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A shakeup in the Mid-Penn Conference has led to schedule changes for the two biggest football teams in Blair County.
Altoona will remain in the Mid-Penn's Commonwealth Division, but the elimination of the Liberty Division has led to the Commonwealth and Keystone Divisions including 10 teams and the Capital and Colonial Division having nine-team divisions.
The expansion of the division leaves Altoona with just one non-conference game opportunity, which it will fill with Hollidaysburg, the other local team impacted by the changes.
"That's huge (keeping the Hollidaysburg game)," Altoona football coach Vince Nedimyer Jr. said. "Our kids in the community look forward to it on a yearly basis, and we were definitely happy to keep that."
But other non-conference games against Mifflin County and Allderdice had to be canceled for next season and were replaced with Mid-Penn Commonwealth conference games against new members Bishop McDevitt and Cedar Cliff.
"In years past, when we were first in the Mid-Penn, we played Bishop McDevitt every year," Nedimyer said. "We also played Cedar Cliff on kind of a yearly basis even further back. It's just more of an opportunity for our kids to play some of the best teams in the state. We look forward to it."
The news of the changes came together quickly. It also led to State College and Mifflin County, both members of the Mid-Penn Conference, needing to cancel games against Hollidaysburg.
"From what I understand, it was brought up at the meeting that day, so they went into it not knowing," Hollidaysburg athletic director and football coach Homer DeLattre said. "When it was brought up, (Altoona athletic director) Phil (Riccio) contacted me right at the meeting, so did State College and Mifflin County with phone calls and emails, so it was a surprise to everyone."
The Golden Tigers play an independent schedule, so DeLattre acted quickly to refill his 2024 schedule.
"I actually had 10 games a year and a half early, which I have never done," DeLattre said. "We had a chance to play Mifflin County, which is going to be a 5A school, and playing State College and Altoona is something our kids and community looks forward to every year. It was disappointing to not be able to play Mifflin County or State College, but in return, it worked out with Phil's quick communication, which I greatly appreciate, so I could set us up with the Allderdice game they were losing. We also picked up Allegany (Md.), which we played in the last two-year cycle, but it wasn't going to work out the same week. With it getting bumped a week, it ended up working out, and in an hour and a half, it worked out where we had a 10-game schedule again."
Altoona will open the season by hosting Hollidaysburg and then will travel to State College. The Mountain Lions schedule will alternate between being home and away each week.
Harrisburg, Cumberland Valley, Central Dauphin, Central Dauphin East, Chambersburg and Carlisle will all remain on Altoona's schedule as remaining members of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth along with State College.