It’s not often the Hollidaysburg athletic director and football coach is at a loss for words.

But Friday’s 52-7 win over state-ranked Jersey Shore did just that.

“I told them after the game the other day that they are leaving me speechless with the way they are performing,” DeLattre said. “They are coming together so well. They love each other and have been working extremely hard all summer long and all winter long. It’s really awesome to see them build off the leadership and legacy that last year’s senior class left behind. They are just taking it another notch.”

The Golden Tigers will try to continue their undefeated season when they travel to Selinsgrove on Friday at 7 p.m.

DeLattre

“They have some injuries,” DeLattre said. “When they are healthy, they are a pretty good football team. They are 1-6. The teams they have lost to have a 78 percent winning percentage, so their schedule has been really difficult. We have to make sure coming off three games against three state-ranked football teams that our energy level stays up. That’s a very important aspect.”

Despite seeming to have everything clicking right now, DeLattre is hoping Hollidaysburg can continue to improve before the postseason.

“Our passing game needs to be better,” DeLattre said. “We have been running the ball extremely well, but in the postseason, we’re going to have to have a better mix. Our defense has continued to play outstanding. To do what we have done the last three weeks, it’s pretty impressive. That’s been the thing that has stood out the most.”

Back to the run?

Altoona has beaten Chambersburg five years in a row, mostly behind a strong running game.

The Mountain Lions will welcome the Trojans to Mansion Park on Friday at 7 p.m. but have leaned more on the pass this year than recently.

Whether it’s Mekhi Jackson, who started against Harrisburg, or Parker White, who started the first six games at quarterback, Altoona might be going back to the ground.

“They have a new coach, but looking at their film, they look to be doing some of the same things, especially on the defensive side of the football,” Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr. said. “You have a plan for each week and for each team. We have had some success in years past with the run game against them. We’re looking to hopefully continue to exploit that. They have kids that can run around. They have good athletes and some size up front. We’ll continue to watch film and see what we can do.”

Despite losing to Harrisburg, 45-7, last week, Nedimyer saw some positives from his 2-5 squad.

“We played well against the run again,” Nedimyer said. “The score was what it was, but I felt defensively, they were not able to line up and do whatever they wanted. Our kids played hard. We had a lot of kids that got helmets to the football, and we have been doing that for the last month, month and a half. Our kids are more confident, and that’s a tribute to them.”

Critical game

Bellwood-Antis and Chestnut Ridge come into their game in New Paris both needing a win, which should increase the urgency from both sides on Friday.

“We’re both fighting for our lives to get into the playoffs,” Bellwood-Antis coach Nick Lovrich said. “I expect them to come out and play their best game, and I expect us to do the same thing.”

B-A is currently the No. 7 seed in the eight-team District 6 Class 2A field, and Ridge is fourth in District 5 Class 2A.

“We both have a lot riding on the game,” Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker said. “Both of us want to get to .500 and try to end the season on a positive note and hopefully qualify for playoffs.”

The need for a win to feel better about a playoff spot isn’t the only thing the teams have in common.

“They are predominantly a run team,” Lovrich said. “I have seen them throw the ball a little bit, but they run the ball very well. Their line does a good job, and their backs run hard. We have to make sure we stop the run.”

Which sounds much like Shoemaker’s scouting report of the Blue Devils.

“They are very run-oriented,” Shoemaker said. “They have a nice offensive and defensive line with great size and mobility and of course (Alex) McCartney who gets the bulk of the carries. They remind me of Bellwood teams of past years. The last time I actually coached against them was when I coached Bedford in the late 90s I believe. We have to contain their ground game. If not, they are going to run the clock and keep the ball away from us.”

Bellwood is coming off a heartbreaking loss to defending PIAA Class 1A champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy.

“BG is a very good football team, and we were right there with them,” Lovrich said. “They scored with two minutes left after we had went blow for blow with them. We’re close. We have to fix up some little things that we need to take care of that could make differences in games. We have to control the controllables.”

Ridge lost to Penn Cambria after playing close in the first half but demonstrated in that half the defense it will take to win on Friday.

“We have played very physical,” Shoemaker said. “Our defense has been the core of the success that we have had.”