From youth football games to championships, this group of seniors has played, worked, failed, and succeeded together. During their four years of high school, the Class of 2026 managed to be a part of four WPIAL championships, sophomore year winning the WPIAL 5A Championship and making it to the state championship, junior year making it to the WPIAL championship, and winning their final WPIAL championship during senior year. However, it was the special bond between this group of seniors that started almost a decade ago that has served as the foundation to their on field success.
Peters Township Junior Football Association was the birthplace of their bond and competitive drive. The coaches always split these seniors among two teams. It was during these youth games competing against each other that they first learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They pushed each other to become better players. However, the friendships that developed is what they remember.
“My favorite part of being on this team is playing and practicing everyday with my best friends,” said Lucas Shanafelt, Stanford commit.
Shanafelt isn’t the only player with fond memories of youth football. Captain Lucas Rost believes that without football these relationships wouldn’t be possible.
“The thing that has meant the most to me in my career is the relationships and friendships I have built throughout my time. We work very hard in the offseason and during the season, so having your teammates around makes it easier,” Rost said.
After almost four years of youth football rivalries, these players came together to play on the middle school team. A short two years later they first stepped onto the high school field getting ready to play Friday night under the lights.
Throughout their high school years. The football seniors have grown and developed as individuals and also together, as a team.
“My most influential season has been my senior season, realizing that any week could be my last time playing football with my teammates. This allows us to celebrate every win like it’s our last and enjoy our last ride together,” said Rost.
“We” is one word they all used to describe their seasons because this team wasn’t a team full of individuals; it was a group as one, together.
“The most important thing to me was knowing no matter the outcome of how we play we will battle every second together because we all work so hard to be great,” explained Villanova commit, captain and quarterback Nolan DiLucia
Their collectiveness didn’t start just this year though. This group of seniors has not only been close knit, but they have learned from past senior mentors.
“The seniors before me have impacted my life in many ways. From how they played to how they spoke to the team, I always wanted to be a captain and leader that was remembered like how I remembered all the captains from over the years,” stated Shanafelt.
The last whistle blew on November 29 and all the emotions hit; you realize this is your last time playing with the only teammates you’ve ever known. Their relationships they created over the years are why saying goodbye is so hard. But how lucky are they to have something they loved so much that made leaving so hard. Miles apart, spread across the country from Stanford to Villanova to back here in Pittsburgh, the whole team is disbursed. While not physically together, they will always have a lasting friendship.
