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For two teams that have only met three times during the entire lifespan of all of their players, Conemaugh Township and Cambria Heights, which meet in Patton on Friday, have a lot in common this season.
The Indians and Highlanders both have dual-threat quarterbacks who have been nearly impossible to stop and both have star players who happen to be the sons of their respective coaches.
For Conemaugh Township, Greyson Studer is both.
"He's a very good athlete," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "He's a dual-threat guy who is a runner and a passer. Anytime you face a quarterback that has those characteristics, it's obviously challenging. He's a coach's son, which tells you he's been around the game a long time. It's like they have a coach on the field. Not only that, he's very impressive on defense as well. It's going to be a challenge, but he has athletes around him -- big tall receivers, a tough running back and a very big offensive line in front of him."
Indians coach Brandon Studer has used Greyson in many different ways this season. He's thrown for 813 yards and 13 touchdowns, run for 787 yards and nine scores and has 35 tackles with a team-high two interceptions.
Though those numbers are impressive, Highlanders quarterback Nolan Clawson has nearly matched them with 533 yards and seven touchdowns passing in less attempts and 781 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
"He's getting more comfortable at the position," Lewis said. "We knew he would be a good runner, but he's really developed into a good passer. That's been the difference in the past few weeks. He's getting better and more comfortable at quarterback and more comfortable commanding the offense. I think also some of our players around him are stepping up and starting to develop an identity. We're adding to that and are coming off probably our most complete game we have played to this point, and Nolan is a big part of that. The more comfortable he gets, the better we'll be."
Conemaugh Township comes into the game at 6-1 while the Highlanders and Jarrod's son, Bryce Lewis, are atop the Heritage Conference and the District 6 Class 3A rankings at 7-0.
"I remember Bryce drawing plays up with me when he was 3 or 4 years old," Lewis said. "He was pretending to watch film, and he's obviously a guy who takes this very seriously. He watches a lot of film himself, and that helps. It's not just him out there defensively. We have Colton Strong, who is a multi-year starter, Max Sherwood, Roman Eckenrode has really come into his own and Harrison Snyder -- those guys have been big parts of the front seven who really helped us get to where we need to be.
"They are guys who can identify different fronts and formations, and Township does a lot of that so we're going to need that from them. Having Bryce as a four-year starter is obviously a major asset, and it is like having a coach on the defensive side of the field, which is nice."
Back in action
After a rare midseason bye week, Hollidaysburg returns to action at home Friday when it plays District 4 power Jersey Shore for the third consecutive season.
"Jersey Shore is adept at both rushing and passing and lives and dies off the speed of its offense," Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre said. "Defensively, they are quick and athletic."
A year ago, Hollidaysburg crushed Jersey Shore, 52-7, but in 2024, the Golden Tigers won 27-25.
"Last year we forced a lot of turnovers," DeLattre said. "(Graduated senior) Josh Banks had three turnovers and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. A couple years before, they had a bad snap that cost them the game. They started this season ranked in the state, so we're glad to be home, because we have a great home atmosphere that helps our program."
DeLattre isn't worried the week off will disrupt his 4-2 team.
"Just like when we had bye weeks in the postseason, we gave them an extra day or two off," DeLattre said. "We scrimmaged against ourselves and had tough practices against ourselves, but we also used the time to get healthy. Joey Richardson will hopefully be back, but the time the players who have been playing allows us to develop depth. It was a good week off for development."
With three games to play in the regular season, DeLattre likes how his team is coming together.
"We're running the football better and controlling the line better," DeLattre said. "We controlled Fort Hill a good part of the game. An important aspect, as postseason comes, is to run the ball and stop the run. The guys have been healthy up front, and we have had the same starting offensive line. Those guys are coming along."
Maintaining focus
Bishop Guilfoyle Academy has gone through a gauntlet of a schedule this season, so a natural reaction to seeing a 2-5 Forest Hills team on the schedule Saturday night at Mansion Park might be having a letdown.
"Some weeks it's pretty easy to get the guys focused," Marauders coach Justin Wheeler said. "This week, it's a little bit more of a challenge, but one thing I always tell the guys is it's never about who you are playing. It's about us getting better every week. This is an opportunity, and Forest Hills is a team that has a ton of tradition. They may not be where they want to be as far as their record, but if they beat you, it's something their team and their kids will remember forever. We'll get their best effort Friday night. Beating us would help change their whole season."
Bishop Guilfoyle is coming off a 10-0 win over a Bellwood-Antis team known for its line of scrimmage play and running game, but Wheeler is pleased with how his Marauders rose to that challenge.
"We did hear a lot about Bellwood's line," Wheeler said. "Our guys take that personal. They want to be the line people are talking about, and they are up for that challenge. We didn't play our cleanest game, but by the end of the night, I think our line was the better line. That's encouraging knowing you can rely on them when you need it. There will be games in the playoffs where there might be rain, sleet or snow. You have to be able to control the line, and right now, they are playing really well."
The Marauders currently have a sizable lead over Homer-Center for the top seed in District 6 Class 1A.
"I do think we've played some really good football throughout the year," Wheeler said. "I think we're right where we need to be with a couple weeks left. I think if we can continue to improve, I like our chances in the playoffs."