Three teams with matching 9-1 regular-season records shared the Heritage Conference title in 2025, as Cambria Heights, Marion Center and River Valley each held 1-1 records in contests against each other.
Cambria Heights topped River Valley in Week 2, but fell to Marion Center in Week 4. The Panthers bumped off the Stingers in Week 9 to create the knot atop the standings.
It wasn’t any less congested in the chase for fourth in the 12-team league as Homer-Center and United Valley finished 7-3 in league play with the Wildcats claiming the head-to-head victory.
In total, eight teams from the conference found their way into postseason contests, with Conemaugh Township reaching the District 5 Class 1A final, while Marion Center (6-2A) and Homer-Center (6-1A) made semifinal appearances in their respective brackets.
Cambria Heights, River Valley and United Valley were bounced in the District 6-2A quarterfinals, while Northern Cambria and Purchase Line bowed out in the 6-1A quarterfinals.
As the 2026 season looms, a similar logjam in the top half is anticipated.
As Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis pointed out, familiarity is a common thread among the expected powers in the league.
“When you look at it, most of the top teams from last year return their top players,” Lewis said.
Conemaugh Township coach Brandon Studer, who guided the Indians to a 7-5 record and a 6-4 mark in the Heritage Conference, is expecting that 2025’s tri-champions will be in the mix again.
“They’ve been there for the last couple of years, and they were the three first-place winners last year,” Studer said. “Until somebody proves something different, those are the three teams. Not only have the teams had success, but all three have great coaches with great programs, and are able to get great results out of kids.
“They know the recipe for success, so there’s no doubt that those three are the guys that we need to come after.”
The Heritage Conference was denied a district crown for the first time since 2021 after watching Northern Cambria (2022) and Cambria Heights (2023) take District 6-1A titles, with the Highlanders lifting the trophy in Class 2A during the 2024 season.
Cambria Heights will move up to Class 3A this season; the league’s 11 remaining teams will stay in their classifications from the previous enrollment cycle.
Cambria Heights
The Highlanders were part of the three-team jumble atop the Heritage Conference, ultimately falling short in their bid to win three straight District 6 titles after getting bumped out of the 6-2A quarterfinals by Marion Center.
Nolan Clawson, the team’s leading ground-gainer (1,097 yards) in 2025, slots in at quarterback for Cambria Heights after platooning with then-senior Kaiden Ivory. Brayden DeArmitt and Bryce Lewis also return as the team’s first- and third-leading receivers, respectively, from this past season.
The team also brings back Lewis as its leading tackler (111), with Colton Strong (104) also surpassing the century mark in that category. Lewis also picked up 14 sacks to pace the team.
Conemaugh Township
The Indians took another step forward in 2025, finishing with a 6-4 record in the conference before making a trip to the District 5-1A championship game, where they were nipped by Meyersdale. Under coach Brandon Studer, the program has improved from 0-10 in his first season to 5-6 in 2024 and 7-5 this past year.
Conemaugh Township will have to deal with heavy graduation losses, but boasts a three-year starter at quarterback in junior Greyson Studer (1,119 passing and 750 rushing yards in 2025).
Cayden Dail provides a disruptive presence on the team’s defensive front, leading the Indians in tackles (66) and sacks (five) a season ago.
Conemaugh Valley
New coach Joe Antal inherits a team that has lost its past 12 games, including an 0-10 mark in 2025. Conemaugh Valley did have a pair of near-misses in 2025, falling by one score in Week 3 against Portage (28-20) and Week 9 against West Shamokin (22-20). The Blue Jays only cracked double digits one other time in a 46-14 loss to River Valley.
Quarterback Xzavior Tatum comes back as the team’s leading rusher from a season ago, toting the ball for 229 yards and seven touchdowns on top of 1,047 passing yards.
While thin on depth, the Blue Jays are returning their three top tacklers from last year in Aaron Gelet (58 tackles), Reece Rager (53) and Alex Davis-Gonzalez (50).
Homer-Center
The Wildcats turned an eight-loss season in 2024 into an eight-win campaign in 2025. Homer-Center brings back its leading passer and rusher, quarterback Carson Arone, who delivered 1,078 yards through the air and 856 more on the ground as a junior. Gabe Cobaugh (615 rushing yards in 2025) is also back, along with leading receiver Deegan Fedoruk, who reeled in 20 passes for 267 yards.
Homer-Center turned away Moshannon Valley in the 6-1A quarterfinals before getting blanked by Bishop Guilfoyle Academy a round later.
Marion Center
The Stingers’ two wins over Cambria Heights highlighted a 10-2 season that concluded with a 33-0 loss at McCort-Carroll Catholic in the District 6-2A semifinals.
Marion Center will be tasked with replacing dual-threat quarterback Camden Rising, who played a part in 37 touchdowns.
Of the Stingers’ 10 wins, only the triumphs over Cambria Heights in Week 4 and in the District 6-2A quarterfinals were within 10 points.
Northern Cambria
The Colts’ 0-4 mark in one-score games contributed to the program’s first losing season since 2021, when they were 2-8.
Northern Cambria suffered three of those narrow losses against league top-half finishers Homer-Center (24-21), United Valley (27-21) and Cambria Heights (21-14). A 23-20 setback at Juniata Valley ended the Colts’ season in a District 6-1A quarterfinal.
Daniel Farrell is back after pacing the team in passing and rushing yards, picking up 1,094 through the air and 789 on the ground in 11 games. Zak Kirsch also returns after posting 183 tackles in 2025.
Penns Manor
The Comets will have to replace their two top rushers from a season ago, while also filling a void on defense left by Dylan Depp, who racked up 181 stops in 10 games.
Tyler Cooper, who split time with Andy Jarvie at quarterback, is the team’s leading returner as a passer (372 yards), rusher (233) and tackler (84).
Despite their 3-7 mark, the Comets were only outscored by 60 points thanks to victory margins of 49 (Conemaugh Valley) and 35 (West Shamokin).
Portage
A 2-1 start was washed out by a seven-game tumble for the Mustangs, who scored those victories over West Shamokin and Conemaugh Valley. Teams outscored Portage 273-70 during that losing streak.
Noah Willinisky returns from injury to boost a Portage rushing attack that will be led by Llheson Walker’s 366 yards from a season ago. The team will have to sort out its quarterback situation after the departure of Easton Slanoc, who accounted for all but 97 of the Mustangs’ 924 yards in the air.
Purchase Line
The run-heavy Red Dragons return a host of key offensive contributors from a 3-8 campaign. According to statistics posted online, Purchase Line gained 4.74 yards on the ground for every yard accrued in the air this past season.
Micah Lotson rushed for 404 yards and a score, while quarterback Nolan Engle passed for 253 yards as a freshman.
Purchase Line had a pair of three-game losing streaks during the season, but still reached the District 6-1A playoffs before losing to eventual PIAA runner-up Bishop Guilfoyle Academy.
River Valley
Junior Jake Woodring, the leading rusher in the Panthers’ balanced ground game, is back along with senior quarterback Max Persichetti. Woodring rushed for 818 yards and 11 scores, while Persichetti passed for 798 yards and four touchdowns.
The Panthers’ high-powered attack scored 30 or more points eight times in 2025. Conference foes Cambria Heights limited them to seven points in Week 2, while United Valley held River Valley to 10 points.
River Valley, which was dropped from the District 6-2A playoffs by Bellwood-Antis in a 42-16 setback, also reels back Brady Koffman, its top tackler from a season ago.
United Valley
The Lions’ three losses in the conference were to the three teams tied atop the standings. United Valley fell to eventual District 6 Class 2A champion Richland in the postseason, marking the second straight season that it lost to the Rams in the playoffs.
Shaydon Oleksa, the area’s ninth-leading rusher in 2025, returns after collecting 1,014 yards on 111 carries before a knee injury in Week 10 ended his season. Fellow senior Peyton McElwee, who also had his junior campaign cut short, is back after appearing in just two games. Running back Nate Szymusiak is also in the mix as the program enters its fifth season in a cooperative agreement between Blacklick Valley and United’s football programs.
West Shamokin
The Wolves were shut out in four games, but did nip Conemaugh Valley 22-20 in Week 9 to snap a 20-game skid dating back to 2023.
Christian Wilcox – West Shamokin’s second-leading rusher in 2025 with 275 yards – is back in the fold, as is Cole Wingard, who passed for 139 yards while splitting time with then-senior Ryan Booker and also catching nine passes for 142 yards.
The Wolves were outscored 335-69 in 10 games, only twice allowing 20 or fewer points while scoring in double digits three times.
Shawn Curtis is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 814-532-5085. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnCurtis430.
Leave a Comment