Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Penn Cambria's Thomas Plunkett drags Hickory's Jamal Calhoun in last weekend's victory.

This season’s unbeaten Penn Cambria football team has reached previously uncharted waters for the program, and that has created a sense of excitement, euphoria, and enthusiasm among the Panthers’ players, coaches, and indeed, the entire Penn Cambria community.

After capturing its first-ever District 6 football championship earlier this month, Penn Cambria has dispatched its first two opponents in the PIAA Class 3A playoff with ease, including last Saturday’s 30-7 beatdown of District 10 champion Hickory.

That win earned Penn Cambria its first berth ever in the semifinal round of the Class 3A playoffs, where the Panthers (14-0) will meet WPIAL champion Avonworth (11-3) on Friday night at Norwin High School’s Knights Field in Irwin for the right to participate in the state championship game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

The Penn Cambria-Avonworth winner will meet the winner of Friday’s other Class 3A semifinal game between Northwestern Lehigh and Danville in the state championship game on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field.

“There’s a lot of excitement within our team and within our community,” Penn Cambria coach Nick Felus said. “Everybody in our community and our school district has been super supportive, and there’s a buzz around town about the Penn Cambria team, and it’s been well-deserved for our players, who have all put in the hard work necessary to succeed.

“Especially for our senior group who has been with us for the past four years — it’s special to be able to enjoy a season like this,” Felus added.

Penn Cambria made a strong statement that it belonged on its lofty perch by dominating a speedy Hickory team in a quarterfinal game that the Panthers put away in the second half.

“I think it started with our preparation for Hickory on Monday of last week,” Felus said. “I think that our guys had that look in their eyes when they were preparing, and I think that we were very physical in practice all week.

“Our players wanted to make a statement that we belong where we’re at, and I think they made that evident last Saturday,” Felus added.

Junior quarterback Brady Jones, who capped Penn Cambria’s long scoring drive on the Panthers’ opening possession, perhaps said it best.

“We knew coming into this game that we wanted to be the more detailed team and the more physical team, and at the end of the day, we were both,” Jones said of the Panthers’ effort against Hickory. “We’re here to stay. It doesn’t matter who we play, we’ll be there and we’ll be ready.”

Avonworth presents an interesting challenge. The Antelopes made their third consecutive appearance in the WPIAL championship game a charm last Saturday, blanking perennial power Central Valley, 17-0, and avenging a regular-season loss.

Avonworth, which lost to powerful Belle Vernon teams in its previous two appearances in the WPIAL title game in both 2022 and 2023, had also knocked off WPIAL top seed and previously unbeaten Imani Christian, 14-6 in this season’s WPIAL semifinals.

Two of Avonworth’s three losses were to Class 4A powerhouses Aliquippa and unbeaten Thomas Jefferson during the regular season, but Avonworth enters Friday’s game having won nine of its past 10 games after a 2-2 start.

“Our kids played really good defense in the championship game,” said veteran Avonworth coach Duke Johncour. “They came out and played up to their ability and they were able to get a shutout, which was great.”

Along with the staunch defensive play, Avonworth has ridden the rushing talents of brothers Nico Neal, a senior, and Luca Neal, a junior, in its playoff wins over Imani Christian and Central Valley.

Luca Neal rushed for 204 yards on 22 carries and both Avonworth touchdowns against Imani Christian, and Nico Neal accounted for 102 rushing yards on 23 carries and both Avonworth touchdowns against Central Valley.

“They’re a good 1-2 punch,” Felus said of the Neal brothers. “One of them (Nico) is a bit more physical, and the other (Luca) is somewhat quicker. They’re both athletic, so it’s a really good combination for them.

“They’ve found something in their running game that really works well, but it all starts up front for them,” Felus added. “They have a very good offensive line, so just like we did in last week’s game, our defensive guys will need to read their keys and get their pads low. In playoff football, your defense has got to be able to stop the run first and foremost, and your offense has to be able to run the ball successfully.”

Led by do-it-all senior slotback Gavin Harrold and its very solid offensive line, Penn Cambria ran the ball very well against Hickory. Harrold rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns against Hickory, and for the season, he has rushed for 779 yards on 102 carries and 23 touchdowns, while catching 70 passes for 980 yards and 10 touchdowns. Harrold also shines in the secondary on defense, where his 89 tackles are third behind sophomore linebacker Corbin Vinglish’s 106 and senior linebacker Derek Hite’s 99.

“He does everything,” Johncour said of Harrold. “He throws, he runs, he catches, and he lines up at several different positions for them on offense. I think that he does everything including sweeping the stadium – he’s that good.

“He’s very good on defense, too,” Johncour added. “He’s a great athlete.”

As good as Harrold is, however, he’s not a one-man show for the Panthers. Senior back Tommy Plunkett has rushed for 1,108 yards on 189 carries and 10 touchdowns, while another senior back, Mason Mento, has 644 rushing yards on 96 carries for eight touchdowns.

Jones is a dual threat, completing 108 of 161 passes for 1,614 yards and 14 touchdowns, while rushing for 648 yards on 135 carries and eight scores. Senior wideout Marcus Eckenrode is another offensive option for Penn Cambria, with 14 catches totaling 187 yards and a touchdown reception.

The multiple weapons make Penn Cambria a very difficult challenge for opposing defenses.

“They’ve got some really good skill kids,” Johncour said of the Panthers. “They’ve got some good running backs, the quarterback is good, and the tight end (Hite) is good. Their offensive line pushes people around. They bring a talented team to the table.”

Along with the Neal brothers, Avonworth also has a good quarterback in junior Carson Bellinger, who has completed 59 of 134 passes for 990 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. Luca Neal has a team-leading 24 receptions for 473 yards and four touchdowns, and two sophomore backs, Dimitri Velisaris and Bryce Metz, add depth to the Avonworth attack, as Velisaris has rushed for 578 yards on 108 carries and eight touchdowns, and Metz has rushed for 216 yards on 39 carries and nine touchdowns.

“We’ve run the ball well and we’ve thrown the ball well,” Johncour said. “It’s been a healthy mix.”

Felus and Harrold are both ready for the semifinal-round challenge that Avonworth poses.

“Avonworth plays a very tough schedule in the WPIAL, and they’re now among the final four teams (remaining in the state at the Class 3A level), so they’re obviously a great football team,” Felus said. “We know that it’s going to be a challenge, but our players are accepting that challenge.

“We’re excited to be in the position that we’re in, but we’re not satisfied,” Felus added. “We want to keep this thing going.”

Harrold seconded that notion.

“We’re not done,” Harrold said. “We’re not finished.”

PIAA Class 3A semifinal

Teams: Penn Cambria (14-0) vs. Avonworth (11-3).

Time: Friday, 7 p.m. at Norwin High School’s Knights Field in Irwin.

Coaches/career records: Penn Cambria’s Nick Felus, 50-49; Avonworth’s Duke Johncour, 120-41.

Last week: Penn Cambria defeated Hickory, 30-7 and Avonworth defeated Central Valley, 17-0 in the quarterfinals.

At stake: The winner advances to the PIAA Class 3A state championship game next Saturday afternoon, December 7 at 1 p.m. at Cumberland Valley High School’s Chapman Field, against the winner of Friday’s other semifinal game between Northwestern Lehigh and Danville.