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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
When Penn Cambria edged Bishop Guilfoyle Academy, 28-27, in likely the most thrilling area game of the season in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship game, plenty of talent was on the field and coaching on the sideline.
It turns out, according to the area coaches and media, the best in the Mirror's coverage area.
Penn Cambria coach Nick Felus edged out Hollidaysburg's Homer DeLattre and Bishop Guilfoyle's Justin Wheeler to be selected Altoona Mirror Coach of the Year in a season which many coaches could have been considered worthy.
As far as Altoona Mirror Player of the Year, two candidates -- Penn Cambria's Gavin Harrold and Bishop Guilfoyle's Hamilton Gates -- could not be separated after several tiebreakers and were named co-Players of the Year for the efforts in leading their teams to historic seasons.
"It's truly an honor and a very humbling experience for me," Felus said. "To be voted by your peers, there are a lot of great coaches in the area, so it's definitely a special honor. But this is a team award. Huge credit to my coaching staff and players. This was truly a team effort, and everybody contributed to this. It's a special thing for our program."
Felus led Penn Cambria to its first District 6 championship in school history, the LHAC title and to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals before the Panthers fell to WPIAL champion Avonworth to finish the best season in school history 14-1.
"I have one of the hardest working and best coaching staffs in the state," Felus said. "They put in countless hours 12 months of the year, and they are relentless in their preparation. This would not be possible without them."
Harrold, whose brother Garrett won Mirror Athlete of the Year as a senior two years ago, finished with 859 yards and 24 touchdowns rushing on 113 carries, caught 75 passes for 1,003 yards and 10 touchdowns, converted 11 two-point conversions and completed three passes for 46 yards. He finished the year scoring 233 points. He also had three interceptions and 26 passes defended defensively.
"It means a lot to me," Harrold said. "All the work I have put in during the offseason and all throughout high school -- I'm very glad I get to see it pay off. I couldn't have done it without my family, coaches, teammates and of course God. All those things play a pivotal role in my football career, and I just want to thank them."
Felus had high praise for Harrold, who plans to play college football but hasn't selected a school yet.
"Gavin is such a special player and more importantly he's a great person as well," Felus said. "The work he has put in the past four years, for him to receive this honor, there's no one more deserving. You saw his skills on the field, the stuff he can do with the football, but what stands out with him is his work ethic and leadership qualities. He was a leader for us the last four years, and he's a team-first player. He's not about individual awards. He's all about the team's success."
Gates helped BG recover from the loss to Penn Cambria and win a District 6 championship over Northern Cambria in a game where he returned a punt for a touchdown. A few weeks later, Gates and his teammates hoisted the school's fifth PIAA Class 1A championship with a win over Port Allegany in which he scored the go-ahead 65-yard touchdown run and also threw a touchdown pass.
"It feels great that the hard work paid off," Gates said. "I'm happy to be up there with the top players in the area."
Gates finished the year with 116 carries for 864 yards and 20 touchdowns rushing and caught 93 passes for 1,705 yards and 19 scores. He finished the year scoring a Mirror-coverage-area-high 252 points. Gates also had seven interceptions.
"He is maybe one of the most all-around, complete athletes I may have ever coached," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. "He really is exceptional at everything he does -- receiver, running back and he threw two touchdown passes. He's also been a shutdown corner for us for years. He's truly an all-around talented kid."
Gates more than doubled his rushing and receiving stats from his junior to senior year.
"From his junior to senior year, I think he realized how good he could be," Wheeler said. "In the offseason, he and Chase (Kissell) were on a mission to be great. They worked out a lot together and got a great connection. The more they worked out, the more confident he became. When summer hit, and he was going against some bigger schools and no one was really stopping him, I think it really clicked that he could be exceptional."
Gates also plans on playing college football but has yet to choose a destination.
"There was a lot of hard work and coaching in general that helped me," Gates said. "They got us prepared for the season and helped us execute. It's a great way to end it. I feel like I reached all the goals I needed to, and it's a great way to go out."
Harrold credited his brother with some of his development.
"He played a big role in my success," Gavin Harrold said. "Playing with him when we were kids, he was always pushing me. Freshman and sophomore year, I was in his shadow. To finally win the award and Tribune Democrat Player of the Year -- it means a lot to make a name for myself. His dedication and hard work came down to me, but without him, I don't think I would have won this award."
Felus said both awards belong to the community.
"It starts with people," Felus said. "We have a great coaching staff and great administration. Our school board, our booster club, our parents -- everybody that has come in contact with our football program has a part in all of this. They have done a great job of supporting us and giving us everything we need. We also had the hard work of our players who bought into our system six years ago and continued to work. You saw it changing the last three or four years, and this year was the culmination of the hard work everyone has been putting in for such a long time."