2024 Week 1: Three games to watch in District VI

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On Thursday, the 2024 Pennsylvania High School football season will get underway with a pair of games but a majority of the state will start their 2024 seasons on Friday including District VI. On Friday night 25 games featuring District VI programs will be played before a pair of games on Saturday wrap up week one of the 2024 season. Below, we highlight three games to watch in District VI this weekend. Notably, one game that we will not discuss below is that of State College and Gateway in which he highlighted on Sunday evening. You can read that full preview <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/week-one-game-preview-state-college-vs-gateway/">here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Hollidaysburg at Altoona - August 23, 7:00 p.m.</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a great matchup in Altoona on Friday night between Hollidaysburg and Altoona. Hollidaysburg will look to bounce back from a 5-6 season in 2023 while Altoona is also looking to improve on a down 2023 season in which they went 5-7 including 2-6 in conference play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Altoona will be replacing their starting quarterback from a year ago in <strong>Brennan Freiwald </strong>(43-for-92, 517 yards, 5 TD). The Mountain Lions don't throw the ball all too much, throwing just 95 attempts last season but rising junior <strong>Dante Larocco </strong>appears ready to take over the starting gig this fall. Additionally, their top three rushers from a season ago, <strong>Bron Mosley </strong>(247 carries, 1,409 yards, 21 TD), <strong>Josiah Treece </strong>(37 carries, 247 yards, 0 TD), and Freiwald (66 carries, 204 yards, 2 TD) are all gone. The trio of senior <strong>Amar Emeigh-Ballos </strong>(25 carries, 155 yards), senior <strong>Zion Patterson </strong>(34 carries, 107 yards), and junior <strong>Julian Hazelwood </strong>(19 carries, 125 yards, 1 TD) will have to step up in the rushing attack this fall. The Mountain Lions last season totaled nearly 2,500 total rushing yards, an average of just over 200 yards per game a season ago. Defensively, a majority of Altoona's biggest playmakers return including the leading trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1156160' first='Logan' last='Wukovich'] (65 tackles, 6.0 TFL), [player_tooltip player_id='1131840' first='Mark' last='Harrington'] (62 tackles, 2.0 TFL), and Wes Baumgartner (41 tackles, 8.0 TFL). A potential breakout player on the defensive side of the ball to watch for this fall is sophomore defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1131816' first='Jamaine' last='Xavier Thomas'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1181642' first='Logan' last='Brownell'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Hollidaysburg, senior quarterback <strong>Maddox Bainey </strong>returns after completing 82-of-146 passing attempts last season for 1,189 yards and 17 touchdowns to six interceptions. He'll provide the Golden Tigers with a reliable signal caller this fall. While Bainey returns, the Golden Tigers top two ball carriers from a year ago in Drew Wyland (75 carries, 590 yards, 5 TDs) and [player_tooltip player_id='1155971' first='Jack' last='Steiner'] (102 carries, 419 yards, 5 TD) are gone and will be replaced by the likes of rising senior <strong>Mitchell Baronner </strong>(51 carries, 248 yards and 4 TDs), who the second primary ball carrier for Hollidaysburg will be, remains to be seen. Baronner will get his fair share of carries but so should rising junior <strong>Cole Delattre </strong>who had 18 carries for 65 yards last fall. When the Golden Tigers do throw the ball, expect seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1165848' first='Gavin' last='Bell'] and <strong>Brady Steiner </strong>to be the primary targets as they look to help replace Caden DeLattre who had 46 receptions for 840 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago. Senior receiver <strong>Jay Albarano </strong>could also see a bigger role after 13 receptions for 174 yards and five touchdowns last season. Hollidaysburg also features two fantastic offensive lineman in [player_tooltip player_id='855503' first='Hunter' last='Albright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1054535' first='Wyatt' last='Maines'], the latter currently committed to FCS program Saint Francis. On defense, the big returning play makers to know for Hollidaysburg include senior defensive lineman <strong>Aidan Bilek </strong>who had 63 tackles including 10 TFL and three sacks last season as well as defensive back <strong>Brayden Berkheimer</strong>, a rising senior who had 76 tackles in 2023 including 4.0 tackles for loss. He also had a team high three interceptions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Richland at Penn Cambria - August 23, 7:00 p.m.</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fun matchup at Penn Cambria on Friday night between the Richland Rams and Penn Cambria Panthers. Richland is coming off a fantastic 11-2 campaign last season, following one game short of a state championship game appearance. Penn Cambria had a strong season of their own, a 9-3 campaign with their only losses to Richland, Bald Eagle Area, and Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Richland, they'll have to find a way to make up for the loss of star running back Evan McCracken. They also said goodbye to notable seniors Easton Robertson, Luke Feitchel, Declan Piscatello, Ethan Janidlo, and Carson Reckner. That being said, starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='953523' first='Grayson' last='Mahla'] returns this fall after a solid freshman season totaling 1,703 passing yards and 14 touchdowns as well 299 rushing yards and five additional touchdowns. Sophomore <strong>Joe McAney </strong>and <strong>Austin Yeager </strong>will get the majority of snaps at the position,sources tell PrepRedzonePA,. We can't forget about star wide receivers in senior [player_tooltip player_id='769137' first='Austin' last='Yarnick'] (52 receptions, 679 yards, 7 TDs) and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='920501' first='Jude' last='Mugerwa'] (23 receptions, 577 yards, 5 TDs) Don't rule out [player_tooltip player_id='913329' first='Jamere' last='Christian'] another sophomore and junior <strong>Geno Lamonaca </strong>from being potential impact players on offense as well. Defensively, senior <strong>Joe Penna </strong>(96 tackles, 12.0 TFL), junior Joe Mcaneny (79 tackles, 10.0 TFL), and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1593371' first='Brodie' last='Hollis'] </strong>(72 tackles, 10 TFL) all return this fall. The Rams will have to replace Declan Piscatello (85 tackles, 20.0 TLF), Luke Feichtel (69 tackles), and Evan McCracken (65 tackles, 8.0 TFL) all on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Penn Cambria, many of their top performers from last season return. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1054393' first='Brady' last='Jones'] returns after throwing for 1,620 yards and 20 touchdowns last season. As does top rusher <strong>Thomas Plunkett </strong>who ran for 844 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. Top receiver Carter McDermott is gone after 42 receptions for 866 yards and 10 touchdowns but [player_tooltip player_id='598932' first='Gavin' last='Harrold'] returns after recording 51 receptions for 737 yards and nine touchdowns. It will be very interesting to see who becomes the Panthers second top target this season in the passing game. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1326590' first='Derek' last='Hite'] might be in the best position to do so after eight receptions for 85 yards and three touchdowns last season. Hite is also the Panthers top returning tackler on defense after totaling 102 tackles including 17.0 tackles for a loss last season. Of the Panthers top five defenders from a year ago, four return including rising sophomore <strong>Corbin Vinglish </strong>who had 78 tackles and 7.0 tackles for a loss last season. Other key names to know include senior <strong>Thomas Plunkett </strong>(69 tackles, 9.0 TFL), senior <strong>Mason Mento </strong>(56 tackles, 9.0 TFL), and senior <strong>Preston Farabaugh </strong>(44 tackle, 7.0 TFL).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Bald Eagle Area at Bishop Guilfoyle</strong> <strong>- August 24, 7:00 p.m.</strong></h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a heck of a week one matchup between two of the best District VI programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bald Eagle Area is coming off a 2023 season in which they finished as the Class AA state runner-up, falling to Southern Columbia in the state championship game. That being said, they were dominant in the regular season, only dropping one game. Bishop Guilfoyle had a quality 2023 but not nearly as successful as Bald Eagle Area, going 6-5 overall including 6-4 in conference play. Last year when these two programs met up, Bald Eagle Area defeated Bishop Guilfoyle 17-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='386133' first='Carson' last='Nagle'] returns at quarterback for Bald Eagle Area after a fantastic 2023 season in which he threw for 38 touchdowns to just five interceptions and totaled over 3,500 passing yards. He'll be in the conversation as one of the state's best quarterbacks this fall. The Eagles have a few question marks including at running back as their top two rushers from a season ago are gone. Look towards <strong>Nick McCully </strong>to potentially take over the starting tailback job after totaling 18 carries for 127 yards last season, an average of 7.1 yards per carry. The Eagles also saw the departure of their top three receivers from a year ago but do return the likes of Beau Taylor (20 receptions, 287 yards, 5 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1131833' first='Wyatt' last='Spackman'] (14 receptions, 166 yards). Defensively, Spackman is one of Bald Eagle Areas top returning defenders and their leading returning tackler after 79 tackles last season. The Eagles defense was top heavy with three defenders with 20 tackles for loss, all three are no longer with the program. Spackman will be expected to step up defensively as well as <strong>Brayden Dubbs</strong>, and sophomore <strong>Sam Clark </strong>who flashed at times as a freshman with four tackles for loss and 10 total tackles in nine games last season. Of course, other names will have to emerge on the defense for Bald Eagle Area, that will be something to watch on Saturday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Bishop Guilfoyle, their own starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='599217' first='Chase' last='Kissell'] returns this fall after a quality 2023 campaign that featured a 68.1% completion percentage and 16 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1131720' first='Hamilton' last='Gates'] looks likely to take over the starting running back job after totaling 60 carries for 467 yards and three touchdowns last season. He'll look to replace Kaden Wyandt who totaled over 900 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns a season ago. Other key offensive players returning include the Marauders top three receivers from a year ago in [player_tooltip player_id='1131291' first='Braden' last='Reilly'], [player_tooltip player_id='1131720' first='Hamilton' last='Gates'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1591014' first='Jake' last='Kissell']. Keep a close eye on 2025 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1131297' first='Trevor' last='Rehm'] as well. Defensively, look for Connor Mcelheny to lead the Marauders as well as the likes of <strong>Nicholas McClosley</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591014' first='Jake' last='Kissell']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1591027' first='Taurean' last='Consiglio']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->