But even though the Marauders wrapped up their ninth district title — including eight on the Class 1A level in 11 appearances in the championship game over the past 14 seasons — with a 62-6 mercy-rule rout of Juniata Valley on Friday night at Mansion Park, veteran head coach Justin Wheeler said that the thrill of winning district gold never feels routine.

“We spend so much time every season working and preparing, and (winning district titles) never gets old,” said Wheeler, who is in his 15th year as the Marauders’ head coach and has also led the Marauders to five PIAA Class 1A state titles in six state championship appearances since 2014.

“We’ve faced some adversity this year, but I’m really proud of how these guys have stepped up,” Wheeler said. “To replace the stars that we lost from last year’s team and to continue the success we’ve had is the mark of a great team. These players are so unselfish. They don’t care who scores the points or who gets the credit. They all just play for each other.”

Top-seeded Bishop Guilfoyle (11-2) built a 49-0 halftime lead on the strength of a 36-point second quarter blitzkrieg Friday night to get the mercy-rule clock running for the entire second half.

Photo for the Mirror by Jeremy Boland Bishop Guilfoyle lineman Jesse Georgiana celebrates his touchdown run at Mansion Park Friday night.

Senior back Jake Kissell, who, like most of the Marauders’ starters, played only the first half in Friday’s game. But Kissell made the most of his time on the field, rushing for 115 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns for BG, which advances to next weekend’s PIAA quarterfinal round against Westinghouse of District 8. Westinghouse opened inter-district play by pounding Meyersdale, 44-0 Friday night.

“We knew that we had to come out and execute, and we had a really good game plan tonight,” Kissell said. “We wanted to bring pressure early, and we have to focus on the state playoffs because the real season for us starts now.”

Senior wideout-cornerback Tyson Lestochi enjoyed another big game on both sides of the ball Friday, returning an intercepted pass 25 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter, and catching a 26-yard scoring pass from Coach Wheeler’s son, sophomore quarterback Justin Wheeler, later in the second period.

“It’s a better feeling to win states, but this still feels great,” said Lestochi, an outstanding basketball player who joined the football team in his junior year last season and was part of both the Marauders’ 2024 district and state championship teams a year ago. “I think that we played really well today. We started out hot, and we just kept on going.”

BG opened up a 13-0 lead after one quarter by cashing in on two short-field possessions. Starting at the 50, the Marauders covered the distance in seven plays, with Kissell’s 1-yard scoring run ending the march.

Photo for the Mirror by Jeremy Boland Bishop Guilfoyle’s Jake Kissell tries to break free from two Juniata Valley defenders during the District 6 Class 1A championship game.

After a high Valley punt snap gave BG the ball at the Green Hornets’ 14-yard line, quarterback Wheeler raced off left tackle to the end zone for the Marauders’ second score of the night.

BG scored two quick touchdowns in the first two-plus minutes of the second quarter, with Kissell’s 1-yard scoring run capping off a 68-yard BG drive, and Lestochi’s interception return giving the Marauders a 28-0 lead.

“A couple breaks went our way early, and we have been really good at making teams pay when they make mistakes against us,” Coach Wheeler said. “Tonight was no different.”

Quarterback Wheeler’s touchdown passes of 26 yards to Lestochi and 20 yards to junior wideout Evan Schimminger on BG’s next two possessions made it a 42-0 game, and Kissell’s third TD run, from 4 yards out, in the final minute of the first half gave BG the 49-0 spread at intermission.

Valley, seeded second in the District 6 Class 1A field, wound up a solid season with a 10-3 record that included 10 wins in 11 games after a season-opening loss.

“After we lost our first game this season, to Newport, nobody expected us to be here tonight,” Valley coach Bill Musser said. “Our seniors this year have certainly left their mark on this program, and they will never be forgotten.

“(BG) is a well-coached team that had a great game plan tonight, and they came out and executed it. I didn’t have our kids properly prepared for this game, and that is 100 percent on me. I didn’t think in a million years that this game would end up the way that it did.”

Plays of the game: Tough to really pick out just one in a game in which BG so thoroughly dominated, but Lestochi’s TD reception and pick-6 were game-shapers, as was Schimminger’s 20-yard TD catch.

Players of the game: Kissell scored three times, Lestochi twice, and quarterback Wheeler threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score.

Unsung heroes: As they have done all throughout the district playoffs, both BG’s offensive and defensive lines showed very well again.

Most vital statistics: BG enjoyed statistical domination, with a 333-116 advantage in total yardage.

Two-way BG senior lineman Hayden Hosgood: “It’s awesome for BG, and all the hard work that our team has put in has led us to another district championship. We have a great coaching staff. I can’t thank our coaches enough.”

Two-way BG sophomore lineman Declan Peterson: “It’s great to be on a team like this. We have set goals and pursued them, and our preparation has been great. We started working hard in the heat of the summer to be playing in the cold now.”

Notable: BG senior Jesse Georgiana, who underwent successful treatment for cancer a year ago, scored on a 2-yard fourth-quarter run. “We’re real proud that Jesse scored that TD — that was a great moment for everybody,” Coach Wheeler said. “He has come such a long way after dealing with cancer.” … Junior back Theo Lawson scored on a 6-yard fourth-quarter run for BG, after a fumble recovery by Chase Imler … Junior running back standout Andrew Clark scored on a 2-yard, third-quarter run for Valley. Clark rushed for 96 yards on 19 carries, including 83 yards in the second half.

Records: Juniata Valley (10-3); Bishop Guilfoyle (11-2).

Next week: Juniata Valley’s season is complete. Bishop Guilfoyle faces Westinghouse in a PIAA quarterfinal-round playoff game next weekend.

SCORE BY QUARTERS

Juniata Valley 0 0 6 0–6

Bishop Guilfoyle 13 36 0 13–62

First Quarter

BG–Kissell 1 run (Boland kick), 4:38.

BG–Wheeler 14 run (kick failed), 3:44.

Second Quarter

BG–Kissell 1 run (Gioiosa pass from Wheeler), 10:36.

BG–Lestochi 25 interception return (Boland kick), 9:47.

BG–Lestochi 26 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 5:19.

BG–Schimminger 20 pass from Wheeler (Boland kick), 3:15.

BG–Kissell 4 run (Boland kick), 0:24.

Third Quarter

JV–Clark 2 run (kick failed), 6:15.

Fourth Quarter

BG–J. Georgiana 2 run (Marasco kick), 7:11.

BG–Lawson 6 run (kick failed), 2:34.

TEAM STATISTICS JV BG

First downs 6 17

Total yards 116 333

Rushes-yards 23-76 37-237

Yards passing 40 97

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 3-17-0 6-7-0

Punts/avg. 4-25.8 1-51

Fumbles-lost 2-1 1-0

Penalties-yards 8-55 3-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Juniata Valley, Clark 19-96, Rand 3-6, TEAM 1-(minus 26). Bishop Guilfoyle, Kissell 13-115, Wheeler 5-43, Hewitt 8-42, Lawson 4-24, Shellenberger 3-9, Marasco 3-2, Schimminger 1-2.

PASSING–Juniata Valley, Rand 3-17-0-40. Bishop Guilfoyle, Wheeler 5-6-0-87, Shellenberger 1-1-0-10.

RECEIVING–Juniata Valley, Smith 1-30, Neri 1-10, Harker 1-0. Bishop Guilfoyle, Schimminger 3-51, Lestochi 1-26, Kissell 1-10, Gates 1-10.