenberg 19 run (Binotto kick) 6:14
PT – Hancock 2 run (Binotto kick) 5:45

Fourth Quarter
none