Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference | 20-team league hopes to extend legacy of district, statewide success
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In 2025, McCort-Carroll’s resurgence included a championship in the 20-team Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.
The Crushers eventually finished as District 6 Class 2A runner-up to Richland, another LHAC rival.
Perennial state power Bishop Guilfoyle Academy – the team McCort-Carroll beat by 28 points in the LHAC championship game – shrugged off that conference setback to reach the PIAA Class 1A championship game, taking silver medals back to Altoona.
The LHAC produced a Class 3A state semifinalist, Penn Cambria, as the Panthers won their second straight district crown.
Overall, the conference had four district title-winners in either District 6 (Bishop Guilfoyle/1A; Richland/2A; Penn Cambria/3A) or District 5 (Chestnut Ridge/2A). Even District 6 Class 5A champ Hollidaysburg has ties to the conference, playing in the LHAC in all sports except football.
Can the LHAC continue its success on the district and statewide level? Indications are the conference has the potential to build on the momentum.
“I’m not saying we’re going to be undefeated this year, but I’m not saying we’re not going to be either,” said Bishop McCort coach Tom Smith, whose team dropped to Class 1A after a five-year co-op with Bishop Carroll Catholic concluded.
“We have high hopes for these kids and we have tremendous leaders. They have to put it together and the coaches have to do a good job of coaching. It’s a long season ahead and anything can happen.”
Penn Cambria coach Jason Grassi realizes that after two straight district crowns and a LHAC title in 2024, his Panthers wear a figurative target, even after a third straight season of significant graduation losses.
“You hope everybody is shooting for you,” Grassi said. “It’s something that should motivate you throughout the offseason, and it has. We keep reminding them, ‘Listen. We’ve won the last couple of years. Teams want a piece of you. They see we lose guys and they think it’s going to be their turn. We’re not going to let them have it.’ It’s a motivational piece for us and it keeps us going through the offseason.”
The LHAC continues to use the two-region (East and West), four-division format.
The season begins Friday with 10 contests. Two crossover weeks will pair the East teams against the West – Week 2 (Sept. 4) and Week 8 (Oct. 16-17).
The East and West champions will play for the overall title, with the remaining squads matching up against their geographical counterpart in Week 10 (Oct. 30).
West 1
Bishop McCort
Despite losing a large group of the area’s top playmakers or linemen, the Crimson Crushers are poised to build on 2025’s 12-1 season that included appearances in two championship games.
PHOTO GALLERY | Bishop McCort football | 'Culture shift has been incredible': Crimson Crushers, Bainey set sights on District 6, PIAA postseason success
The talented quarterback and game-changing defensive back said the Crimson Crushers don’t intend to take a figurative step back despite losing 14 seniors from a Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship team that finished second in District 6 Class 2A.
Senior quarterback/defensive back Bentley Bainey is a game-changer who is receiving Division I looks. Senior end Marquez Gordon tied for the area lead with 14 sacks a year ago, and reliable senior leader Brady Page has good hands and quick feet on both offense and defense.
That trio only begins the list of talent on a deep roster.
Greater Johnstown
Coach Tony Penna Jr. said the offseason and camp during the second season of his second tenure at Greater Johnstown has produced positive results.
The Trojans have some talent and experience, including team leader senior Stephon Hill-Goodman, a wide receiver and defensive back.
PHOTO GALLERY | Greater Johnstown football | 'Building … rather than installing': Trojans driven to take another step forward
Tony Penna Jr. used the difficult lessons learned throughout the first year of his second stint as head coach at Greater Johnstown.
Senior running back Cordell Porter is back, as well as junior quarterback Ranson Goggans and tough senior two-way lineman Jaimeer Dykes.
Richland
In his 25th season, Rams coach Brandon Bailey will have 3,000-plus yards provided by four-year starters back from 2025’s District 6-2A championship squad.
A trio of seniors, all playmakers since their freshman seasons, includes Grayson Mahla, who rushed for 1,017 yards in 2025 and was The Tribune-Democrat defensive player of the year at linebacker; and Jamere Christian (1,030 yards) and Arnold Mugerwa (1,020) each surpassed 1,000 receiving yards and combined for 22 touchdown catches.
PHOTO GALLERY | Richland football | 'Looking for bigger titles': Rams' trio of four-year starters in 1,000-yard club look to build on 6-2A golden effort
In his 25th season as Richland’s football coach, Brandon Bailey has thousands of reasons to believe his Rams are capable of building on 2025’s District 6 Class 2A title run.
Junior quarterback Jake Regan will be a third-year starter who passed for an area-high 2,715 yards and 31 TDs in 2025.
Somerset
First-year head coach Braden Fochtman starred at District 5 power Berlin Brothersvalley a decade ago, becoming Somerset County’s all-time leading rusher with 6,724 yards.
PHOTO GALLERY | Somerset football | 'Play relentless': New coach Fochtman focuses on identity, core values – and winning
In his first season as head coach at Somerset Area High School, Fochtman will apply the experience and insight he learned both on and off the football field while reshaping a program that has had 10 consecutive losing seasons, including a 2-8 mark in 2025.
Fochtman has worked hard to bring a winning identity to the Golden Eagles and has plenty of tools to take a step in the right direction, with four returning starters on the offensive line.
Senior running back/linebacker Drew Miller made 89 tackles and rushed for 360 yards in 2025.
Westmont Hilltop
The Hilltoppers contended with injuries and adversity throughout coach Josh Rearick’s debut season. Overall, Westmont Hilltop hopes to snap a losing streak currently at 25 games.
Rearick has 11 starters back on defense and six returnees on offense, among a group of 19 lettermen.
PHOTO GALLERY | Westmont Hilltop football | 'We are hungry': Hilltoppers seek improvement, elusive win in coach's second season
Westmont Hilltop will look to a group of senior leaders as well as a big contribution – with the emphasis on big – from its newcomers in hopes of snapping a 25-game losing streak.
Senior AJ Leiato is the lone returning lineman, and seniors Justin Ray at quarterback, Landen Valente as an athlete and Bryce Goodman at running back provide experience at the skill positions.
West 2
Bedford
Coach Kevin Steele’s team will return home this season in the newly renovated Bisons Stadium after playing its home games at Claysburg-Kimmel High School in 2025.
PHOTO GALLERY | Bedford football | 'Very exciting to play on the turf': Bisons hope fresh start leads to better 2026 campaign
A new turf field, bleachers and lighting in the same location as their old stadium await the Bisons Friday when they host Bishop McCort Catholic.
Junior Grey Livengood caught 22 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns in 2025, and sophomore Bennett Steele made 15 receptions for 227 yards and a pair of scores. Junior quarterback Gabe Taylor passed for 749 yards and rushed for 384.
Central Cambria
The Red Devils have an abundance of experience with 20 seniors, 10 returning starters on offense and nine back on defense from a 4-6 squad.
PHOTO GALLERY | Central Cambria football | 'The sky is the limit': Senior-heavy Red Devils ready to elevate their game
With 20 seniors and double-digit returning starters on both offense and defense – including the entire offensive line and four on the defensive front – Central Cambria is poised to take a significant step after 12 consecutive seasons with four or fewer wins.
Senior Ryan Chappell recorded an area-high 1,278 rushing yards and 11 TDs through the 10-game regular season. The entire offensive line returns, and four players are back on the defensive line.
Chestnut Ridge
In 2025, the Lions entered the District 5-2A playoffs as the fourth seed and emerged as the district champion after two upset victories.
PHOTO GALLERY | Chestnut Ridge football | 'Chemistry is off the charts': Lions look to stay among District 5's elite
Chestnut Ridge's memorable run energized the returning players as they worked hard over the offseason to replicate the same kind of success in 2026
Senior running back Jayden Imler averaged 5.5 rushing yards per carry and ranked third in the area with 1,287 rushing yards and 14 TDs.
Forest Hills
Tom Blanchetti takes on the head coaching duties, and former Windber coach Matt Grohal is the new offensive coordinator as the Rangers begin a new era.
PHOTO GALLERY | Forest Hills football | 'Difficult to play against': Rangers embrace change heading into season
Former Windber Area head coach Matt Grohal will coordinate the offense as the program embraces modifications made in hopes of taking positive strides in 2026.
Senior Cam Vitez made 25 catches for 413 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Senior Austin Pramuk will be the starting quarterback and play some running back.
Penn Cambria
The reigning two-time District 6-3A champion Panthers are determined to keep moving forward despite a few key graduation losses.
The Tribune-Democrat player of the year Corbin Vinglish, a senior running back and linebacker, returns to provide leadership and a strong foundation.
PHOTO GALLERY | Penn Cambria football | 'Keep rolling': Motivated Panthers determined to maintain lofty standard
How will two-time PIAA Class 3A semifinalist Penn Cambria keep the “Mountain Mentality” rolling in the proper direction? Senior playmaker Corbin Vinglish provided a straightforward blueprint, using only two sentences. “We’ve got to keep playing physical and relentless. Keep the mind-set the same of us being the best and keep rolling.”
Vinglish led the area with 1,540 rushing yards and scored 19 touchdowns on the ground.
He scored 132 points, second-most in the area, and defensively collected 155 tackles.
East 1
Bellwood-Antis
A District 6-2A semifinalist the past two years, Bellwood-Antis returns senior running back Alex McCartney, who gained 1,371 yards on 245 carries and scored 22 TDs. Senior Chase Plummer added 836 rushing yards and nine scores.
Bishop Guilfoyle
Bishop Guilfoyle followed a familiar path in 2025. Despite falling to McCort-Carroll in the LHAC title game, the Marauders bounced back to win the District 6-1A crown and reach the state title game.
Quarterback Justin Wheeler is back after passing for 1,412 yards and running for 793.
Also returning are senior wide receiver Evan Schimminger, senior lineman Rocco Cacciotti, junior tackle Declan Peterson and senior placekicker/punter Carter Boland. All five earned all-state honors a year ago.
Central
The Scarlet Dragons have most of the roster back after a 4-6 season.
Junior quarterback Jesse Muthler completed 117 of 204 passes for 1,290 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. Junior Bentley Dickson (38 catches, 464 yards) and seniors J.J. Moushlian (34-414) and Carter Schenk (24-345) combined on 96 receptions for 1,223 yards and seven TDs.
Huntingdon
The Bearcats posted eight wins and reached the District 6-3A title game before falling to Penn Cambria.
Huntingdon lost its top three rushers and leading receiver to graduation, but senior quarterback Reese Hughes is back after throwing for 494 yards and five TDs.
Tyrone
Leading rusher senior Caleb Whitby (822 yards, nine TDs) and top receiver senior Mason Emigh (26 catches, 563 yards, five TDs) return, but the Golden Eagles must replace quarterback Eli Woomer and his 1,416 passing yards.
East 2
Bald Eagle Area
Three-year starting seniors center/defensive lineman Steven Flick, wideout/quarterback/safety Luke Hosband, offensive/defensive tackle Colten McCaslin and offensive guard/defensive lineman Silas Wheeler lead a veteran group.
Bellefonte
Sophomore quarterback/defensive back Alten Howell rushed for 463 yards and two TDs and passed for 344 yards and five scores a year ago.
Senior wide receiver/defensive back Ashten Howell ran for 403 yards and seven TDs and caught 24 passes for 284 yards and two TDs.
Clearfield
The Bison have posted a 20-5 record in the past two seasons, reaching the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals in 2024 and landing in the 2025 District 8/9-4A title game. Clearfield must replace its graduated quarterback, top three rushers and top two receivers from 2025.
Penns Valley
The Rams will miss graduated quarterback Carter Ironside (1,943 passing yards, 15 TDs) and receiver Fletcher Ironside (71 receptions, 829 yards, nine TDs). Junior Spencer Althouse returns after catching 46 passes for 600 yards and two TDs.
Philipsburg-Osceola
Senior quarterback Archer Baughman will be a four-year starter who passed for 793 yards and five TDs in 2025. Top receivers Robert McClenahan (400 yards), Connor Guenot (284) and Damarcus Law (116) return.
Mike Mastovich is a sports reporter and columnist for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5083. Follow him on Twitter @Masty81.
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