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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
With two games left before the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference's crossover week pitting the teams from each side of the league against their counterpart in the opposite standings, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy seems poised to be at or near the top at 7-0.
But the Marauders' next challenge will come from a team that's had success against them, even winning in 2021 when BG last won a state championship.
Chestnut Ridge comes into the game reeling from a 45-7 loss to fellow LHAC undefeated squad Penn Cambria, but the Lions have some dangerous players including running back Haydan Webb.
"They have some big backs and run the ball well," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. "Any time you face a team that runs the dive and the dive option that will be a unique challenge."
A year ago, Ridge won a 50-43 shootout over the Marauders, but this is a different Lions team.
"Offensively, we're not the type of team we have been in the past in terms of explosiveness," Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker said. "We need to be very methodical and mix the pass here and there. It's been the story of our season at times that we have shot ourselves in the foot and put us off schedule. When we have to throw, we're not very good. We have to eliminate the mistakes that have been a limiting factor for us."
Following this Chestnut Ridge game, BG travels to 2-5 Philipsburg-Osceola before trying to end the regular season undefeated in the crossover game if all goes well.
"It means a lot," BG senior quarterback Chase Kissell said. "We want to keep building on our momentum that we have built these last seven games and keep getting better every single game to work toward our goal of winning a district and state championship."
Clearfield is also unbeaten on BG's side of the LHAC, but the Bison have tough games against Richland and Central coming up, possibly paving the way for a LHAC championship game appearance by BG.
"That would be great," Wheeler said. "We want our guys to play for championships regardless of what they are, but we're just trying to focus on this week. If we take care of business, I think all the other stuff kind of takes care of itself. The years we have gone on to make long postseason runs, we've been playing our best football at the end of the year."
The Marauders lost in the first round of the District 6 Class 2A playoffs last year and have been using that setback as motivation.
"They have been focused since last year to make sure that we didn't have the same kind of outcomes," Wheeler said. "We were so close last year, within a few plays. They wanted to make sure they finish this thing strong this year. Each week, they have been doing that."
And that comes with respecting every opponent, even one coming off a 38-point loss.
"I feel like Chestnut Ridge is a pretty solid team," Kissell said. "If we come out not prepared, they can give us a loss. We have to stay focused all week and come out and play our best football on Friday."
Same approach for AAHS
Altoona is still winless at 0-7, but the Mountain Lions are about to enter a lighter portion of their schedule that includes Chambersburg, Cedar Cliff and Carlisle, which are all teams that are a step down from the competition they have been playing to this point.
But Altoona coach Vince Nedimyer Jr. said there's no need to refocus for the stretch run, which begins Friday at Chambersburg.
"We're not going to change the way we prepare," Nedimyer said. "We'll prepare the same way. Chambersburg has kids on both sides of the ball that can make plays. They have been in some games and have put up a decent amount of points the last couple weeks as well. They have beaten some decent teams. It's not easy to go on the road to play anybody, but that's how we're going to prepare."
Despite the offense still not living up to its potential, Nedimyer has been happy with the defensive performance by the Mountain Lions and is hoping to use it to pick up some wins down the stretch.
"Our defense has given us an opportunity to win on multiple weeks," Nedimyer said. "For it to be 14-0 and then for them to get a score late in the first half, we were right there with Harrisburg last week too. They are gifted. We knew what we were up against, but our defense has given us an opportunity to win multiple times this year. We don't expect anything different going forward."
Revenge tour for Tigers
During its 6-1 start to the season, Hollidaysburg has avenged some losses from last year that stung a Golden Tigers team that finished much better than its record.
Another of those teams, Selinsgrove, is on the schedule this week.
"They have some tough kids," Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre said. "If you look at that region, there's a lot of history and tough football players that have come out of that area. They are tough, hard-nosed kids. Selinsgrove has been good for a long time, made the state semifinals last year.
"They are 4-3 right now, but if you look at two of their losses, they lost to two teams that are 7-0 and lost to Jersey Shore, who lost to Shamokin and us. So, they are 4-3, but they have been competitive in a lot of those games. They beat us handily last year, and our guys are looking at that and wanting to turn the tables."
The Golden Tigers are coming off perhaps one of their best wins under DeLattre.
"Any time you get a quality win, it's very motivational for the whole team and season," DeLattre said. "Jersey Shore has been one of the best programs in the state at our level, 4A or 5A the last few years. It was an exciting and great win for our program."
Despite that win, DeLattre would like to see Hollidaysburg's running game -- averaging just 3.7 yards per carry -- improve.
"In my notes to talk to the guys about, a number of the plays I wrote are about how we can't continue to lack success in running the football, especially as the weather gets colder," DeLattre said. "In the playoffs, the best teams will run the football. We have to continue to work and get better and maybe look at a couple guys in rotation. Our snap problems have gone away. Lincoln Wertz has inserted himself as a starter as a sophomore and did a great job Friday night. We just need to build off that and work on some fundamental things."