By Michael Boytim

mboytim@altoonamirror.com

Penn Cambria is coming off perhaps one of its most emotional victories in decades after surviving a last-seconds rally by Bishop Guilfoyle Academy in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship.

How can the Panthers guard against a letdown in the District 6 Class 3A semifinals on Friday?

Easy. The team that has ended their season the last three years is coming to town.

“We’re very familiar with Central. They are a great program,” Penn Cambria coach Nick Felus said. “To be quite honest, they have had our number the last few years, so this is a game that is definitely going to grab our players’ attention.”

The Scarlet Dragons, the four-time defending district champions, are just 5-5 this season as they make the trip to Cresson. But the postseason means a reset for everyone.

“We know we’re huge underdogs, but our kids have given great effort all year,” Central coach Jerry Albright said. “When the chips are down and things are stacked against us, even if we are down a couple scores, they have still fought back and given the ultimate effort. We’ll go out and play the best we can and see how the ball bounces.”

While Penn Cambria seems to be clicking in all the right phases of the game right now, Central had to go to freshman quarterback Jesse Muthler last week to fill in for his older brother Eli, who suffered an injury.

“He played super well,” Albright said. “When we got there, we didn’t realize how big and fast Forest Hills was. He did an incredible job under pressure. He stepped up and made plays. He did make three turnovers, but coming in as a freshman in his first game in that situation, he played very well.”

Felus is preparing as if there will be no drop off.

“When you have a good program like they have, they kind of do what they do well no matter who the quarterback is going to be,” Felus said. “We have to be extremely prepared, because they always reload. It seems like every year, no matter if they graduate a quarterback, running back or receivers, they always reload. They have a great history of athletes that execute extremely well.”

Penn Cambria has pushed opponents around on the line of scrimmage all season, and Albright says that will be a point of emphasis for his team on Friday night.

“Our line play is going to have to be precise,” Albright said. “They are so good and have some quality playmakers, but their line is phenomenal. Our line is going to have to play their best game of the year and execute the blocking scheme the best they have all season. We have to play more consistently well.”

The Central line communicating may be difficult if Penn Cambria’s crowd can recreate the noise it had in the win over BG.

“It’s awesome,” Felus said. “The atmosphere we have at our home field is awesome. Our kids feed off that energy, and it’s a great thing for our community. We’re excited to be able to host.”

SUBHED: Rivalry renewed

For a long stretch during John Franco’s first run as the Tyrone Area High School football coach, it was either the Golden Eagles or Forest Hills taking home the District 6 Class 2A championship.

The Eagles and Rangers are in 3A, but nothing has changed as far as the competitiveness of the rivalry now that they are both members of the LHAC.

“It’s almost a tradition,” Franco said. “It’s always good to face an old rival. We have both had a lot of success over the years, and the series is fairly even. It adds to the excitement of the playoffs that it’s Forest Hills and Tyrone. There is some great history there.”

Forest Hills moved up from 2A to 3A this season but did play Tyrone in the last regular season game a season ago and won after stopping a two-point conversion play that would have tied the game on the final play. They will meet again Friday in Sidman in the 3A semifinals.

“Any time it’s Forest Hills and Tyrone, it’s a big deal,” Forest Hills coach Justin Myers said. “There’s a lot of pride in both programs, and Coach Franco is obviously one of the best to ever do it, and it’s an honor to have the opportunity to coach against them.”

Both teams started the season 2-4 before winning their last four games.

“The thing I like the most is that we haven’t had a turnover in four weeks,” Franco said. “Our penalties have been low outside of one game where both teams had a lot of penalties. Those are the two items that have factored into our success.”

For the Rangers, the turnaround had to do with getting key players back on the field.

“We’re starting to get healthy,” Myers said. “We were missing two or three two-way starters most of the year. We have two of the three back, and we have built a lot of depth with our young guys as the season has gone on. We’re still leaving some plays on the field, but overall, I’m happy with our growth as a team.”

Tyrone has also received a boost from Seth Hoover, who has rushed for 917 yards on 156 carries this year.

“Our running game has also developed,” Franco said. “Most people recognize that we’re a passing team, but one of the keys has been that (Seth Hoover) is closing in on 1,000 yards. He hasn’t had as many opportunities, but he’s made the most of them. He has really helped balance the offense.”

Despite Hoover’s success, it’s likely Forest Hills will be locked into trying to contain Tyrone’s passing game.

“Obviously their quarterback Ashton Walk is very good,” Myers said. “He’s very accurate and mobile and able to make all the throws. They have a good group of receivers, and their running game does well. They are also athletic defensively.”

The winner will play either Penn Cambria or Central for the District 6 Class 3A title next week at Mansion Park.

“It’s like playing a mirror image of ourselves,” Franco said. “We both had trouble with breaking in new linemen, and we both had a lot of returning skill people, including two pretty good quarterbacks. I think this is as even of a matchup as you will get in the playoffs.”