LHAC Championship Game Comparison

Tagged under: District 6, Gameday Hub, News

Josh Krise | October 22, 2024

Penn Cambria hosts Bishop Guilfoyle this Friday in Cresson, PA for the LHAC championship game. Penn Cambria finds itself 9-0 for the first time in 35 years, while Bishop Guifoyle is 9-0 for the first time since 2017. Both teams have secured a spot in the playoffs for their class, Penn Cambria in District 6 3A and Bishop Guilfoyle in District 6 1A.

Penn Cambria and Bishop Guilfoyle are familiar with each other, since 2007 these two have played each other fifteen time and Bishop Guifoyle has won nine of those matchups. In 2007 Penn Cambria pulled off an 18-6 win, BG won in 2008, 23-12, from 2009-2011 Penn Cambria won all three matchups, but from 2012-2019 Bishop Guilfoyle owned Penn Cambria winning eight in a row versus the Panthers. Penn Cambria has won in 2021 and 2022, and these teams did not face each other in 2023. Throughout these matchups Bishop Guilfoyle has outscored Penn Cambria 370-203, averaging 24.7 points per game while only allowing 13.5.

These teams also have much different success in their playoff performances heading into this current season. Penn Cambria enters this week with what appears to be their fifth straight playoff appearance. In 2020 Penn Cambria fell to Tyrone in the first round, In 2021 they lost to Central in the championship, a trend that would continue, as in 2022 and 2023 they found themselves on the losing end to Central again. Penn Cambria is hoping this is the year they break that streak and win the LHAC and their first District 6 title.

Bishop Guilfoyle has had quite a different story the last few years. In 2014 they found themselves as both District 6 Champions, and 1A state champions, in 2015 that would repeat itself, as well as in 2016. In 2017 they were in the District 6 Championship and fell to Homer Center, and in 2018 they were eliminated by Juniata Valley in the semi-finals of the District 6 1A bracket. From 2019 to 2021 they would “three-peat” as District 6 1A champions, and in 2022 they would make the jump to 2A with ease, winning the 2A Championship. In 2023 they would be eliminated by Bald Eagle in the first round of 2A District 6 playoffs. All in all Bishop Guilfoyle is the District 6 champion six times in the last nine years, and a four time 1A state champion.

That is all history now though, for both teams, all that matters is this Friday as both teams, undefeated, find themselves head to head for the LHAC championship.

The statistics looked at in this article will be passing yards per game, passing touch downs per game, rushing yards per game, rushing touchdowns per game, receiving touchdowns per game, tackles per game, sacks per game, point after touchdown percentage and field goal percentage. The statistical leader will be in bold with the other team compared against leader.

The statistical leaders in each category is listed below:

Passing Yards per Game: Bishop Guilfoyle (205.4), Penn Cambria (120.0)

Passing Touchdowns per Game: Bishop Guilfoyle (2.5), Penn Cambria (1.2)

Rushing Yards per Game: Penn Cambria (244.7), Bishop Guilfoyle (164.1)

Rushing Touchdowns per Game: Penn Cambria (3.3), Bishop Guilfoyle (1.8)

Receiving Touchdowns per Game: Bishop Guilfoyle (2.5), Penn Cambria (1.2)

Tackles per Game: Bishop Guilfoyle (78.0), Penn Cambria (68.1)

Sacks per Game: Penn Cambria (2.7), Bishop Guilfoyle (2.6)

Total Touchdowns Scored per Game: Bishop Guilfoyle (4.9), Penn Cambria (4.7)

Point After Touchdown Percentage: Bishop Guilfoyle (80%), Penn Cambria (40%)

Field Goal Percentage: Bishop Guilfoyle (50%), Penn Cambria (0%)

Bishop Guilfoyle has the edge, statistically, as they lead in seven of the ten categories looked at, but in categories such as total touchdowns per game there’s only a small amount of separation between the teams, and an even smaller difference between the amount of sacks per game. It’s clear to see that Bishop Guilfoyle is a passing team, and most their scoring comes from passing, while Penn Cambria is a run heavy offense.

This game should be close regardless and it’ll be a great game to decide who gets to claim the LHAC championship. Both teams are playing good football, both teams are pretty close on paper, and both teams have really good players, it’ll be an exciting watch this Friday night.

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