Northern Bedford's 5-0 Record Best Season Start Since 2017

An all-state safety last year as a freshman, Northern Bedford's Aaron Bowers thinks he plays on one of the best pass defenses around.

"Our corners and outside linebackers are pretty quick, so we can run man-free a lot. Then I can just read the quarterback and go towards the ball, while our corners and 'backers do a good job covering their guys," Bowers said.

It's hard to argue with Bowers. The Black Panthers have picked off nine passes through five games this season and are holding their opponents to 34 points over the last four contests.

Northern Bedford's defense will be put to the test on Friday, though, when the 5-0 Panthers travel to northern Somerset County to clash with 5-0 Conemaugh Township in what could be a preview of the District 5 Class 1A playoffs and a matchup whose outcome might have a big impact on the seeding for the postseason.

Township boasts one of the most explosive offenses and some of the most dangerous athletes in the region and is coming off a game in which it scored 62 points.

Kickoff at Memorial Stadium in Davidsville is scheduled for 7 p.m. This will be the first time the Panthers and Indians have faced off in the regular season; Northern Bedford has won all three playoff meetings, the last in 2020.

"This will help us see where we're at, because they have a high-powered offense," the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Bowers said. "I think it'll be a good game."

"They just work to get the ball to guys in space," Panther coach Garry Black said of Conemaugh Township. "We haven't seen speed like that before."

The reigning District 5 Class 1A champ and a PIAA quarterfinalist in 2021, Northern Bedford is putting an 11-game regular season winning streak on the line. The Black Panthers are off to their best start since 2017. The last time NBC opened a campaign with six straight wins was in 2012.

"It makes me excited," said junior middle linebacker Ashton Detterline, who's leading the Panthers with 25 tackles. "They have some kids that will give us a challenge and test our defense. We'll see how it goes. I know Ethan Black is a really fast kid. We'll have to watch and figure something out, but I think it'll be a good game."

Township's Black isn't just fast, he's a special kind of fast – in May, he beat all the usual contenders from the Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg areas not just to win a PIAA Class 2A gold medal in the 100-meter dash, he won one in the 200 meters, too.

He's just as big-time a performer with pads on, though. Black enters the game with 25 receptions for 522 yards and seven touchdowns.

The big problem the Indians pose, though, is Black isn't their only playmaker. Six-foot-two junior Jon Updyke already has 11 touchdowns this season, seven as a receiver, three as a rusher and one on a kickoff return – in fact, both he and Black ran kickoffs back for scores in last week's 62-52 victory at West Branch.

Senior quarterback Tanner Shirley has completed 57 of 82 passes and surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season last game. He also has more than 100 yards running the ball.

The Indians have scored at least four touchdowns in each of their games, including a 28-0 win over Claysburg-Kimmel in Week 3, when three of their four touchdowns were on plays of at least 60 yards.

The Panthers gave up a couple of big runs last week against Tussey Mountain but still won convincingly, 36-14. That's the most points Northern Bedford has surrendered since its Week 1 shootout win over Southern Huntingdon.

"We have a couple of kids that tackle very well and our corners cover very well," Detterline said. "We all communicate well and we can tackle. That makes it a lot easier."

Northern Bedford figures to try to be physical with Township to get the Indians out of their game. The Panthers also can try to play ball-possession or to try to outscore the Indians: Northern's Eion Snider is 48 yards from 1,000 passing this season, while Adam Johnson is averaging 8.8 yards per carry and already has 14 rushing touchdowns.

Garry Black was Northern Bedford's defensive coordinator before becoming head coach, so this week's game is a challenge he can sink his teeth into.

"I think the most fun part of football is the ability to scheme to see if you can take something away from somebody else," Black said. "You're out there kind of playing chess."

This article is sponsored by Northern Bedford Pharmacy.

In other Week 6 games ...

Juniata Valley Green Hornets (3-2) vs.

Moshannon Valley Black Knights (2-3)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Moshannon Valley Athletic Field, Houtzdale

Coaches: Juniata Valley – Bill Musser; Moshannon Valley – Michael Keith

Last game: Juniata Valley – defeated Bellwood-Antis, 14-10; Moshannon Valley – defeated Claysburg-Kimmel, 21-14

Last meeting: Juniata Valley, 44-21 (Oct. 11, 2019)

Series record: Tied, 23-23-1 (first met in 1970)

McCort-Carroll Catholic Crushers (2-3) vs.

Central Scarlet Dragons (3-2)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Roaring Spring Athletic Field, Roaring Spring

Coaches: McCort-Carroll – Tom Smith; Central – Dave Baker

Last game: McCort-Carroll – lost to Forest Hills, 35-0; Central – defeated Chestnut Ridge, 39-14

Last meeting: Central, 50-6 (Oct. 15, 2021)

Series record: Bishop McCort, 4-2 (first met in 2001)

Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs (1-4) vs.

Conemaugh Valley Blue Jays (0-4)

Date and time: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Site: Tom Yewcic Stadium, Johnstown

Coaches: Claysburg-Kimmel – Matt Bilchak; Conemaugh Valley – Matt Kent

Last game: Claysburg-Kimmel – lost to Moshannon Valley, 21-14; Conemaugh Valley – lost to Meyersdale, 33-22

Last meeting: Conemaugh Valley, 42-13 (Nov. 6, 2021 in the District 6 Class 1A quarterfinals)

Series record: Tied, 1-1 (first met in 2018)