9-0 Dragons Sticking to the Course for More Success

Central High School senior Baron Dionis wants to come out on top Friday night for the most elemental of reasons. Sure, it’d be nice to win the league, to go into the playoffs with momentum, but it’s so much simpler than that.

“I don’t want to lose any games this season,” Dionis said, “to be perfectly honest with you.”

Dionis and his Scarlet Dragons will put their unblemished record on the line as Central hosts Richland in a clash of the last two remaining undefeated high school football teams in District 6 in the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference championship game.

Kickoff at Roaring Spring Athletic Field is set for 7 p.m. between the 9-0 adversaries. As part of the LHAC’s expansion this season when it absorbed the Mountain League and added Bellwood-Antis, it was also decided to leave the final opponent of the regular season to be determined so that the top two teams could face off for the conference title and the other games would pit teams of similar standing against each other.

Both the Dragons and the Rams have sewn up the top seeds in their respective classifications for the district playoffs. One, therefore, might presume that an easier game heading into the postseason would be favored by the teams.

Veteran Central coach Dave Baker isn’t among them. In fact, despite holding off Clearfield for a 27-21 win last game, Baker had every bit the vitality of a 10-year-old on Christmas morning at the prospect of facing Richland the week before the start of the playoffs.

“Some people don’t care for it. I like it,” Baker said. “It’s better than playing somebody that is 0-9, for one thing. Secondly, it keeps kids in competition. Kids thrive in competition. They don’t thrive as much when it’s not competitive. Thirdly, if you’re going to be in a 20-team league, you damn well better have a championship, and you can’t play everybody in the league.

“Do you need any more reasons? I can probably figure out some more.”

Baker thinks one of the biggest keys this week will be Richland’s ability to defend the Scarlet Dragon passing attack.

Central junior Eli Muthler enters the conference final connecting on 60% of his passes for 2,206 yards and 25 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted seven times.

Jack Dunn and Jacob Benton are Muthler’s most frequent targets, catching 42 and 40 passes, respectively through nine weeks. Dionis has 22 receptions for 311 yards and two touchdowns, numbers that would lead some teams.

In other Week 10 games …

Everett Warriors (1-8) vs.

Claysburg-Kimmel Bulldogs (3-6)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Bulldog Stadium, Claysburg

Coaches: Everett – Brian Koontz; Claysburg-Kimmel – Chuck Kassick

Last game: Everett – lost to Meyersdale, 26-7, on Oct. 20; Claysburg-Kimmel – lost to Mount Union, 62-6, on Oct. 20

Last meeting: Claysburg-Kimmel, 19-14 (Aug. 26, 2022)

Series record: Claysburg-Kimmel, 25-22-2 (first met in 1946)

Windber Ramblers (6-3) vs.

Juniata Valley Green Hornets (7-2)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Coach A.R. Simpkins Memorial Field, Alexandria

Coaches: Windber – Matt Grohal; Juniata Valley – Bill Musser

Last game: Windber – lost to Northern Bedford, 35-6, on Oct. 20; Juniata Valley – defeated Southerm Huntingdon, 41-0, on Oct. 20

Last meeting: Windber, 56-7 (Oct. 14, 2022)

Series record: Windber, 3-0 (first met in the 2001 District 5-6 Class 1A playoffs)

Northern Bedford Black Panthers (9-0) vs.

Glendale (3-6)

Date and time: Friday, 7 p.m.

Site: Dr. Roy F. Baker Field, Flinton

Coaches: Northern Bedford – Garry Black; Glendale – Dave “Spanky” Trexler

Last game: Northern Bedford – defeated Windber, 35-6, on Oct. 20; Glendale – defeated Curwensville, 30-8, on Oct. 20

Last meeting: Northern Bedford, 35-6 (Oct. 14, 2022)

Series record: Northern Bedford, 43-5 (first met in 1960)

“Jack Dunn and Jake Benton both have been very dominant in the passing game. I feel like all of our receiving corps has been able to get the job done no matter who Eli has to throw it to,” Dionis said.

Richland’s only allowed two teams all year to reach 20 points, a number Central has cracked in eight of nine starts. The Rams only have six interceptions this season, but they do average almost two sacks per outing.

Richland, meanwhile, predicates everything on its running attack. The Rams are led by senior Evan McCracken, a district sprint champ built like a fire hydrant who has rushed for 941 yards this season and 20 touchdowns and averages 6.9 yards per carry.

The Rams will likely try to eat up the clock and pick their spots to throw, keeping the Dragon offense on the sidelines.

Senior linebacker Hunter Smith leads the Central defense. Dionis is sixth on the unit in tackles and also has a team-best 11 pass breakups.

“They use a lot of formations and a lot of motion. It’s sort of to mask the fact that it’s a running game, so you have to be alert,” Baker said. “Their line is very strong and they’re going to run it at you.”

Richland might be quite shorthanded, though. Freshman Dom Shank, who was playing quarterback in place of injured freshman Grayson Mahla, got hurt himself late in the Rams’ 28-10 win over Chestnut Ridge last week; Richland’s X account said Shank had a broken femur.

McCracken also was out at the end of the game. The officials ended the contest with about a minute and a half to go because of fighting between the teams.

On paper, this shapes up as a fairly even contest. Richland played Clearfield the week before Central did, turning back the Bison 35-28.

Central is trying to avenge a 35-28 loss to Richland last season. In doing so, the Scarlet Dragons would continue to be undefeated even after significant graduation losses from last year’s PIAA semifinalist team.

“It’s a pretty big game to win the conference, but we’ve got to treat it like any other game,” Dionis said. “We’ve been pretty successful all season doing the same thing.”