Editor’s Note: To read more about about each Centre County high school football team, go to The Gazette’s High School Football Preview section on Page 15.
CENTRE COUNTY — It’s time to take the field for the five CentreCounty high school football teams as the 2026 season is about to get under way.
All of the county’s teams are beginning play with away games, and four of them — Bald Eagle, Bellefonte, Penns Valley and Philipsburg-Osceola — will be jumping right into LHAC opening games. All games are scheduled on Friday, Aug. 28 with 7 p.m. kickoffs.
Here’s a brief look at this week’s games:
Bald Eagle Area (0-0) at Huntingdon (0-0)
Coming off a 5-6 campaign in 2025, the Bald Eagles will be looking to get off to a fast start against the Bearcats.
Huntingdon had a strong comeback year in 2025 and finished with an 8-4 overall record and a 5th place finish in the conference at 8-3.
Junior quarterback Reese Hughes (494 yards, 4 TDs) will return, but the Bearcats graduated all three of their top running backs, including 1000-yard runner Landon Erdman.
Top receiver Javaughn Dodson will be back along with senior Kobe Carthen.
Defensively in 2025, Huntingdon recorded 17 sacks, 13 interceptions and recovered 7 fumble recoveries, and with many of those players returning, the Bearcats will likely be counting on their pressure defenses again this year.
This will be a tough opener for the Eagles (see season preview), and it will be important to take care of the football. Last year, Huntingdon won in a close one, 14-6.
Bellefonte (0-0) at Tyrone (0-0)
In 2025, the Bellefonte Raiders scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in a 21-20 comeback win over Tyrone in the opening game for both teams.
The two teams will meet again on Friday in this year’s opener and there is no reason to believe this one will not be just as close.
The Raiders went on to have a very successful season that saw the team qualify for the PIAA Tournament.
Tyrone finished with a 6-5 record that included wins over Philipsburg-Osceola, Chestnut Ridge and Huntingdon. The Golden Eagles will be returning most of their top offensive performers except for quarterback Eli Woomer.
The defense recorded 65 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, and an impressive 20 interceptions in 2025, and many of those players will return, including Mason Emigh who led the team in receiving and interceptions.
These two teams have been top-level rivals for years and starting the season playing each other in Tyrone will be a major challenge for both of them.
Penns Valley (0-0) at Bishop Guilfoyle (0-0)
The Rams struggled in 2025 to a 2-8 record and opening up again against one of the best teams in the state will be a major challenge.
Penns Valley fell at home last year to the Marauders, 42-18, but the Rams moved the ball and recorded over 200 yards of offense.
Unfortunately, the Rams lost most of that offense when Carter and Fletcher Ironside both graduated, and they will have to begin their rebuild against Guilfoyle in Altoona.
Guilfoyle also lost 11 seniors, but 20 lettermen returned including junior quarterback Justin Wheeler. Wheeler completed 68% of his passes last year for 1412 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also ran for 793 yards and another 4 touchdowns.
Penns Valley will be looking up in this game, but another three touchdowns and 200 yards would be a good start to the season.
Philipsburg-Osceola (0-0) at Central (0-0)
The Philipsburg-Osceola Mounties may have lost leading 1,000-yard rusher Colton Chapman, but there’s optimism nonetheless about the team going into the new 2026 season.
Still, heading to Central for Game 1 is never an easy prospect and P-O will have to be at its best to get its year off with a win.
P-O doubled up on Central last year at Philipsburg, 48-24, and the Mounties went on to a 5-5 season that included solid wins over Bedford, Bellwood-Antis, Chestnut Ridge and Penns Valley.
Central finished 4-6, and the Dragons beat BEA and Somerset in their last two games and put up a total of 62 points in those games.
With all of their skill position players returning, including quarterback Jesse Muther, both top running backs and both top receivers, the Dragons look to be potent on offense.
“It’s never easy to go on the road in this conference,” P-O head coach Jeff Vroman said. “They (Central) are bringing back a lot of their skill people. They are impressive.
“But first games are first games, and you never know what you’re going to get.”
P-O will of course be looking to jump off their season with another 7-touchdown, 475-yard game.
State College (0-0) at Central York (0-0)
Running back D’Antae Sheffey, 1619 yards, 24 touchdowns, graduated from the 2025, 10-3 State College football team along with a number of other high-profile players.
But State College has a way of regrouping every year and this year it will start with junior quarterback Connor Kulka.
In 2025, Kulka completed 159 passes for 2398 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Couple that with two of three returning running backs and two top receivers, and the Little Lions could be another tough offensive threat.
They will find out early if that is true.
Game 1 is at Central York, 11-2 last year with a trip to the 6A Quarterfinals.
Central York will be regrouping itself after losing all-everything quarterback Brooklyn Nace (2793 yards, 36 touchdowns), but 1300-yard running back Legend Johnson is back along with two of the team’s top three receivers.
Central York is a perennial power, and a trip down there on opening night would be a challenge for any team in the state.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Central York High School.
