2023 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference Preview: East 1 Section

Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 6, News

Billy Splain | August 12, 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
    

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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:

Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders
2022 Record: 7-3 Conf, 10-4 Ovr
Head Coach-Justin Wheeler
13^th Season (127-32)

The Marauders lost to Central (21-20), Penn Cambria (39-34), and Bedford (18-7) in the regular season.  Bishop Guilfoyle then went on to beat top seeded and undefeated Richland (32-22) in the D6 AA Semis and beat Penns Valley (56-35) in the D6 AA Championship to win Bishop Guilfoyle’s 4 straight D6 title.  The previous 3 were all won at single A.  The Marauders lost 42-14 in the PIAA State AA Quarterfinals to eventual State AA Champion Southern Columbia.

Coach Wheeler will have to replace all-state QB Karson Kiesewetter who graduated.  Kiesewetter threw for over 2,000 yards and 18 TDs and rushed for over 1500 yards and 31 TDs.  Also lost to graduation, 2^nd leading rusher and receiver in Cooper Rother (900 yards and 11 TDs rushing and 670 yards and 4 TDs receiving).  Bishop Guilfoyle, as always, still has a lot of talent returning and coming up from the JH program. Coach Wheeler said this about the upcoming season,

“We have to replace the leading passer in school history and the leading receiver, but we have speed and strength in some upcoming players that will do their best to fill the shoes of our graduating stars. This year’s team maybe our strongest overall team we have had. This strength and the experience upfront, should make for a great season.”

In the trenches, BG has some big returning starters returning in Junior OT / DT Joe Eckenrode (6’2″271), Senior C / DE- Ryan Hostler (5’10” 256), Senior OT- Carter Sheehan (6’3″ 274), and Senior DT- Tyson Bridenbaugh (6’0” 204).  Senior WR / DB Ryan Hagg (5’10” 188) is back.  He had 206 yards receiving last year with 3 TDs and 22 tackles and 7 pass deflections on defense.  Other returning starters are Senior RB / MLB Kaden Wyandt, Junior DB Hamilton Gates, and Junior FS Chase Kissell.  Wyant led the team in tackles last year with 149.

The key Newcomers for BG this year are QB- Chase Kissell 6’3″ 194, OG/DE -Conner McElheny 6’1″ 201, SS/WR – Trent Adams 6’0 171, WR/DB – Braden Reilly 6’0″ 173, LB- Bryce Wheeler 5’10” 195, LB -Will Tobin 6’0″ 185, DE Nick McCloskey 6’0″ 196, OLB – Jacob Kissell 6’2″ 201

With the great program that Coach Wheeler and the Bishop Guilfoyle staff have built, Bishop Guilfoyle should have a great season.  They should be one of the top teams not only in the LHAC, but also in D6 2A.  The Marauders should also make another deep run in the State AA playoffs.

2023 Schedule

Central Scarlet Dragons
2022 Record: 8-2 Conf, 12-3 Ovr
Head Coach-Dave Baker
13^th Season (107-41)

Central lost to Richland (35-28) and Penn Cambria (42-28) in weeks 2 and 3 of the regular season last year.  They went on to win the rest of the games in the regular season, and beat Penn Cambria 35-6 in the D6 AAA championship for their 3^rd straight D6 title.  Central made it to the PIAA AAA State semifinals where they lost to eventual State AAA champion Belle Vernon 21-17.

Coach Baker will have the huge task of replacing one of the state’s best players in QB Jeff Hoenstine.  Hoenstine passed for almost 4000 yards with 51 TDs and only 6 INTs.  He finished his stellar Central career with over 10,000 yards passing, 146 TDs, and only 17 INTs.  He also rushed for over 1700 yards and 30 TDs for his career.  Also lost to graduation is WR Eli Lingenfelter who had 99 receptions for over 1600 yards and 27 TDs.

Senior Hunter Smith is the only offensive skill player returning for Coach Baker.  Smith had 500 yards rushing and 6 TDs and 57 receptions for 600 yards and another 6 TDs last season.  Coach Baker does have his leading tackler back on defense with Hunter Smith (131 tackles/6 sacks).  The Scarlet Dragons do have some returning experience in the trenches in Senior G/DL Kaden Schenk (6’0” 205), Senior T/DL Ben Lovett (5’11” 185), Senior C Brady Albright (6’5” 222), Junior T Jaxon Detterline (6’3” 215)

It is great to see a Tyrone/Central game back on the schedule (week 3).  Central will play division favorite Bishop Guilfoyle in week 5.  Penns Valley week 7 and Clearfield week 9 should be good games for Central.  If Coach Baker can get the inexperienced players up to speed, Central should be able to make some noise in the D6 AAA playoffs.

2023 Schedule

Bellwood-Antis Blue Devils
2022 Record: 6-2 Conf (ICC 2^nd place) 6-5 Ovr
Head Coach-Nick Lovrich
6^th season (44-11)

The Blue Devils lost to Bald Eagle Area 45-19 in the 1^st rd of the D6 AA playoffs.

Coach Lovrich goes into the 2023 season with a lot of inexperienced players.  Bellwood only returns 8 starters from last year, four from offense and four from defense.  On the OL, Senior C Robbie Kenner (6’0” 200) is the only returning starter.  On the DL, Senior Chance Schreier DE (5’11” 180) is the only returning starter.  Coach Lovrich does have his leading tackler from last year back on defense in Senior Jordan Hescox (83 tackles).  Senior Dalton Poorman LB, Junior Cayden Pellegrine LB, and Junior Griffin Kyle DB are back on defense.

Bellwood will have a very tough schedule this year being in a division with Bishop Guilfoyle, Central, and Tyrone.

2023 Schedule

Huntingdon Bearcats
2022 Record: 2-4 Conf (MAC 5^th place) 2-8 Ovr
Head Coach-Tim Lucko
1^st Season

“Huntingdon looks to move forward under new head coach Tim Lucko. The Bearcats return 13 letterwinners from a squad that finished 2-8 and have had their share of struggles over the last three seasons. Lucko will employ a multiple formation offense and defense in what will be a return to “Bearcat Football”

In his first season, Coach Lucko will have a nice group of returning starters.  Junior QB Eric Mykut returns as QB after he threw for just over 1000 yards and 9 TDs last season.  Mykut also started at DB last year.  Other returning starters are Senior Tyler Long WR/DB, Senior Ashton Steele RB/LB, Senior Ryder Sheffield RB/DB, Senior Jack Foster WR/DB, Senior Colin Claar WR/DB, Senior Lincoln Miller RB/LB, Senior Bryson Boozel OL/DL (5’8” 230), Sophomore AJ Rivello OL/DL (6’1” 240), Senior Derek Banks OL/DL (6’0” 230), Sophomore Mason Taylor OL/LB, Senior Treyson Poorman OL/LB (5’10” 205) and Senior Chase Somers OL/DL 6’2” 260)

2023 Schedule

Tyrone Golden Eagles
2022 Record: 4-2 (MAC 4^th place) 8-3 Ovr
Head Coach-John Franco
23^rd Season 5^th season since returning (211-56)

Tyrone lost to Central 35-14 in the D6 AAA semifinals.

Coach Franco has his starting QB, RBs, and three WRs but only one offensive linemen from last season.  The most important returning starter is Senior OL/DL Braden Ewing (6’0” 250) as he will try to anchor an inexperienced offensive and defensive line.  Junior QB Ashton Walk threw for 1600 yards and 22 TDs and only 6 INTs last season.  Senior Brady Ronan rushed for 320 yards and 4 TDs during an injury riddled season.  Junior RB Seth Hoover had 200 yards rushing and 1 TD last season.  Senior WR A.J. Coleman, Senior WR Andrew Weaver, and Senior WR Dravyn Crowell combined for 36 receptions with 432 yards and 8 TDs.  On defense, Ewing on the line and Walk, Crowell, and Ronan return in the defensive backfield.  Ewing led the team in tackles last year with 51 and sacks with 7.

Coach Franco will also have a tough schedule to deal with.  Week 1 at Clearfield, week 3 at Central, week 4 at BEA, week 6 at Bishop Guilfoyle, and week 9 home against Penns Valley will all test the Golden Eagles.

2023 Schedule

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