Here’s what to look for in Week 1 of Centre County high school football
High school football is back in Centre County, with all five teams kicking off the season with home games.
Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola and State College will all host games at 7 p.m. Friday. Each matchup is a non-conference game and will be a litmus test for the teams’ successes this year.
Here’s what to know about each team’s matchup in Week 1 of the regular season:
Line Mountain @ Penns Valley
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Brandon Carson (Line Mountain), Martin Tobias (Penns Valley)
Last meeting: N/A
Players to watch: QB Blake Readinger (Line Mountain), QB Jackson Romig (Penns Valley)
How to watch: NFHS Network
The Skinny: Blake Readinger took over as the starting quarterback for Brandon Carson’s Lion Mountain program in 2021. Readinger went 45-for-105 (42.9%) on passes for 690 yards, five touchdowns and eight interceptions as a freshman. He also rushed 78 times for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Nolan Baumert led the team in rushing yards with 525 on 72 carries for a team-high five touchdowns. Brayden Boyer was the team’s second leading receiver with 16 grabs for 230 yards and a touchdown in 2021.
The Eagles went 2-8 last season. Line Mountain’s last matchup with a Centre County opponent was against Philipsburg-Osceola on Aug. 30, 2013 in a 37-27 victory for the Lion Mountain Eagles.
Penns Valley’s first plan of attack will come through the air with junior quarterback Jackson Romig manning the position. He completed 85-of-120 (70.8%) of his passes for 1,261 yards, 20 touchdowns and four interceptions. Romig doesn’t make many mistakes in the air.
Paired with senior wide receiver Miles Brooks, Romig should have an opportunity to continue opening up the offense. Brooks had 46 receptions for 703 yards and seven touchdowns in 2021. Junior running back Ty Watson was the team’s leading rusher in 2021 with 92 carries for 584 yards and nine scores, to go with 19 catches for 148 yards and a touchdown.
The Rams outscored opponents 323-267 last season and owned a 5-0 home record. With senior Hunter Lyons manning the middle linebacker position last season, making 67 total tackles (39 solo) and one tackle for loss, Penns Valley can continue to build off of their defensive prowess from a year prior.
Selinsgrove @ Bellefonte
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Derek Hicks (Selinsgrove), Vaughn Donmoyer (Bellefonte)
Last Meeting: Nov. 18, 2017 (37-3, Selinsgrove)
Players to watch: RB/LB Tucker Teats (Selinsgrove), QB/SEC Trevor Johnson (Bellefonte)
How to Watch: NFHS Network
The Skinny: Junior Mark Pastore led the Selingsgrove team in passing last season, going 73-for-150 (48.7%) for 1,207 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Running back Tucker Teats, a fellow junior, had 110 carries for 628 yards and nine touchdowns. Gavin Bastian, a sophomore, is the leading returning receiver. He had 21 catches for 423 yards and four touchdown receptions last year.
Selinsgrove is coming off an 8-4 season in 2021. Selinsgrove’s last match against Bellefonte was on Nov. 18, 2017 in a 37-3 playoff victory for the Seals.
Bellefonte is coming off of a 2-8 season in 2021 and looking to improve with a new offensive system in place and Trevor Johnson at quarterback. Johnson had a full offseason to prepare as the starter and is coming off of a year where he made 28-of-66 (42.4%) of his passing attempts for 397 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. He also sees running back Jamal Saunders return to the backfield after injuring his knee last season.
Troy @ Bald Eagle
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Jimmy Smith (Troy), Jesse Nagle (Bald Eagle)
Last Meeting: Aug. 28, 2021 (20-0, Bald Eagle)
Players to watch: RB Clayton Smith (Troy), WR/OLB Cam Watkins (Bald Eagle)
The Skinny: Troy went to the District IV Class AA semifinals for the fourth consecutive year and finished with an 8-4 record. Then-freshman Evan Woodward was Troy’s starter in both playoff games. Clayton Smith had over 600 rushing yards last season prior to suffering a season-ending injury in Week 7. Smith had a 276-yard performance in a victory against Loyalsock. Justice Chimics was the regular season starter at running back.
Bald Eagle defeated Troy 20-0 last season on Aug. 28. Eagles quarterback Carson Nagle went 14-for-23 (60.9%) on passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Cam Watkins caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown.
Bald Eagle went on to go 9-3 last season and is a contender for the District 6 Class 2A championship this season.
This will be Bald Eagle and Troy’s fourth meeting in five years.
West Branch @ Philipsburg-Osceola
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Kevin Hubler (West Branch), Jeff Vroman (Philipsburg-Osceola)
Last Meeting: Aug. 27, 2021 (28-21, West Branch)
Players to watch: QB/OLB Tyler Biggans (West Branch), QB/DB Ben Gustkey (Philipsburg-Osceola)
How to Watch: NFHS Network
The Skinny: West Branch quarterback Tyler Biggans started last season, going 42-for-102 (41.2%) on passes for 700 yards, five touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. Biggans’ most dangerous ability is on the ground, where he rushed 122 times for 555 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wyatt Schwiderske also controlled the ground game with 109 carries, 526 yards and two touchdowns. Kyle Kolesar added 18 receptions for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Schwiderske had 49 total tackles (20 solo) to lead the team. Biggans led the team with three sacks. Kolesar had 38 total tackles (18 solo) and Koleno had a team-high two interceptions.
Philipsburg-Osceola lost to West Branch 28-21 last season. Mounties quarterback Ben Gustkey went 3-for-7 (42.9%) on passes for 44 yards and rushed eight times for 33 yards. Gustkey also had nine total tackles (four solo). Jakodi Jones had a half sack and an interception.
Williamsport @ State College, 7 p.m. Friday
Time: 7 p.m. Friday
Coaches: Mike Pearson (Williamsport), Matt Lintal (State College)
Last Meeting: Nov. 11, 2021 (17-14, State College)
Players to watch: RB Nasir Hennigan (Williamsport), TE/DE Stephen Scourtis (State College)
The Skinny: Nasir Hennigan had 668 rushing yards, three touchdowns along with four catches, 60 yards and one touchdown reception. George Whaley is replacing former quarterback Frankie Marrone and had 732 passing yards for seven touchdowns and 267 rushing yards for one touchdown on the ground. Jamaire Harden had 33 catches for 678 yards and six touchdowns. Williamsport finished 6-6 in 2021.
State College defeated Williamsport 17-14 on Nov. 11 last year in the District 6 Class 6A championship game. Former running back/wide receiver Jashaun Green had seven carries for 83 rushing yards and a touchdown. Fellow senior running back Brady Bendik had 13 rushes for 48 yards and one touchdown.
Then-junior defensive end Stephen Scourtis had eight tackles (five solo), two tackles for loss, a half sack and two quarterback hurries. The Little Lions finished their season with an 8-6 record, the District 6 Class 6A championship and a trip to the PIAA Class 6A state semifinals in 2021.
