Banks

The 2024 high school football season was a very special one for the Hollidaysburg Golden Tigers, who set a single-season school record for victories (13) and advanced all the way to the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals.

Hollidaysburg’s 2025 season has earmarks of being equally special, but a very challenging midseason stretch will go a long way in determining the Golden Tigers’ ultimate fate.

Hollidaysburg improved to 6-0 last Friday night with a thrilling come-from-behind 35-30 victory over perennial Maryland powerhouse Fort Hill, and will start a series of three straight road games this Friday night, visiting a 5-1 Jersey Shore team.

A week before the victory over Fort Hill, Hollidaysburg had beaten previously undefeated Mifflinburg, 49-14.

Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre said that the focus and enthusiasm among his players is currently sky-high. A fumble recovery by Josh Banks with Jersey Shore driving at the Tigers’ 2-yard line sealed Hollidaysburg’s thrilling 27-25 victory over Jersey Shore in last year’s meeting between the two teams at Tiger Stadium.

“The kids have great focus, there’s a lot of excitement in our community for this week’s game coming off last year’s game,” DeLattre said. “This is the third straight state-ranked team we’re facing on our schedule. This has been a pretty tough three weeks, but to get the first two games in this three-game stretch gives us even more confidence going into this week’s game.”

Jersey Shore boasts a talented and balanced offense that has averaged over 46 points per game, including 67 in last week’s 67-40 shootout win over Williamsport. Sophomore quarterback Nolen Pauling has completed 78 of 123 passes for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns, while rushing for 355 yards and seven scores for Jersey Shore.

“Their quarterback is very talented,” added DeLattre, whose Tigers will travel to Selinsgrove and Williamsport in the two weeks following this Friday’s game. “He’s also a very good runner who possesses great speed.”

Senior running back Bo Sechrist has rushed for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns for Jersey Shore, while sophomore running back Kash Herritt has rushed for 528 yards and eight scores. Senior wideout Carson Watkins leads the team in receptions (29) for 463 yards and five TDs, and has also intercepted five passes from his cornerback position on defense. Another senior wideout, Luke Ryan, has 23 catches for 244 yards.

“All five of their skill guys have great speed, and all five of their skill guys are capable of scoring every time they get the ball,” DeLattre said. “This is going to be a tough challenge for our defense.”

Hollidaysburg also has plenty of offensive firepower. Senior quarterback Cole DeLattre has rushed for 597 yards and seven touchdowns for the Golden Tigers, while completing 90 passes for 581 yards and nine TDs. Junior scatback Carter Muth has rushed for 691 yards and 10 touchdowns for Hollidaysburg.

On the other side of the ball, junior defensive end Joey Richardson has registered seven sacks and 37 tackles, while defensive back Banks has recorded a team-leading 47 tackles.

“I’ve been very pleased with our play on both the offensive and defensive lines,” Homer DeLattre said.

Another challenge for Altoona

After dropping a 38-0 decision to defending PIAA Class 5A state champion Bishop McDevitt at Mansion Park last Friday night, Altoona (2-4 overall and 2-3 in the Mid-Penn Conference) will hit the road for a game with Harrisburg (6-0) Saturday afternoon.

While Harrisburg – which is one of the top Class 6A teams in the state — presents a monumental challenge for the Mountain Lions, Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer, Jr. is having his team focus inward rather than outward.

Altoona turned the ball over twice and had two players called for personal fouls and escorted off the field by Nedimyer in the McDevitt game. Neither of those players returned to the game.

“We’re going to continue to worry about ourselves and correct the mistakes we made to prepare for a very good Harrisburg team,” Nedimyer said.

Tyrone hosts improved Huntingdon

Tyrone (3-3 in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference and overall) has had a rough past two weeks, getting shut out by Bishop Guilfoyle Academy 26-0 last Saturday night after losing 26-7 to archrival Bellwood-Antis the week before.

According to Tyrone coach John Franco, offensive improvement will be the focus for the Golden Eagles this week when they host a very improved Huntingdon team Friday night.

“Our defense has been carrying us and has played well enough the past two games for us to win, but our offense simply hasn’t done the job,” Franco said. “We just have to work on continuing to improve our offense and continuing to play very good defense.”

The Eagles will have their work cut out for them against Huntingdon (5-1, 5-1), which had won only two games in two seasons previous to this one.

“Huntingdon is not just improved – they’ve developed into one of the best teams in the Laurel Highlands,” Franco said.

Huntingdon broke away in the second half for a 49-14 home-field victory over Central last week as senior running back Evan Edmiston rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns, while senior back Landon Erdman ran for 100 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown run.

“We have a great group of seniors, and we’ve developed a maturity and a belief in our ability as a team,” Huntingdon coach Tim Lucko said. “Tyrone is always a very physical football team. We’ve got to be ready to play against them.”

Heights, Portage meet

Portage and Cambria Heights both left other conferences to join the Heritage Conference a few years back, setting up an annual rivalry game between the two Cambria County schools.

That rivalry will unfold another chapter Friday night, when the Highlanders (5-1 overall and in the conference) host the Mustangs (2-4, 2-4).

Portage has a seasoned quarterback in senior Easton Slanoc, who has accounted for 12 touchdowns this season rushing and passing combined.

“Their quarterback is a three-year starter who is a dynamic playmaker,” veteran Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said of the Mustangs. “They’re always a well-coached team that plays a physical brand of football. Defensively, they like to get after the ball.”

Heights’ senior quarterback Kaiden Ivory has passed for 554 yards and four touchdowns this year, while sophomore back Nolan Clawson leads the Highlanders’ rushing attack with 625 yards and four TDs.

Heights won the District 6 Class 1A football championship two seasons ago – the first in school history – and the District 6 Class 2A title last year. The Highlanders appear to be on track for more playoff glory this November.

“We’re happy,” Lewis said. “It seems like we’re getting a little bit better each week, and that has been our goal.”