Trending
Cambria Heights and Portage are around where they hoped to be with four weeks to play in the season.
The Highlanders are undefeated and leading the conference and the District 6 Class 3A playoff rankings, and the Mustangs are 3-3 and currently in the playoff field in Class 1A.
Both teams will have plenty to play for when they meet at Portage on Friday in a Heritage Conference battle.
"We're 6-0 right now, so that's about as good as we could be," Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. "I still think there's some areas we can improve. In the last couple weeks, we have made progress in those areas. I think that in that regard, we're moving in the direction I want to be. We still have some really tough games on the schedule, and it starts this week."
In addition to Portage, the Highlanders still have games with dangerous teams like Conemaugh Township and Homer-Center.
But Cambria Heights' improved defense is helping Lewis' confidence in his team to handle those challenges.
"Earlier in the year, I thought we were giving up some big plays," Lewis said. "We had missed assignments and came out of the wrong lanes. But I think the last three weeks, our defense has played really well like in the game against Marion Center. I thought that game was hard-fought, and I was proud of our defense in that game. We only gave up one big play against Northern Cambria, and we got a shutout last week. Some younger guys are getting better, and we have some guys in better positions to succeed and we're becoming more confident."
Portage has beaten three of the worst Heritage Conference teams -- West Shamokin, Penns Manor and Conemaugh Valley, and the Mustangs have lost to three of the best -- Marion Center, River Valley and Conemaugh Township.
"It's tough, because we're always looking to be better," Portage coach Marty Slanoc said. "Every week, we want to keep improving, and some weeks that happens in different areas. Looking at where we're at being 3-3, with our schedule, it's probably fair to say we are where a lot of people thought we would be, but we're always striving to be a little bit better. We're happy, but we're not satisfied."
Lewis thinks the Mustangs have certainly improved since the start of the season.
"Portage is a team that is young, and the danger with playing young teams late in the season is that you can see them getting better and more confident," Lewis said. "I think they have a lot of young talent among their sophomores who are starting, even some freshmen. Some of the mistakes they were making early in the season, they are getting better at those."
Slanoc said multiple injuries and struggles on the field led to many of those young players getting time at the varsity level last season.
"A lot of these young guys were forced into action last year," Slanoc said. "That experience helps. I think up front, we have a couple returners, and our tight end, tackle and center are back from last year. I think that experience from last year definitely helps them. They aren't as overwhelmed by the game itself, and they can stay under control."
Slanoc now wants to see his team make the next step and win games against the upper-tier Heritage Conference squads.
"Our kids, we're not going to back down," Slanoc said. "That's all we ask from them is to give their max effort. Physical mistakes are going to happen. You're going to drop a ball, you're going to miss a tackle. But we just need to be where we need to be when we need to be there and try to do our job. We just have to eliminate breakdowns and not give up the long play."
Slanoc knows that won't be easy against a deep, versatile Cambria Heights team.
"They are a good team. A seasoned team with a lot of size and numbers," Slanoc said. "They have a lot of weapons. They are at the top of the conference, and they are undefeated for a reason. We're going to have to control the ball, take some chances and try to do some different things to slow them down a little bit."