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BG set for ‘complete’ test

Joshua Yasulitis stiff arms Connor Hudson

If styles make prize fights, then matchups make football games.

That should make Saturday night’s clash of Laurel Highlands Conference Section 1 unbeatens at Mansion Park all the more compelling.

Coming off back-to-back significant shutout wins over Bishop McCort and Cambria Heights, Bishop Guilfoyle boasts the area’s top scoring defense, and the Marauders have run their state-long winning streak to 51 games. This week, however, they figure to receive their sternest test yet in a Forest Hills offense that can throw or run the ball proficiently and also can score from anywhere on the field.

Kickoff at Mansion Park is set for 7 p.m.

“This is the most balanced and complete team we may face all year. They do everything well,” Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. “It really does put pressure on everyone on defense. Some teams run. Some teams throw. This team isn’t just good at it. They’re really good at it.”

Led by junior Wake Forest baseball signee Adam Cecere at quarterback, the Rangers come in averaging 314.5 yards and 31.5 points per game. Forest Hills has forced a pair of games into the running clock to start the second half by having leads of 35 points or greater and scored on seven plays of 25 yards or longer.

Cecere obviously draws most of the attention, and rightly so — he’s completed 23 of 33 passes for 464 yards, four touchdowns and just one interception over the last two games, and he also has four rushing touchdowns. He’s not the Rangers’ only weapon, though. Jon Long has 569 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns, Forrest Wolfhope is averaging more than 20 yards per reception and also has three touchdown catches, and Eric Elgin is coming off a 100-yard rushing performance.

The Ranger line entered the season with four returning starters, including powerhouse center Nick Peretin.

“It’s a huge week for the defense,” Wheeler said. “We’ve done some really good things this year, but this will be a test like no other.”

It’s the kind of challenge fitting of an elite defense, and that’s what Bishop Guilfoyle is shaping up to have. The Marauders only have allowed 13 points all season.

Guilfoyle graduated some tremendous talent on the defensive side of the ball from its third straight PIAA Class 1A championship team last season, most notably all-staters Andrew Irwin at linebacker, Luke Frederick at defensive end and Logan McGeary at defensive tackle. Those players headline a unit that produced astronomical numbers in sacks and tackles for loss.

The Guilfoyle defense gives up more yards, but it seems to stiffen when opposing teams threaten. It’s also been terrific at taking the ball away, forcing an area-high 10 turnovers through four weeks.

“Everything impresses me. They don’t have any weaknesses,” Forest Hills coach Don Bailey said. “They’ve got experience in the secondary. They’ve got size in the front line. And they’ve got experience at linebacker. They’ve got a tremendous defense. That’s one of the reasons, they’re 4-0.

The Marauders returned five starters on defense this season, including corners Mark Conrad and Michael McCall, safety Mike Berish, linebacker Josh Yasulitis and defensive tackle Nick Leamer. Max Sankey, John Fanelli and Luke Wills have emerged so far as defensive leaders as first-year starters.

“Defensively, you can come along a little faster with some new guys in some new positions than you can offensively,” said Wheeler, a former walk-on linebacker at Penn State after a standout career at Penn Cambria. “Our guys are big, and they’re athletic, and they’re fast, and the groups before them, going back to 2014, have really laid the groundwork on how to play good defense.”

Guilfoyle’s offense still is a work in progress, but the Marauders have been effective in capitalizing off turnovers and have accounted for eight touchdowns in their passing game. Forest Hills has looked vastly improved on defense from the last couple of years, holding three of its first four opponents to single digits.

The Rangers’ biggest win so far was a comeback victory over Johnstown two weeks ago, the Trojans’ only loss.

“It meant a lot,” Bailey said. “We had to stop them, and we had to drive 80-some yards to score to win the game with two-and-a-half minutes to go. It was a very gratifying victory.”

Wheeler is hoping the Marauders can deny the Rangers another gratifying victory this week.

“Number one, we have to limit big plays,” Wheeler said. “Secondly, our offense has to control the ball. Thirdly, we have to use our advantage in the kicking game to separate us.”

The matchup

Game: Forest Hills Rangers (4-0) vs. Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (4-0)

Where: Mansion Park, Altoona

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

The coaches: Forest Hills — Don Bailey (359-115-8, 44th year); Bishop Guilfoyle — Justin Wheeler (71-14, seventh year)

Series record: Bishop Guilfoyle, 7-5 (first met in 1982 playoffs)

Last meeting: Bishop Guilfoyle, 45-0 (Sept. 23, 2016)

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