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Huntingdon has allowed Bishop Guilfoyle Academy to score at least 53 points in each of the last two seasons.
If that happens again on Saturday when the teams meet at Mansion Park it will be a stark contrast to the way the first three weeks have played out.
The Bearcats have been playing stout defense and are coming off a 7-6 win over Bellwood-Antis during a 3-0 start, and the Marauders are trying to find their groove offensively after losing stars Chase Kissell and Hamilton Gates from last year's state championship team.
"We have to simplify a little bit offensively," Wheeler said. "We have to find the things we do well and really focus on them. We have a bunch of new starters in the skill positions, and we have to streamline some things, and hopefully when we do that, they get more confidence in their routes and stuff they are doing."
One starter BG expected to have back was running back Taurean Consiglio, who starred in last year's state title win over Port Allegany.
Consiglio missed the opener at Penns Valley with an injury and returned against Richland. He had just four carries before he left with another injury, and he did not play last week in a 7-0 win over Bellefonte.
"He's not returning," Wheeler said. "He's an all-state kid that was going to be one of the best running backs in the state. Finding our identity on the offense without him has been the goal. Defensively, he was our leading tackler last year and was a leader. Everyone has to step up more, and I think they did a good job with that last week."
Huntingdon has had several players step up this season after going winless a year ago.
"Everyone is excited," Huntingdon coach Tim Lucko said. "You could tell Friday night it was a different atmosphere. There was a buzz. The place was loud. Not only are the kids excited and believing in themselves, you have the community saying -- 'hey, we might have something good going on here.'"
Wheeler has noticed.
"They are physical, and they have a bunch of athletes that run hard," Wheeler said. "They are big, physical kids. They know who they are -- a power football team. They have an identity, and they have guys that believe in that."
Lucko said the brand of football Huntingdon is playing developed through hard work.
"It has taken some time," Lucko said. "The kids are trusting in it and buying in. They are learning. In the past, we have had trouble finishing games, but through the first three games this year, we are playing complete games. I think that comes with confidence in your assignment and your ability to do things."
Though his team enters Saturday night's game with the better record, Lucko certainly respects the Marauders.
"They are a good football team," Lucko said. "I think they are physical and disciplined. They execute their plays in a phenomenal way. It's definitely going to be a challenge for us. They are going to be one of the top teams in Class A and one of the top teams in our conference. I hope we can go up there, play our best and compete against a great team."
Riding high
Altoona picked up its first win of the 2025 season last week at Cumberland Valley on a last-minute Cody Chathams field goal.
The fact Altoona rallied for a win after limping to the finish line in its first two games was not lost on its coaching staff.
"We said for two weeks about finishing in the second half," Nedimyer said. "We made a couple of changes that helped our kids with not being tired down the stretch, and we were able to make some plays in the third and fourth quarter which definitely helped us."
Nedimyer explained most of his players were seeing a lot of minutes on both sides of the ball.
"We had a decent amount of kids playing both ways," Nedimyer said. "We tried to remedy that by trying to get some kids off the field, and I think that definitely helped us. It's good to get a win on the road, and it's nice to come back and have a home game after it. We can't get complacent though. We have to get after our kids at practice and beat a good Central Dauphin team this week."
Central Dauphin comes to Mansion Park on Friday at 1-2 with its only win coming over Carlisle by almost the same score that Cumberland Valley beat Carlisle.
"They are going to try and run it at us," Nedimyer said. "They are going to get into some heavier sets where they are going to try and get double tight on the field and try to run north and south at us."
Altoona will be prepared for that challenge with extra confidence from last Friday's win.
"It plays a big role," Nedimyer said. "To go on the road and win anywhere isn't easy in football. Our kids were confident, but they finally made plays when we needed them to. They are making plays, and we hope it carries into the next few weeks. It doesn't get easier with the schedule we play."
3-0 vs. 3-0
Hollidaysburg enters Friday's game at Butler undefeated, but if the Golden Tigers plan to stay perfect, they will have to beat a Golden Tornadoes team that is having its best start in years.
"On offense, they have a great quarterback who has thrown for over 400 yards," Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre said. "They already have 800 yards rushing too. They have a balanced attack. Their quarterback is a good runner, and that's a challenge. He can also throw the ball very accurately. They are 3-0, and this is their first 3-0 start since 2002. There's a lot of excitement around their team."
Butler quarterback Nicco Baggetta has thrown for 412 yards and four touchdowns and also run for 231 yards and six touchdowns.
Hollidaysburg is hoping its special teams make Baggetta and his teammates drive long fields.
"Our punt team has been tremendous at pinning teams down inside the 10-yard line," DeLattre said. "Our kicker (Devin Walters) has been kicking into the end zone and has been really impressive."
Through three weeks, DeLattre is pleased with his team's progress.
"They are a really focused group of kids that are working hard every day," DeLattre said. "They love being there and being there for each other. There are a lot of guys out there getting their chance. We don't have a lot of two-way starters this year. We have a lot of depth, and that's really good to see coming off losing 22 seniors."