Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference: Playoff Preview
Tagged under: District 6, News, pfn, Playoffs
Baron Dionis | November 1, 2024
The Laurel Highlands is once again a conference with teams to watch out for in the playoffs. There are teams in four classifications, ranging from 1A-4A. With the playoffs starting up, let’s examine each game that includes a team from the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.
1A
#1 Bishop Guilfoyle vs #8 Juniata Valley
The Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders (9-1) enter the playoffs coming off their first loss of the season to Penn Cambria in the LHAC Championship. They have been one of the best teams in the conference all season and they open up the playoffs, hosting the Juniata Valley Hornets (4-6). The Marauders are the favorite as they have dominated nearly their entire schedule through their strong offense. Getting the Chase Kissell and Hamilton Gates duo going will be the difference maker in this game. If the Hornets can figure out how to stop these two, it may be a close battle, but the Hornets have struggled in their ICC competition. Juniata Valley’s defense has been weak this season and Bishop Guilfoyle should be able to capitalize on it.
Players to Watch:
Bishop Guilfoyle:
- Hamilton Gates: 1,070 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, 458 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns
- Chase Kissell: 2,212 passing yards, 70.3% completion rate, 26 passing touchdowns, 357 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Juniata Valley:
- Vincent Hoover: 629 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 131 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
- Andrew Clark: 476 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns
2A District 6
#2 Richland vs #7 United-Valley
The Richland Rams (8-2) have had a big year and look to be a tough team in the 2A playoffs.They open up against a Heritage Conference co-op team in the United-Valley Lions (6-4). Richland appears to be the favorite between the two as they have beat some solid LHAC teams. The Lions have only beaten the .500 or below teams in the conference and lost to all the top teams. No playoff game is easy, but Richland has a very favorable matchup to open things up.
Players to Watch:
Richland:
- Arnold Mugerwa: 585 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns
- Austin Yarnick: 595 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns
United-Valley:
- Dylan Stephens: 567 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns
- Collin Nedrich: 515 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns
#4 River Valley vs #5 Bellwood-Antis
One of the most evenly matched games to open up the playoffs is between River Valley (8-2) against Bellwood-Antis (7-3). River Valley will be the home team in this evenly matched contest. Bellwood has had a solid season, getting wins over playoff teams in Tyrone and Bishop McCort-Carroll. River Valley has beaten solid teams in Marion Center and United-Valley. Both have lost their big games against the top teams in their conference, but are still dangerous teams for the playoffs. This game is probably the best game of the night from the LHAC to keep an eye on.
Players to Watch:
River Valley:
- Sam Yanits: 1,244 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns
- Gavin Burkhart: 1,033 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
Bellwood-Antis:
- Collin Gibbons: 612 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 362 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
- Cayden Pellegrine: 479 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns, 401 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
#1 Cambria Heights vs #8 Bishop McCort-Carroll
The only undefeated team from the Heritage Conference in Cambria Heights (10-0) hosts the bottom seed in the District 6 2A playoffs in Bishop McCort-Carroll (5-5). Initially, the Highlanders look like the favorite in this game with their incredible regular season, but the Crushers have shown a lot of promise this season, but have struggled to finish games and win them. They hung with Bishop Guilfoyle, Penn Cambria, Chestnut Ridge, and lost by one to Bellwood-Antis. Obviously, almost-wins mean nothing, but Bishop McCort-Carroll has talent and if they can finally put it all together from what they’ve shown this season against Cambria Heights, it could be a first round upset. Definitely a tough matchup for the Crushers, but their big defensive line may be able to stop their impressive run game. Don’t bank on this being a typical one seed blowout.
Players to Watch:
Cambria Heights:
- Stephen Nelen: 558 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns, 305 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
- Trey Trybus: 397 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 489 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
Bishop McCort-Carroll:
- Jon Delia: 727 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns
- Angelo Gallucci: 792 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 515 rushing yards, 8 rushing touchdowns
2A District 5
#1 Bedford vs #4 Chestnut Ridge
One of the only LHAC matchups in the first round of playoffs is between the Bedford Bison (7-3) against the Chestnut Ridge Lions (4-6). These two played in week five and Chestnut Ridge won 25-7. Bedford has won four of their last five games and Chestnut Ridge has lost their last four. The Bison appear to have improved down the stretch, but if Ridge can figure out how to stop Quincy Swaim again, then this could be an interesting contest. Overall though, Bedford appears to be the favorite, despite losing the first contest. This game is a big time rivalry between the two, which will contribute to the stakes of this game, along with advancing to the District 5 Championship.
Players to Watch:
Bedford:
- Quincy Swaim: 680 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns, 1,176 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns
- Owen Tedrow: 415 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
Chestnut Ridge:
- Haydan Webb: 1,155 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
- Owen Claycomb: 297 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
3A
#1 Penn Cambria vs #4 Central
For the last three years, these two teams have met in the District 6 3A Championship and Central (5-5) has won each of them. This year, things may look a little different as Penn Cambria (10-0) has been the best team in the conference. The Panthers beat Bishop Guilfoyle in the LHAC Championship a week ago. Gavin Harrold will be the guy the Dragons will be after. He has had an incredible year and he leads the Panthers offensively and defensively. Central has had Penn Cambria’s number these last few years, but 2024 could be different with how the regular season crumbled.
Players to Watch:
Penn Cambria:
- Gavin Harrold: 742 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns, 472 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns
- Brady Jones: 1,204 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 576 rushing yards, 7 rushing touchdowns
Central:
- Jay Hoenstine: 767 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns
- Braydon Beach: 546 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns, 178 receiving yards
#2 Forest Hills vs #3 Tyrone
Another interesting LHAC contest between Forest Hills (6-4) and Tyrone (6-4) will happen on Friday night. Both teams won last week by one point against decent teams. Along with that, both bring a great passing game into the game with their quarterbacks. The battle between the Rangers Nate Cornell and Golden Eagles Ashton Walk will be entertaining to witness. Whoever can stop the pass game, will likely come out on top. Each team relies on it heavily, but it should be an exciting game.
Players to Watch:
Forest Hills:
- Nate Cornell: 1,675 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 196 rushing yards, 3 rushing touchdowns
- Chase Williamson: 716 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns
Tyrone:
- Ashton Walk: 2,676 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 166 rushing yards, 6 rushing touchdowns
- Trent Adams: 766 receiving yards, 12 receiving touchdowns
4A District 6
#2 Bellefonte vs #3 Greater Johnstown
Greater Johnstown (2-8) have finally made the playoffs once again for the first time in years. They open the playoffs with a tough LHAC opponent in Bellefonte (6-4). The Trojans pass game has been very solid this year, especially when throwing to junior receiver Zymir Reed. Bellefonte on the other hand has ran the ball very well. Greater Johnstown has struggled to stop the run, but Bellefonte has struggled to stop the pass. This could be a very high scoring game and a possible playoff victory for the Trojans for the first time in a long time.
Players to Watch:
Bellefonte:
- Liam Halterman: 984 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns, 471 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns
- Jaeden Gabrovsek: 405 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns
Greater Johnstown:
- Julius Reed: 2,008 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, 747 rushing yards, 9 rushing touchdowns
- Zymir Reed: 919 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns
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