CENTRE COUNTY — This week’s Gazette Game of the Week is the LHAC matchup of 1-0 Forest Hills at the 0-1 Bellefonte Raiders on Friday, Sept. 4.
The Raiders had a slow offensive night in Week 1 at Tyrone when the Golden Eagles scored late to take a hard-fought, 14-7 LHAC victory.
Bellefonte will have to regroup this week when LHAC foe Forest Hills arrives for a Week 2 matchup that takes on new importance for the Raiders.
The Rangers are coming off a 6-5 season in 2025 that included a 35-0 over Bellefonte but that ended in four consecutive losses to end the year. The final game was a 41-7 loss at Penn Cambria in the league’s crossover game.
This year, the Rangers began on a positive note with a defense-minded 13-10 win over Westmont-Hilltop at home on Friday night.
Quarterback Austin Pramuk was the star of the night as he ran for 157 yards in the game and scored the winning touchdown on a clutch 78-yard run in the third quarter.
Westmont threatened in the fourth quarter with a drive, but Forest Hills forced a fumble that ended the threat and gave first-year coach Tom Blanchetti his first win.
The Rangers passed for only 26 yards, but they ran for 266 and both touchdowns (both by Pramuk.)
This Friday, the Raiders will again face a tough defense.
Against Tyrone, Bellefonte racked up 279 yards of total offense, but it was only able to push across one touchdown.
Alten Howell threw for 116 yards and a touchdown to Parker Jodon, and he ran for another 51 on 10 carries.
Howell ran for another 25 yards, but Tyrone’s defense was able to hold the Raiders scoreless over the final three quarters.
Bellefonte in this one will be looking to even its record and make up for last year’s loss in Sidman.
Chambersburg (0-1) at State College (1-0)
The State College Little Lions came home with an impressive 35-28 victory over Central York last Friday and now will enter Mid-Penn Conference play at home against Chambersburg.
Chambersburg lost its opening game at Manheim Central on Friday night, 24-19, but the Trojans were all about wide receiver/quarterback Jashaun Palmer.
Palmer began the game at wide receiver, hauling in four receptions for 117 yards, and then when starting quarterback Cam Green (226 yards, TD) was injured, Palmer moved behind center.
From there, he passed for another 94 yards and a touchdown and ran the ball three times for 25 yards. That’s 236 yards of total offense in his varsity debut, but it still was not enough to overcome Manheim’s third-quarter 24-13 lead.
Chambersburg now has a problem at quarterback coming into State College with Green, an effective passer, possibly still out. The Trojans are more effective with both Green and Palmer in the lineup.
State College is coming off its big win at Central York and will be looking to begin the Mid-Penn on a positive note.
Last year’s game, also at Memorial Field, was a 40-0 rout with Connor Kulka throwing for just under 300 yards and four touchdowns.
And now with Rowan Walker showing he is more than a competent replacement for D’Antae Sheffey, the Lions are thinking big this year.
Penn Cambria (1-0) at Bald Eagle Area (1-0)
Both Bald Eagle Area and Penn Cambria took opening night wins last Friday and they will now face off in a big LHAC game this week in Wingate.
BEA put up a stellar offensive performance in a 35-27 win at Huntingdon, while Penn Cambria was equally effective in a 35-13 cruise past Somerset at home.
Penn Cambria shot out to a 27-0 lead over Somerset, added eight more in the third quarter, and took its first win easily over the Eagles.
Quarterback Evan Latterner threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Corbin Vinglish rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
In all, Penn Cambria gained 269 total yards, intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble as the team went to 1-0.
BEA was in a closer matchup with Huntingdon, but the Eagles ran for 273 yards, threw for 90 more and were able to hold off the Bearcats.
Running back Sam Clark was especially impressive with 188 running yards and two touchdowns.
Penn Cambria got the best of BEA last season, 47-24, but the Eagles return size and experience from that team and Friday looks like a much different matchup.
Chestnut Ridge (1-0) at Philipsburg-Osceola (0-1)
Chestnut Ridge may not have run up a massive number of yards against Greater Johnstown on Friday night, but the Lions scored from all over the field in a 50-34 win.
Tied at halftime at 20-20, Chestnut Ridge ran up 30 points in the second half to take its first win of the season going away.
In the game, Chestnut Ridge scored twice on the ground, twice through the air, and scored three times on returns.
Wide receiver/returner Garrett Weyandt scored one touchdown on a pass from quarterback Owen Webb and scored twice on kick returns.
He finished the game with a total of 72 receiving yards and 195 return yards.
Running back Jayden Imler led with 85 yards and a touchdown, while Webb threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
It is the Lions’ threats from all over the field that P-O will have to be concerned about.
Last week at Central, P-O fell behind early, but the Mounties kept playing and eventually scored 20 points and gained just under 200 yards of offense.
This week, the emphasis will be on a better start with an eye on slowing down the big-play capabilities of Chestnut Ridge.
Central Cambria (0-1) at Penns Valley (0-1)
Central Cambria played Richland tough in the first half on Friday night but the Rams scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to claim a 28-7 win.
Playing at home, the Red Devils took an early 7-0 lead, but after that the Richland defense clamped down and did not allow another score.
CC is coming off a 4-6 season in 2025 that included a close, 16-14 win over PV at home on Aug. 29.
But this year with dual-threat quarterback Cael Smith (105 yards passing and 90 rushing) and running back Spencer Althouse (71 yards receiving, TD), the Rams present a bigger offensive threat.
Penns Valley lost to a Pennsylvania power in Bishop Guilfoyle on Friday, and it will be highly motivated to avenge last year’s setback to Central Cambria and even its record at 1-1.
