2024 Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference Preview: West 1 Section
Tagged under: Conference Previews, District 5, District 6, News, pfn
Baron Dionis | August 22, 2024
2023 Final LHAC Standings (Overall-Record/Conference)
- Central 12-1 (11-0)
- Bald Eagle 12-2 (10-1)
- Richland 11-2 (10-1)
- Penn Cambria 9-3 (9-3)
- Clearfield 8-4 (7-3)
- Chestnut Ridge 7-4 (7-3)
- Forest Hills 8-4 (7-4)
- Bishop Guilfoyle 6-5 (6-4)
- Tyrone 6-5 (6-5)
- Penns Valley 6-5 (6-5)
- Central Cambria 4-6 (4-6)
- Philipsburg-Osceola 4-6 (4-6)
- Bedford 3-7 (3-7)
- Somerset 3-7 (3-7)
- Bishop McCort-Carrol 3-7 (3-7)
- Bellefonte 2-8 (2-8)
- Huntingdon 2-8 (2-8)
- Westmont-Hilltop 2-8 (2-8)
- Bellwood-Antis 2-8 (2-8)
- Greater Johnstown 0-10 (0-10)
The Laurel Highlands West 1 section had a lot of losses in 2023, which had four teams finish with less than four wins. This section did have the first seed in the west with Richland, but they lost the league’s first ever conference championship to Central. Let’s preview the West 1 Section in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference
Bishop McCort-Carrol
2023 Record: 3-7
Head Coach Tom Smith
5th Season: 9-29
The joint football program of Bishop McCort and Bishop Carrol look to get back to their winning ways in 2024.They did not lose a big class of seniors, but the ones they did lose were impact players. Shakile Ferguson went to Mercyhurst and Brock Beppler went to Clarion. Although those impact players graduated, there is still a big group returning for Coach Smith.
One of the big players for the Crushers this season is Eli Zasadni, a defensive end and offensive lineman who picked up an offer from Robert Morris. They have two junior quarterbacks to choose from in Garrett Farabaugh and Angelo Gallucci. Farabaugh did lead the team in rushing last year, but also had similar passing attempts as Gallucci. Bentley Bainey is returning as a starter on defense who had six interceptions last year. Nearly the entire line is back as well, so a very solid core is back for McCort.
Coach Smith said, “We look to the 2024 season with excitement as we return a ton of guys with experience. We face a tough Laurel Highlands schedule but are excited for the challenge. Several of our players have gained a lot of experience as young starters the previous two years and we look for them to grow as leaders and translate toward on field success.”
This young group could improve from last year, but they will need some guys to step up to fill in the roles of their collegiate players from a season ago.
Greater Johnstown Trojans
2023 Record: 0-10
Head Coach Antwuan Reed
3rd Season: 0-20
Johnstown has not had very much success in recent years, but their young core from 2023 looks to improve in 2024. The Trojans have not won a game since 2019.
This season, they return a sophomore quarterback in Julius Reed. The receiving core returns Gerald Veney Jr, Zymir Reed, and Kaleem Taylor. Elijah Murphy and Gavin Miller are lineman to watch out for this season.
Johnstown has a few games that they could be competitive in with a strong core of young players. Let’s see if they can snap the losing streak in 2024.
Richland Rams
2023 Record: 11-2
Head Coach Brandon Bailey
23rd Season: 157-93
The Richland Rams are looking to finish first in the west again in 2024 with a strong nucleus of players returning. They lost some key players, including Army signee Evan McCracken and Clarion signee Declan Piscatello.
Some of the players they return are quarterback Grayson Mahla, receivers/defensive backs Austin Yarnick, Jude Mugerwa, and Arnold Mugerwa. Linemen Austin Blough, Brodie Hollis, and Layne Lucas. Joe Penna and Joe McAneny both return as linebackers.
Coach Bailey said, “Our players have worked hard in the offseason to prepare for this upcoming season. We understand that the LHAC will provide us with quality opponents each week and that the D6 2A field is again loaded with quality teams. We are hopeful that our experienced players will jell with incoming talent and produce a championship caliber football team in 2024.”
The Rams will be very dangerous in the Laurel Highlands and potentially make a run in states this year at the 2A level.
Somerset Golden Eagles
2023 Record: 3-7
Head Coach Jeff Urban
3rd Season: 4-16
According to Coach Urban, there is a lot of excitement in Somerset for the upcoming season. Let’s read what he has to say about the 2024 season.
“There is actually excitement surrounding Somerset Eagle football for this upcoming season. We only lost 1 starter on Offense, left tackle Craig McNight. We are returning starting QB Lane Lambert, RBs Rowan Holmes, Camden Lowery, WRs Carson Sanner and Cole Perry. Our Oline is led by 4yr starting C Zane Hagans and 3 yr starting LG Garrett Marsh and Jr RT Tucker Mostoller.”
“Defensively, we lost starting safety Trevor McNabb and DE Eli MaCray. DEs Rowan Holmes and Zane Hagans will anchor our DLine, Lane Lambert and Evan DiBuono are MLBs and Carson Sanner and Tyler McNabb return as OLBs. Drew Miller and Cole Perry return as CBs and we will be determining the starting safeties and interior D lineman, we return several kids, with a lot of Friday night experience that will be competing for those spots.”
“Our roster is now composed of 10 to 18 kids per class. We will have over 50 kids entering Camp this year. The most we have had in years. We will have competition for playing time at both the Varsity and Jr Varsity level. Our job as a coaching staff this year is to teach the kids to have the confidence to make plays and to become Winners. We have the potential to win 6 or 7 games and to keep all games close, but our league is so competitive we will take 1 week at a time.”
Coach Urban seems very confident in his team this year and they have a fair schedule to compete with. Let’s watch them potentially make the 3A playoffs and compete against Everett in district 5.
Westmont-Hilltop Hilltoppers
2023 Record: 2-8
Head Coach Pat Barron
13th season 52-75
Westmont has not made the playoffs since 2021, but they look to get back there in 2024. Their heavy run offense looks to get even better this season as they return their two leading rushers with Bryce Goodman and Cody McMillan.
Linemen Connor Ward and Jonah McCoy will make an impact on both sides of the ball. Isaiah Wiggins will return as a defensive back and running back.
The Hilltoppers have very winnable games on their schedule which gives them a chance to return to the playoffs in 2024.
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