2023 Heritage Conference Preview! Greg breaks down the league, watch the video!
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 5, District 6, News
Greg Ricupero | August 11, 2023
Heritage Conference Expands to 12 Teams!
The always tough Heritage Conference got even better expanding from 10 to 12 teams with the additions of Conemaugh Valley & Conemaugh Township. The Conference now has 6 Indiana County teams, 5 Cambria County teams and West Shamokin from Armstrong County. Conemaugh Township head coach Brandon Studer is looking forward to the move even though his team will have slightly longer bus rides. The conference realignments have continued as the conferences keep getting bigger. The LHAC will have 20 teams this year. The 12 team conference will allow every team to play each other once per year. They will play ten regular season games and scrimmage the eleventh team. The schedule will rotate yearly. The Heritage Conference which dominated the D6 Single A playoffs should continue to do so. Unlike the old WestPac the teams should have a very competitive game every week.
Coach’s Poll
United Valley Lions (4-6) Coach Kevin Marabito
The Lions haven’t had a winning season since 2018 when they made the run to the D6 championship game. This is their second season co-oping with Blacklick Valley. The Lions won their last three games to get hopes high for this year. The Lions will be among the favorites with 17 of 22 starters returning. The leading passer and rusher return as Isaac Worthington and Caden McCully will lead the offense. McCully also led the defense in tackles.
My Player to watch: Issac Worthington
Northern Cambria Colts (10-4) Coach Sam Shutty
The Colts are the defending District 6 Single A champions and have a big target on their back. They loss the majority of their skill players including Colton Paronish, Owen Bougher, Xander Dolansky and Peyton Myers. Ethan Donatelli will take over the reins of quarterback behind a solid offense line which includes center Brayden Peles and guard Austin Armsdell. The defense should be solid again.
My Player to watch: Ty Dumm
Cambria Heights Highlanders (8-4) Coach Jarrod Lewis
The Highlanders will need to replace Ty Stockley and Tanner Trybus with a committee of players. Cambria Heights will start Issac Weiland at quarterback maybe not the athlete that Stockley was, but what an arm. The Highlanders have only four seniors so experience could be an issue. You can expect them to be strong upfront as usual. They have six starters returning on defense.
My Player to watch: Issac Weiland
West Shamokin Wolves (5-6) Coach Jon McCullough
The Wolves should challenge for the conference championship as they return 13 starters. The numbers are down so they will need to stay healthy. Last year two-way start Lou Swartz suffered a season ending injury and they lost 4 of their last five games. The Wolves have the best group of skill players in the conference with Swartz, Ezra Oesterling, and Dylan Wolfe. If their defense shows up they should win the conference.
My Player to watch: Lou Swartz
River Valley Panthers (1-9) Coach Jess Houser
The Panthers are looking for a bounce back season in third season. The team was formed when Blairsville and Saltsburg merged. They went 8-3 in 2021 but their roster was seriously depleted last year. Luke Woodring is slated to start at quarterback. Look for a big season from first year player Sam Ewing, he is a beast.
My player to watch : Sam Ewing
Purchase Line Red Dragons (4-6) Coach Matt Falisec
The Dragons have hovered around .500 the last three years. Purchase Line has a nice collection of skill players with Brock Small, Austin Chambers, Jaylin Robertson and John Elick. Look for them to put the ball in the air more this year. The Elick to Robertson connection looked pretty good at the Richland 7 v 7.
My Player to watch: Quentin Brooks
Portage Mustangs (7-5) Coach Marty Slonac
The Mustangs are in their second season of Heritage Conference action. Star quarterback Andrew Miko. Easton Slonac a sophomore will take over the reins.
It should be a rebuilding year for Portage, but don’t be surprised if they play .500 ball or better. There is a strong tradition at Portage.
My Player to watch: Bode Layo
Homer-Center Wildcats (5-6) Coach Greg Page
The Wildcats suffered their first losing season since 2011. The Wildcats had only eight returning starters. They have no returning starters on either line. Angelo Alexander will start at quarterback, which was a sore spot last year. I never bet against Homer-Center , but it will be an uphill battle.
My Player to watch: Isaiah McCracken
Penns Manor Comets (11-2) Coach Bill Packer
The Comets suffered another heart breaking post season loss when they fall in the D6 final to Northern Cambria. It will be a rebuilding year for Penns Manor who loss a ton of talent including quarterback Max Hill and speedster Justin Marshall. Carter Smith looks for a bigger role this year and may play some quarterback.
My Player to watch: Carter Smith
Marion Center Stingers (3-7) Coach Adam Rising
The Stingers look to rebound from a disappointing season after four straight seasons of five or more wins. I’m looking for Marion Center to surprise some teams. I know from covering a lot of their athletic teams that they never give up and they have some great junior high teams coming up including football. They have most of their linemen returning and 15 starters in total.
My Player to watch: Mason Mantini
Conemaugh Township Indians (6-5) Coach Brandon Studer
The Indians are one of the two new teams this year. They have a new head coach in Brandon Studer. They must replace Tanner Shirley and Ethan Black.
However they have 13 returning starters. Conemaugh Township will probably be the team who logs the most miles. They are the only D5 team in the conference.
My Player to watch: Jon Updyke
Conemaugh Valley BlueJays (2-7) Coach Matthew Kent
The BlueJays are the other new team. Among the new things in Conemaugh Valley are lights. They will no longer have to play on Saturday afternoons. It could get really hot down there on the weekends. The players are definitely excited to be playing on Friday nights. The BlueJays co-op with Ferndale.
My Player to watch: Elijah Darr
GREG’S CALL
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