Here’s what to look for in Week 1 of Centre County high school football
Update: Bald Eagle Area’s game at Troy and Bellefonte’s game at Jersey Shore have both been postponed until Saturday, according to both teams’ official social media accounts. Bellefonte’s game will be played at 7 p.m. The time for BEA’s game has yet to be confirmed, but they are trying for 7 p.m., as well.
While Penn State doesn’t kickoff until Sept. 4, the high school football season begins on Friday for each Centre County football program.
There are a number of new faces on each varsity team, including an entirely new coaching staff at Bellefonte under first-year head coach Vaughn Donmoyer and a new starting quarterback and running back for Matt Lintal’s State College program. Bald Eagle Area looks to capitalize on a host of returning starters and head coach Jesse Nagle’s leadership. Marty Tobias’ Penns Valley team will have a brand new look with changes all over the field, and Philipsburg-Osceola will continue to grind things out with the Wing-T offense and continue to add new looks throughout the year.
Here is what to know about the Week 1 games.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Bellefonte at Jersey Shore
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Coaches: Vaughn Donmoyer (Bellefonte) and Tom Gravish (Jersey Shore)
Last Meeting: Aug. 23, 2019 (55-35, Jersey Shore)
Players to Watch: RB Jamal Saunders (Bellefonte) and LB Kooper Peacock (Jersey Shore)
The Skinny: Jersey Shore is coming off one of its strongest seasons in program history. The Bulldogs were the state runner-up in Class 4A and owned a record of 11-1 in 2020. Their lone loss came against Thomas Jefferson in the state title matchup.
Bellefonte and Jersey Shore have a storied history. Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish coached at Bellefonte for eight years, starting in 1999, when the Raiders won the District 6 title. Jersey Shore returns four starters on offense in senior wide receiver Cayden Hess, junior wide receiver Kooper Peacock, junior running back Hadyn Packer and senior tight end Connor Davis. The aforementioned offensive starters also star on the defensive side of the ball, along with senior linebacker Karter Peacock and junior safety Brady Jordan.
Raiders running back Jamal Saunders had 53 carries for 506 rushing yards (9.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown last season, averaging 101.2 yards per game. Another threat for Bellefonte’s offense could be tight end Cole Crissman, who stands at 6-foot-8 and could post up smaller defenders.
State College at Mifflin County
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Coaches: Matt Lintal (State College), Scot Sechler (Mifflin County)
Last Meeting: Aug. 23, 2019 (42-6, State College)
Players to Watch: OL Michael Dincher (State College), QB Jared Lyons (Mifflin County)
The Skinny: State College and Mifflin County are two of only three Class 6A teams in District 6, the other being Altoona. Mifflin County went 0-6 last season, with State College ending the year 4-2. The Little Lions have nine returning starters on the offensive side of the ball and five of the offense’s nine starters also start on defense.
State College offensive guard Michael Dincher should be the main key to get the running game going. The 6-foot-3 lineman has multiple offers from Division 1 programs and is a mauler. Wide receiver Jashaun Green had 20 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns last year, and T.J. Yoder added seven receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive end Kyle Kurzinger will look to make his mark early on in the season. He had 2.5 sacks in six games in 2020.
Mifflin County will return Jared Lyons at quarterback. He was one of four players to go under center last season.
P-O at West Branch
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Coaches: Jeff Vroman (P-O), Kevin Hubler (West Branch)
Last Meeting: Aug. 23, 2019 (41-16, P-O)
Players to Watch: Matt Martin (P-O), Tyler Biggans (West Branch)
The Skinny: Both teams are looking to make improvements off of tough seasons in 2020. Philipsburg-Osceola went 2-5 last year under coach Jeff Vroman, but they have five starters returning on offense and on defense, respectively. Running back Matt Martin had 23 carries for 112 yards last season and should have many more carries during the 2021 season. Defensively, he had 45 tackles at the linebacker position.
While West Branch went 3-6 last season, the Warriors have a bevy of starters returning to the fray. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Biggans passed the ball 101 times last season for 884 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 461 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.
BEA at Troy
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Coaches: Jesse Nagle (Bald Eagle), Jim Smith (Troy)
Last Meeting: Aug. 24, 2019 (42-35, BEA)
Players to Watch: Owen Irvin (BEA), N/A
The Skinny: Bald Eagle Area has several key starters returning to the team with Owen Irvin and Cam Watkins manning the receiver positions. The combined for 45 catches and 827 yards last season, which accounted for 1,602 of the team’s receiving yards. Gavin Eckley will also provide another weapon on the offensive end. Nagle watched his team make it to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals in 2019 and looks to see some of the same fight that 2019 team showed, especially considering the returning talent to the roster.
Troy finished the year 4-2 last season and had a 10-2 record in 2019, including a loss to BEA.
Penns Valley at Richland
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Coaches: Martin Tobias (Penns Valley), Brandon Bailey (Richland)
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2019 (49-21, Richland)
Players to Watch: TE/OLB Tanner Ilgen (Penns Valley), QB/FS Kellan Stahl (Richland)
The Skinny: Penns Valley was originally set to play against Mercyhurst Prep on Friday, but a number of positive COVID-19 tests on MP’s side brought the game to a screeching halt. With little time to spare, Penns Valley scheduled a game against Richland.
Penns Valley is looking to regroup after losing 12 starters from last year’s 5-3 team. Returning for the Rams is junior offensive guard Gavin Ryan, senior linebacker Rylee Brungart and senior running back/linebacker Tanner Ilgen.
Richland finished 8-2 last season, dropping their final playoff game to Southern Columbia 57-30. Bailey has placed high expectations on the team and looks for them to at least finish with a District 6 title this season. The main starter returning on the offensive side of the ball is quarterback Kellan Stahl. Stahl had 43 passing touchdowns as a sophomore in 2019 and followed up with 14 rushing touchdowns in 2020. Expect him to be the focal point of the offense.
This story was originally published August 26, 2021 at 5:15 PM.
