2024 Trib HSSN Preseason Football All-Star Team: Peters Township’s Nolan DiLucia

By: Don Rebel
Friday, July 12, 2024 | 5:24 PM

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Last August, Peters Township junior quarterback Nolan DiLucia wasn’t sure what his playing time would be as the Indians returned 2022 starting quarterback Chris Cibrone, who had thrown for over 2,000 yards the previous season.

However, Peters Township coach T.J. Plack decided to go with DiLucia as his starting quarterback out of camp, and the rest is history … Indians history.

DiLucia and his teammates captured the school’s first WPIAL football championship and won two state playoff games before falling to Imhotep Charter in the PIAA finals to finish 15-1.

“Last year, I was still battling for a starting job at quarterback, and I went in with a humble mindset,” DiLucia said. “We knew we would have a tough season against good teams, but we were one of the top teams.

“This year, I’m coming with a mindset that we need to prove ourselves and that last year was not a lucky run. We have guys that will work hard to be at the top again.”

DiLucia was one of the great stories in the WPIAL in 2023, ending up as the leading passer in the WPIAL.

“At the end of his freshman year, he gave us the best shot at beating a solid Bethel Park team,” Plack said. “It wasn’t necessarily during camp, but more how he handled his freshman year starting at safety and then improving that year at quarterback.”

DiLucia connected on 229 of his 379 passes for 3,131 yards and 30 touchdowns in leading the Indians to 15 straight wins before the loss in the state finals in Hershey.

He enters training camp in 2024 taking nothing for granted.

“I have been working on my footwork and speed because I think my speed was holding me back a bit,” DiLucia said. “I also worked on my vision and my mental side of the game, like making sure my team always knows where to be for each play.”

DiLucia was the Indians’ third-leading rusher a year ago with 489 yards and was fourth in scoring with eight touchdown runs.

Plack indicated DiLucia will return to the defensive side of the ball at safety but is expecting big things from his junior quarterback on and off the field.

“He has seen a lot so far in his young career with 26 games and 17 starts at quarterback,” Plack said. “I think he will be more equipped to handle the different ways defenses will prepare for him. Most importantly, he is a natural leader. We graduated a lot of vocal leaders and have a smaller senior class, so we will look to Nolan for leadership abilities to help us navigate the ups and downs of the season.”

The soon-to-be junior quarterback knows that there is a big target on the back of the Peters Township program this fall as the Indians try to repeat as 5A champions.

“We need to have the same mindset as last year because everyone thinks of us as the WPIAL champions,” DiLucia said. “We have a new team and are looking to be better than last year. As long as everyone keeps their heads down and grinds, we will continue to run our own course.”

Nolan DiLucia

Peters Township

Junior

6-foot-2/195 pounds

Quarterback, strong safety

Offers: DiLucia has been busy traveling to schools to show off his talents and touring the academic facilities of each university. Going into his camp of his junior year, he has one offer from Miami (Ohio).

2023 stats: 229 of 379 passing for 3,131 yards and 30 touchdowns. Third on the team in rushing with 110 carries for 489 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and eight touchdowns.

Highlights: Hudl

Tags: Peters Township