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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
Penn Cambria is 6-0, has outscored its opponents 196-63 in those games and has been getting contributions from plenty of different players.
All of that pleases Panthers coach Nick Felus, but much like their mantra has been "mountain mentality" the last few seasons, Felus and his team live by another saying this season.
"We're excited about where we are, playing a tough schedule early on has us really prepared as we head down the stretch," Felus said. "There are a couple things on both sides of the ball that we need to clean up, a couple penalties here and there, mistakes and fundamentals here and there. We're happy but not satisfied."
Penn Cambria won't be satisfied until it brings home the first District 6 football championship in school history, and the Panthers face the latest roadblock in that quest on Friday when they travel to 4-2 Chestnut Ridge.
"They are very well coached, disciplined and play extremely hard," Felus said. "They are a very physical football team that likes to run the football. They are finding ways to win games and have played a tough schedule. When you play teams, you have to always expect that team is going to show up and be ready to play."
The Lions have won the last two games to steady their season after an up-and-down start.
"We have been somewhat inconsistent, particularly the first few weeks," Chestnut Ridge coach Max Shoemaker said. "But we have put together two solid performances the last two weeks. That's been a good thing. Consistency is what we have been trying to address. We have been good at times, but we have had too many breakdowns and mistakes to compete against the top teams."
There's no doubt Penn Cambria is considered a top team in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference. The Panthers have explosive dual-threat quarterback Brady Jones, who has thrown for 707 yards and is one of four Penn Cambria players with at least 240 rushing yards.
He also has run in seven two-point conversions and thrown for a few more as Penn Cambria has more often than not decided to go for two instead of one.
"When you have a dual-threat quarterback, that really adds to being able to run some of those two-point plays," Felus said. "Even last week, if you feel like they kind of sniff it out and have it stopped, he's the kind of player where he can make it happen and run it in for you. It's been something we have been doing all year."
Felus and his coaching staff came into the season with the outlook they had the athletes to make going for an extra point worth it, and they have stuck with it.
"We have someone that can kick extra points," Felus said. "We talked about it all summer long as a staff, and we feel like with some of the players we have, going for two is something we like to do. We're going to continue to do that, but there are situations where if we need to just go for one, we will do that. But our players enjoy it each week, running some different plays, and I think it has helped us out a lot."
Having Haydan Webb back on the field has helped Chestnut Ridge a lot this season. The Bedford transfer sat out last season but has starred for the Lions this year with 821 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns through six games as Ridge has won three of its last four games.
"We fell on our face a couple times early," Shoemaker said. "We seemed lackadaisical and not focused. Those are the things we tried to right and get moving in the correct direction."
To keep that momentum up, Ridge knows it will have to play its best game on Friday.
"They have a multiple offense and do a great job defensively," Shoemaker said. "They move to the ball extremely well. We have to bring our 'A' game, do what we like to do and try to contain their offensive weapons. Turnovers will be big in a game like this. I think our kids will respond to the challenge and will be excited to play in a big-game atmosphere."