#3 (1A) Bishop Guilfoyle at Central Game Preview

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Hunter Myers | September 18, 2025

Defending the run has become a recurring theme for teams in the Laurel Highlands, as five rushers in the conference have averaged over 100 yards per game and nine have averaged at least one touchdown per game. After facing a fierce Bellwood rushing attack last week, Central’s job doesn’t get any easier, facing the best rusher in the conference, Jake Kissell, who is second in yards and first in touchdowns, four more than the next player. The battle-tested Dragon defensive line played well last week, forcing a turnover on downs and a fumble, but will be tested again Friday night.

Tom Thompson, a member of the first Central football team, recalled, “Williamsburg, Bedford, we played them hard, but our biggest rival was always BG.” Since Central joined the Laurel Highlands in 2021, the Marauders and Dragons have played in three games, with two of those games finishing within one score. In 2022, fans were treated to a 21-20 Dragon victory behind a three touchdown performance from Jeff Hoenstine. In 2023, the Dragons would win again in overtime 10-7 on a Hunter Smith field goal following a BG interception in the endzone. Last season, Bishop Guilfoyle won 23-12 after rushing for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Central head coach Jerry Albright stated, “BG is very talented again this year, they are very fast and strong but my biggest concern is how they make you prepare mentally and physically.” Bishop Guilfoyle entered 2025 rolling after a 15-1 State Championship season. Their only loss came by one point in the LHAC title game to Penn Cambria. The Marauders had a talented group to replace, but also brought back key pieces like Taurean Consiglio, Jake Kissell, and multiple linemen. Consiglio went down against Richland and will not return to play, but Bishop Guilfoyle has continued their dominance on the ground, rushing for 332 yards and five touchdowns in Week 4 against Huntingdon. Offensively, “they use so much motion and shifting”, according to Albright, getting their opponents out of position. Defensively, BG has held their opponents to just 15 points per game, led by Hayden Hosgood, who has eight tackles for loss and six sacks in 2025.

For the Dragons, they will be without their starting QB Jesse Muthler for the second straight week, giving ATH Carter Schenk his second start of the year. The Central offense has been inconsistent this season, scoring 24 in week one, but only 20 total points in the next three weeks combined. Against Bellwood-Antis, the Dragons controlled the ball better and limited turnovers but still could not find the endzone. Multiple fourth down stops stalled their offense, but a few extra yards could have changed the tide of the game. Over the last three weeks, Central’s defense has emerged as their best group, keeping them in the last two matches before late touchdowns inflated the score. LB Coltin Harbaugh leads the Dragons with 32 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, while CB JJ Moushlian has led the defense with five pass deflections. Unfortunately for the Central defense, this will certainly be their toughest test in 2025 so far.

Once again, this matchup looks to be a battle in the trenches. Bishop Guilfoyle is hoping to improve upon their good start, sitting at 3-1 currently, while Central wants to get one game closer to .500 at 1-3. The difference may come down to explosive plays. Central has struggled against big runs, and BG scored multiple touchdowns of 40 yards or more last week. If Central can curb the big plays, they may find themselves in a tight match late.

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