An intriguing Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference showdown between two very successful and evenly-matched teams will be in the offering Friday night, when Bishop Guilfoyle Academy visits Forest Hills.

Kickoff for the game between the Marauders and Rangers, both of whom boast identical 6-1 overall and conference records, is set for 7 p.m. Friday at G.H. Miller Stadium.

“We’re both 6-1, our guys are pumped up, and excited for it,” Forest Hills coach Justin Myers said. “Any time that you get to play good teams, it’s exciting. So this year, with us both having great records, we’re looking forward to it.”

So is Bishop Guilfoyle and its head coach, Justin Wheeler. The fact that the game will be televised locally on Johnstown’s WJAC2 station (Channel 15 on Breezeline) will add to the fanfare.

“It will be a tough game, no doubt,” Wheeler said. “I think it will be one of those games where there will be a playoff atmosphere. Both teams are 6-1, we’re at the top of (District 6 Class) 1A and they’re at the top of (District 6 Class) 3A, and there has been a lot of good history between the two programs.

“The game will be televised, so I think that it will be a little more exciting and I think that everybody on both teams will be a little more juiced up,” Wheeler said.

Led by senior Jake Kissell, BG grinded out a 21-14 victory at Bellwood-Antis last Friday, while Forest Hills captured a 21-7 victory at Central Cambria as Rangers junior quarterback Josh Myers — the coach’s son — threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns.

Kissell, who lines up in various positions in BG’s offensive backfield, rushed for 171 yards on 29 carries and the game-winning touchdown against Bellwood, carrying the ball eight times for all 65 yards and the decisive score on the Marauders’ decisive fourth-quarter drive.

Kissell also completed eight passes for 96 yards, including two touchdown passes, with seniors Ryan Lestochi and Connor Okonak on the receiving end of the scoring tosses.

“Kissell is their guy right now,” Justin Myers said. “He can run the ball well, and throw the ball well. He’s the guy that we’re going to try to focus most on stopping. But they also have a lot weapons at the skill positions along with Kissell, and their linemen are very physical up front on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.”

For the season, the 6-foot-3, 219-pound Kissell — who is being recruited by FCS Division I college football programs — has rushed for 885 yards on 120 carries and 14 touchdowns, thrown for 147 yards and three touchdowns on 13 completions in 25 attempts, and caught 13 passes for 170 yards. A linebacker on defense, Kissell also leads the Marauders in tackles, being involved in 77.

Wheeler’s son, sophomore quarterback Justin Wheeler, has rushed for 463 yards and two touchdowns, and thrown for 648 yards and three touchdowns, for BG. He sustained an arm/shoulder injury two weeks ago during the Marauders’ 27-0 victory over Tyrone and took some snaps in the Bellwood game but did not attempt a pass.

“He played some, he’s dealing with a little bit of a nagging injury,” Coach Wheeler said of his son. “He said that he felt pretty good last Friday, but we’re trying to play the long game with him, and get him healthy.

“Hopefully he will feel 100 percent this week,” Coach Wheeler added. “Our plan is to get him more involved this week, but we don’t want to push the issue.”

Lestochi leads the BG receivers in receptions with 21 for 310 yards and three touchdowns, while senior Evan Schimminger has caught 12 passes totaling 115 yards and junior back Jack Gioiosa has 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman back Keegan Hewitt has rushed for 233 yards and three touchdowns for the Marauders, and Gioiosa has rushed for 155 yards on 41 carries.

Forest Hills has an excellent group of skill position players as well. Senior Xander Richardson plays a variety of skill positions for the Rangers, and has completed 47 passes for 709 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 651 yards on 114 carries and nine scores. Richardson played quarterback for the first five games this season, before sustaining an injury that prompted his move to a running back spot.

“He plays quarterback, running back, wideout and linebacker on defense for us,” Justin Myers said of Richardson. “He’s our go-to guy. We’ll use Xander where he can play this week. If it’s just at running back and wide receiver, then that’s where he’ll be. If he can play quarterback, we’ll put him there, too.”

The progress that Josh Myers has made at the quarterback position, particularly over the past two weeks, has given Forest Hills an additional offensive option.

“Xander is our QB 1, and Josh is our QB 1A,” Justin Myers said. “We kind of use them both there, and we build on their strengths. Josh had a big game throwing the ball for us last week against Central Cambria. He reads defenses very well, and he’s able to put the ball on target for our guys to catch the ball and run with it. He’s really been coming along well for us this year.”

Forest Hills has plenty of fine receiving targets in seniors Brody Custer (19 catches, 180 yards) and Koy McGough (15 receptions, 240 yards, two touchdown receptions), along with junior Cam Vitez (17 catches, 312 yards and four touchdown receptions).

“Richardson is their guy,” Coach Wheeler said. “He runs the ball well, and he throws the ball well, although in the last couple of weeks, he hasn’t thrown much. He’s a guy that we have to stop on the ground, but they also have an excellent passing game. As a group, their receivers are among the best that we’ve seen.”

With the District 6 playoffs looming in less than a month, a matchup like this one will prepare both teams for the upcoming postseason.

“This is the kind of game that you need at the end of the regular season to get ready for a playoff run,” Coach Wheeler said.

Bishop Guilfoyle Academy vs. Forest Hills

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Where: G.H. Miller Stadium, Sidman.

Records: Both teams are 6-1 overall and in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.

Coaches: Justin Wheeler is 154-40 in his 15th season at Bishop Guilfoyle; Justin Myers is 35-36 in his seventh season at Forest Hills.

Last week: Bishop Guilfoyle defeated Bellwood-Antis, 21-14, and Forest Hills defeated Central Cambria, 21-7.

TV: WJAC2, Channel 15 on Breezeline