Mirror file photo Bishop Guilfoyle Academy’s Jake Kissell looks for yardage in a game against Forest Hills from earlier this season.

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy’s opponent Saturday at Tiger Stadium is one the Marauders are certainly familiar with.

Homer-Center will take on BG for the seventh time in the postseason since 2013 at 5 p.m. in the District 6 Class 1A semifinals.

“They were probably one of our biggest District 6 rivals over the past decade,” Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. “We have probably faced them as much as anybody. We have had some big games, and we have to learn from those. In the games we let them hang around, they were able to find ways to win. In games that we took care of business, we got on them early.”

The Wildcats own two wins over the Marauders, including a 20-14 triumph in 2017 that snapped BG’s 59-game winning streak, the second-longest in Pennsylvania history.

“We’re probably the team in District 6 Class 1A that has seen them the most,” Homer-Center coach Greg Page said. “The last time we played them in 2021, Justin made the comment that we always seem to find each other. It’s a testament that hopefully they respect what we have done over the years, and we definitely respect what they have done. They have been off the charts since 2014. You have to go through them in District 6 Class 1A. Everyone knows that. It’s just going to be hard. They are really good again and always well coached. I think most of our people who have been around embrace the matchup because we have seen them so many times.”

The Marauders won that 2021 matchup, 28-0, and the teams haven’t played since — mostly because Homer-Center has experienced a couple down seasons.

The Wildcats lost to Cambria Heights in the first round of the 2022 playoffs before going 2-8 in each of the last two seasons.

“The last couple seasons were just not us and not indicative of the way the program has been,” Page said. “It kind of got everyone a little in tatters so to speak, but the difference this year has been our kids. We have a tough senior group that comes to work every day. They aren’t overpowering, but they are just gritty kids. They took the bull by the horn. Our assistant coaches have also stepped up their game too.”

Homer-Center is back in contention this year at 8-3 and is coming off a District 6 quarterfinal win over Moshannon Valley.

“We got off to a really good start,” Page said. “They came back and got a score, but then we held them off and got a score right before the half to make it a two-score game, which I thought was huge.”

Junior quarterback Carson Arone needs just 8 yards to go over 1,000 passing yards for the season, and he’s rushed for 841 yards and 13 touchdowns. Sophomore Gabe Cobaugh has 612 yards rushing and 13 more scores.

“Coach Page does a great job with his guys,” Wheeler said. “Their quarterback is a dual-threat kid. He’s their leading rusher and throws the ball well. He’s good. They have a couple big linemen that he runs behind and does a good job with that. Their running back is fast, and he had some big runs in some big games like against Cambria Heights. He has another gear which makes (Homer-Center) more dangerous.”

Bishop Guilfoyle is coming off a 38-0 shutout win over Purchase Line, a team from the same conference as Homer-Center.

“We have been so good defensively, and I thought we didn’t play well (against McCort-Carroll),” Wheeler said. “Our defense wanted to make a statement, and I thought they did a pretty good job of keeping them under 30 yards for the most part until (the starters) came out. It was pretty good all around.”

The Wildcats beat Purchase Line, 27-7, earlier this season, but Page knows BG is a different type of challenge.

“They lost such a great player early in (Taurean) Consiglio, but they didn’t miss a beat,” Page said. “I think they are very well rounded. Just watching them this weekend, they have always had athletes, and obviously the (Jake) Kissell kid is the headliner, but their line is impressive on both sides of the ball. They are particularly strong on both sides. They had a couple guys back and have reloaded. They have numerous skill guys like Justin’s son, (Tyson) Lestochi, (Evan) Schimminger and (Jack) Gioiosa. They have tough players all around.”

The winner of Saturday’s game will play in the District 6 title game next week vs. Juniata Valley.

“If you are talking about goals at the beginning of the year, it’s always about winning the district title and making a run at states,” Wheeler said. “That’s the standard for the program, and that’s what we have talked about. That is our goal. We want to represent District 6 every year that we can.”