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Familiar foe awaits BG in title tilt

Kiesewetter

Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic will attempt to defend its District 6 Class 1A championship at 7 p.m. on Friday at Mansion Park against a familiar opponent.

Marauders coach Justin Wheeler has faced off against Friday’s foe, the Homer-Center Wildcats, four times in the postseason and so far, those games have resulted in a split decision with both teams winning twice.

“We have had some great battles over the past 10 years,” Wheeler said. “This is the fifth time we’ll be playing them, and it has almost become like a regular season game because we have played so often. It’s exciting to see them again in the championship.”

The last time the teams met in 2018, it wasn’t close. Bishop Guilfoyle hammered the Wildcats, 42-0, and Homer-Center lost to Juniata Valley last season a game before it would have matched back up with the Marauders.

“We’re really excited to be going back to what everyone calls the ‘carpet’ (Mansion Park), because our guys have worked really hard. Like everybody else, we were able to get through a lot of things with all that’s going on,” Homer-Center coach Greg Page said. “It doesn’t surprise me that Guilfoyle is back there, because they are just that good pretty much every year. We have had a history with them the last seven or eight seasons. It’s our hope that we can have a good week and truly be competitive against them.”

The Wildcats have lost just one game, 43-42 to District 6 Class 1A top seed Penns Manor, and are averaging 45.3 points per game through seven contests.

Their offense revolves around senior quarterback Ben Schmidt, who has thrown for 1,177 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 1,063 yards and 18 scores on just 90 carries.

“I got to see Schmidt live, and when I was there, he set their school’s all-time rushing record,” Wheeler said. “He already holds the all-time passing record for the school. He’s averaging himself 350-360 yards of total offense himself, so everyone that plays them would say you have to try and contain his speed and his arm.”

Schmidt has experienced much of the Bishop Guilfoyle-Homer-Center rivalry. He was the Wildcats quarterback during a 20-14 victory in 2017 that ended the Marauders’ run of three straight PIAA championships.

“He’s gradually gotten better and stronger. He’s done more for us each year, and we have relied on him more and switched to a spread offense prior to last season, and he was the main reason why,” Page said. “Three years ago, when we went to the state title game, he started as a freshman. He did some good things, but he was more a manager of the offense. We were still using a power running game, but he’s taken it upon himself in the spring and summer when things were still up in the air to work hard and put on good weight. He’s been incredible for us.”

Bishop Guilfoyle’s defense has already proven it can slow down some of the Heritage Conference’s most explosive players, however. The Marauders held Purchase Line’s Josh Syster, a player that came into last week’s game with more than 1,500 yards rushing, to just 47 yards on 17 carries in a 35-0 shutout win.

“Our biggest strength over the years has been the emphasis on defense, and we take pride in that,” Wheeler said. “I think we have only given up five touchdowns with our starters. The overall team speed that we have on defense is some of the best we have had at Bishop Guilfoyle. It allows us to do a lot of different things.”

Offensively, the Marauders have been much more versatile than they were a year ago when they leaned heavily on Keegan Myrick and the running game.

“Going into games last year, we were definitely one-dimensional,” Wheeler said. “We just relied on Keegan getting 40 carries and leading us, but this year, we know that’s always an option, but Konner (Kiesewetter) has been playing amazing at quarterback, and Haiden (Garner) has been able to step in both at quarterback and wideout and give us that passing threat. It definitely feels better going into games like this knowing we can throw if we need to.”

Page knows his team is in for a big test.

“It’s a huge challenge, because they can put three guys in the shotgun or pistol or even under center to showcase their weapons,” Page said. “I think Myrick is the one with the most history, but Garner comes in and can play in a Wildcat look. He can run, throw or catch. He’s a focal point in their passing game, and watching some film, I was impressed with Kiesewetter, because he can throw the ball well. It presents a challenge, because you have to defend so many formations over the whole field. They also have a physical line up front. They have all the pieces.”

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