2023 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference Preview: LHAC West 2

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 5, District 6, District 9, News

Brian Ingalls | August 19, 2023

The 2022 Laurel Highlands Final Standings (Record-Conference/Overall)

1. Richland 10-0/11-1
2. Penn Cambria 9-1/9-2
3. Central 8-2/12-3
4. Bishop Guilfoyle 7-3/10-4
5. Bedford 7-3/7-4
6. Chestnut Ridge 6-4/6-5
7. Westmont Hilltop 4-6
8. Central Cambria 3-7
9. Forest Hills 3-7
10. Bishop McCort/Carroll 2-8
11. Somerset 1-9
12. Greater Johnstown 0-10

The Laurel Highlands had a very competitive and successful 2022.  The conference had two D6 Champions, Central AAA (3^rd Straight) and Bishop Guilfoyle AA (4^th straight-last 3 at single A).  Both of these teams lost to the eventual state champions, Bishop Guilfoyle in the State Quarterfinals, and Central in the State Semi-Finals.

The Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference is always a successful conference and now they have added 8 quality teams for the 2023 football season.   The now 20 team conference will consist of teams from 3 different Districts (D5, D6, and D9), and will also feature 1 Single A, 12 Double A, 5 Triple A, and 2 Quad A teams.

The 20 teams have been sectioned into 4-5 team sections.  After the first 9 games, the conference will be ranked East 1-10 and West 1-10.  The top team from the East will play the top team from the West for LHAC Championship in week 10.  The rest of the league will play the cross-over games in week 10.  The only changes will take place if the teams already played, except for in the championship game.

Here is the 2023 LHAC Sections:

Chestnut Ridge Lions
2022 Record: 6-4 Conf, 6-5 Ovr
Head Coach-Max Shoemaker
16^th Season (114-62)

The Lions lost to Westinghouse 48-15 in the D5/D8 AA semifinals last season.

Chestnut Ridge should have a good bounce back season this year.  They bring back a lot of experience.  Here is what Coach Shoemaker said about this upcoming season,

“We return a nice group of athletic guys on both sides of the ball with 8 offensive starters & 6 defensive starters returning. We are a year stronger bigger, and more experienced along our offensive & defensive fronts. We have good depth with our skill personnel.
Concerns: Staying healthy; limited depth on offensive & defensive lines; rapid development of our ILB’s, improved secondary play.”

Chestnut Ridge brings back starting QB Nate Whysong.  Last year Whysong threw for over 1400 yards and 8 TDs and rushed for 810 yards and 12 TDs.  Most of the top receiving targets are back in Senior Jeb Emerick RB, Senior Chase Whysong SE, and Senior JaRod Wolfhope SE.  These three combined for 52 receptions and 894 yards with 6 TDs.  On the offensive and defensive line the Lions have these 5 returning starters: Senior C JJ Shetler (6′ 0″ 225), Senior G Alex Crist (5′ 9″ 195), Junior G Mason Miller (5′ 11″ 190), Senior OT/DE Braden Ickes (6′ 1″ 190), and Sophomore DT Kameron Holderbaum (6′ 0″ 200).  Junior OLB Owen Claycomb is returning on defense.  Claycomb led the team in tackles last year with 75.  The key newcomers are:  Senior Mason Weyant OLB (5’8″ 150), Junior Kyler Caulley ILB (6’1″ 215), Junior Aaron Ickes SB/OLB (5’8″ 151), Sophomore Caden Hinson OT (6’0″ 175), Sophomore Cooper Barefoot ILB (5’11” 177), and Sophomore Carter Wharton SB/CB (5’8″ 145).

The Lions have a tough end of the season where they play Bishop Guilfoyle and Richland in week 8 and 9.  The week 9 game with Richland should decide the West.

2023 Schedule

Bedford Bison
2022 Record: 7-3 Conf, 7-4 Ovr
Head Coach-Kevin Steele
14^th Season (93-54)

Last season, Bedford had a tough stretch in the middle of the season.  They lost to Penn Cambria (27-20), Richland (25-23), and Central (38-35) three weeks in a row, week 6,7, and 8.  They went on to finish strong by beating Bishop Guilfoyle 18-7 in the last regular season game. Bedford lost to Berlin 27-12 in the D5/D8 AA Semifinals.  Coach Steele will have to replace his starting backfield from last year.  RB Ethan Weber (1300 yards and 20 TDs) and QB Kevin Ressler (threw for 700 yards and 7 TDs and rushed for 700 yards and 9 TDs) have graduated.

Coach Steele has a tough task of a very inexperienced team.  Only one offensive lineman had some experience last year.  That linemen is Senior Kaidyn Jones (6’1” 230).  Junior RB Quincy Swaim has some experience as he rushed for 174 yards and 1 TD last year.

Bedford will be tested early, week 1 at Westmont and week 2 home against Penns Valley. The Bisons play Chestnut Ridge week 5 and Central week-both at home.

2023 Schedule

Penn Cambria Panthers
2022 Record: 9-1 Conf, 9-2 Ovr
Head Coach-Nick Foles
5^th Season (20-23)

Last season, Penn Cambria lost to Central 35-6 in the D6 AAA championship for the second straight year and lost to Richland 49-42 in the regular season.

Coach Foles has to find new pieces for all his offensive skill positions as he lost QB Garrett Harold, RB Zach Grove, WR Vinny Chirdon, and WR Luke Shuagis to graduation.  Harold passed for over 2100 yards and 30 TDs and rushed for 721 yards and 10 TDs.  Grove had over 1100 yards rushing and 16 TDs.  Chirdon and Shuagis combined to catch 71 passes for over 1000 yards and 20 TDs.  That is a lot of offense to replace this year.

Junior Gavin Harrold had 33 receptions for 481 yards and 5 TDs and will be counted on to be a bigger contributor on offense this year.  On defense, the leading tackler from last year Vinny Chirdon (95) graduated, but Junior Derek Hite (85 tackles) and Senior Carter Mcdermott (67 tackles) are returning.  Junior T Preston Farabaugh (6’0” 215) and Senior T Eli Summerville (6’3” 215) are the only returning starters along the offensive line.  Senior Jarett Holmes (5’10” 210) and Farabaugh are the only starters back on the defensive line.  Junior LB Derek Hite (85 tackles) and Junior LB Tommy Plunkett (40 tackles) return in the middle of the defense.  Mcdermott and Senior Marcus Lilly are returning starters in the defensive backfield.

Penn Cambria plays at Richland week 1 and home against Westmont (week 6) and Chestnut Ridge (week 7)

2023 Schedule

Forest Hills Rangers
2022 Record: 3-7
Head Coach-Justin Myers
5^th Season (15-26)

Last season, Forest Hills lost some close games and they look to have some more success this season.  They return 6 starters on each side of the ball.  Junior QB Nate Cornell returns after throwing for 1100 yards and 10 TDs last year.  Cornell also rushed for 260 yards and 5 TDs last season.  On the OL, the Rangers return 3 starters in Senior G Zack Spisock (5’11” 220), Senior T Jaden Trentini (6’0” 295), and Senior T Kaden Christ.  Trentini DT and Spisock DE return on the DL, and the second leading tackler from last year Senior LB Mason Papinchak (76 tackles) is back.  Sophomore Zander Richardson LB is also a returning starter on defense.  Junior Ben Harteis DB returns in the defensive backfield.

Forest Hills plays at home against Clearfield(week 2) and Penn Cambria(week 3), at Chestnut Ridge week 4, and home against Richland week 5.

2023 Schedule

Central Cambria Red Devils
2022 Record: 3-7
Head Coach-Don Fyfe
2^nd Season (3-7)

The Red Devils bring back 7 starters from each side of the ball.  Junior RB Grady Snyder is returning after rushing for 575 yards and 6 TDs and catching 10 balls for 171 yards and 2 TDs last season.  In the trenches, Central Cambria is returning starters in Senior Deklan Estep G/DE (6’0” 165), Junior David Smith C (5’11” 181), and Junior Blake Coposky T (6’1” 250).  Last year’s top tackler will return in Snyder (87 tackles).

2023 Schedule

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