It’s a toss-up: Several teams appear to be in running to try and dethrone Cambria Heights in Heritage Football Conference
Heritage Conference Football Media Day
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PATTON -- Cambria Heights was the unquestioned top team in the Heritage Conference last season, and the Highlanders put a stamp on that by winning the District 6 Class 2A championship -- their second district title in as many years.
But this season, River Valley -- the school that is a result of the Saltsburg and Blairsville merger -- was picked by conference coaches as the favorite to win the league title.
Former Altoona coach Ed Dalton, who is in his first year at River Valley, laughed when told his team was picked as the one to beat.
"I think that's an unreasonable expectation, but I also think that we think we are going to be pretty good," Dalton said. "I know a lot of these coaches through coaching over the years -- some of them were players when I was coaching -- and it's going to be a challenge every week. You want expectations though, so we'll accept them and go from there."
Part of Dalton's surprise likely came from the fact the Heritage Conference seems like it will be very balanced this season, making picking anyone as a favorite a tough thing to do.
"Northern Cambria and Cambria Heights will be back and still be strong," Homer-Center coach Greg Page said. "It's hard to tell, but it's one of those years that there is a lot of parity as they say, and I think a lot of teams will be able to beat a lot of teams on any given night. Hopefully we're in the mix with that too."
One of the teams hoping to improve and move back closer to the upper tier will be Portage.
"The teams that have traditionally been good, we look to have good teams again," Mustangs coach Marty Slanoc said. "Heights, River Valley, Northern Cambria and Marion Center could be the front runners, but I think a lot of other teams could pull wins off like Conemaugh Township, and I think we might surprise some teams. Every week, it's a battle and you never know."
United Valley, the co-op between Blacklick Valley and United, was picked second by the coaches and Cambria Heights was third.
"It's pretty much wide open for anyone to succeed this season," United Valley coach Lou McElwee said. "We'll have to be disciplined and sound, know our jobs, know our responsibilities and build on what we did last year. If we play to the expectations I have put out to the players, we'll be fine."
Cambria Heights has exceeded expectations the last two seasons, so not being picked is nothing new to the Highlanders.
"These kids got valuable experience last year," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "A lot of these guys that you're going to see, they bided their time. They played football for us last year, but some of them weren't starters or played one way or complementary roles. This year they will be in featured roles.
"That's going to be the big difference on what type of team we are. These kids have been part of successful teams, so they know what it takes to be successful, but with replacing that much talent, there are people who might think we could be down this year. Their main goal is to make sure that we're competing at a high level and keeping that bar staying high."
Success in NC
Northern Cambria has enjoyed plenty of success over the last half decade, including a District 1 Class 1A championship in 2022.
The Colts will be among the teams aiming for the Heritage crown again this season.
"I think it's going to be again extremely competitive," Shutty said. "I can't say there's one clear-cut winner or favorite going into the season, so I feel like it's going to come down to injuries and if you can get the ball to bounce your way. I think we can be competitive and near the top like we have been the past couple years."
Northern Cambria also won a District 6 title in baseball last year and has been to the district championship game in boys basketball the last two years.
"We have the athletes that put the time and work in," Shutty said. "I think that is first and foremost, because you have to have the will to do things when no one is looking. I think the kids have been very hard-working in that regard. I also think the culture is in place and that winning breeds confidence and all the other things you need to have a successful program."
Co-op working
Unlike some football co-ops in the area, the United Valley one has worked well with both success on the field and in keeping both schools contributing to the program.
"Right now, it's pretty even," McElwee said. "We've got somewhere around 25 from one school and 20 from the other, around those numbers. We play two games at Blacklick and three home games at United. We split them up. The fan base is bigger now, and being that we have the co-op, expectations have been higher."
Family ties
Slanoc will be coaching his son, Easton, for the last time this fall before he graduates in 2026.
Easton Slanoc is Portage's quarterback and is recovered after missing some time last season due to injury.
"It's unique," Coach Slanoc said. "I started coaching in 1999 before I was even married. (Easton) was always around the program, and I guess it hasn't really sunk in yet that this is his last year. I have another son (Owen) who is going to be a freshman this year, and I'm probably a little harder on them. (Easton) has done a really good job over the years of understanding that he's going to be looked at differently not just from me but by people outside the program. If he's not doing the right things, why would other kids? He knows he has eyes on him, and he's handled it very well."
Playing it safe
Homer-Center had another disappointing season by its standards last year, finishing 3-7, but the Wildcats dealt with a lot of injuries.
H-C coach Greg Page said he looked into preventative techniques this offseason.
"We had a couple freak injuries with broken bones last year," Page said. "I felt like we also had way too many concussions, so we focused on neck strength and got some kids some better helmets. We're always teaching the right technique when we're blocking or tackling and things like that. Maybe it's some of these guys getting their bodies a little more mature."
Page is hoping to bring Homer-Center back to the level it was when it claimed District 6 titles in 2017 and 2013.
"We have to get back to where we were," Page said. "The injury bug certainly set us back, but that's kind of an excuse too. We just didn't play or coach football well enough last year."