One would have to think Portage Area High School football coach Gary Gouse would barely be able to contain his happiness over his team's performance in 2008.
The Mustangs are 7-0 and averaging more than 50 points per game. They have yet to allow more than eight to an opponent. All but one of their games has gone to the mercy rule, and there's a good chance the backfield will produce two 1,000-yard rushers, both of which are juniors.
A midweek phone call to the school revealed a surprisingly subdued Gouse.
''To fans, it is great. To coaches, we need to get better,'' Gouse said. ''That's just our expectations.
''We're looking at the big picture right now.''
Gouse's big picture involves getting to the District 6 Class A championship game for the first time. Getting there involves being toughened up by facing the kind of talent Portage will meet up with in the playoffs, and the Mustangs are still looking for that.
They should find it on Friday when the Mustangs head into Somerset County to square off with North Star, also undefeated at 7-0 and the reigning District 5 Class A champ. It will be one of the marquee games on the area schedule this weekend.
''They've got great skilled athletes unlike anything we've seen all year,'' Gouse said of the Cougars. ''They have everything on offense. We have to be very disciplined defensively. That's been a key for us this year. How are we going to adjust?''
The Cougars possess an abundance of weapons. Receivers Alijah Petrilla and Lucas Zellem are 6-foot-3 and 6-4, respectively. Quarterback Cory Kaltenbaugh averages more than 8 yards per pass attempt. Running backs Mike Knisely and Josh Kuncher have combined for more than 1,000 yards on the ground.
''We knew we had a lot back, and we were hoping to build on last year,'' Cougar coach Stacy Schmitt said. ''We had some concerns on the offensive line which proved to be unfounded.''
Of course, Portage's offense doesn't need to take a backseat to anyone. The Mustangs are averaging 349.9 rushing yards per game. Halfback Tommy Burgan has 894 yards on just 66 carries. Fullback Mike Sinosky's rushed for 758 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The Mustangs have shown signs of being able to throw, too, but they haven't had to do much of it. And, with the lopsided victories, opportunities to develop the passing game that probably will be needed in the playoffs haven't been available very often.
''There have been a couple of games where our offensive coordinator, Larry McCabe, and our receivers coach, Jeremy Burkett, tell them not to score. We want to work on other things,'' Gouse said. ''These are kids that won a lot of games by close margins last year. We really want to be tested. Friday, we will be.''
Central in Clearfield
Off to its best start in almost 40 years at 7-0, Central embarks on a brutal stretch to conclude the regular season with three road games against teams that are a combined 17-4.
It begins on Friday at Clearfield. The Bisons are 6-1, having snapped Tyrone's 35-game regular-season winning streak a few weeks ago and having scored no less than 28 points in any game.
Clearfield averages 412.3 yards per game. Bison quarterback Jarrin Campman is 28 yards shy of 1,000 passing. Running back Isiah Morgan needs 15 yards for 1,000 rushing.
Central sophomore Lucas Runk is also closing on a milestone; he's just 10 yards from 1,000 yards rushing this season.
The Scarlet Dragons have performed well defensively, holding five opponents to 15 points or less.
Trojans visit Panthers
Panther Community Stadium in Loysburg will be the site of what promises to be a hard-hitting Inter-County Conference South Division affair on Friday when Mount Union visits Northern Bedford. The Trojans are 6-1, the Panthers 5-2.
If Northern Bedford wins, it could create a three-way tie for first in the division, presuming Everett beats winless Williamsburg.
Both teams are very physical. Mount Union is known for its power running attack of Zach Hicks and Malakia Jackson. Only two teams have rushed for more than 180 yards against NBC this season, though.
Playoffs start early
The District 6 Class A playoffs get underway in two weeks, but Glendale and Claysburg-Kimmel could be playing for a postseason berth at Bulldog Stadium on Friday. Both teams are 3-4 and tied for the last of 16 playoff spots in 6-A along with Southern Huntingdon.
Glendale has found new life since adopting the spread offense a couple of weeks ago and gave Bellwood-Antis a run for its money last week. Claysburg, too, has been reinvigorated by a new alignment, putting ultra-quick tailback Daniel Knott in the shotgun.
It will come down to the Vikings' power against the Bulldogs' quickness.
LHAC battles
The Laurel Highlands Conference wrapped up sectional action last week and will complete the regular season with cross-divisional games.
A couple of pivotal ones will be on tap in Loretto and Johnstown on Friday. At St. Francis University, Bishop Carroll will try to gear up for the 6-A playoffs against Class AA juggernaut Forest Hills.
The Huskies (4-3) have struggled with turnovers in the last five games but have the talent to play with almost anyone. Forest Hills, meanwhile, has come back down to earth a bit after a 5-0 start by splitting its last two games with Central Cambria and Penn Cambria.
At Point Stadium, Penn Cambria will try to bounce back from last week's eight-point loss at Forest Hills by upsetting undefeated Bishop McCort. The Panthers are well positioned to make the District 6 Class AA playoff field, but a win over the Crushers would essentially wrap it up.
