Weiland
By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
As Cambria Heights continues to bask in the glory of its first-ever District 6 championship, it will encounter a team with a style that should be pretty familiar to the Highlanders.
District 4 champion South Williamsport enters Saturday’s PIAA Class 1A quarterfinal game at Williamsport at 7 p.m. a much different team than it was at the start of the season but one that in many ways is a mirror image of Heights.
The Mountaineers are known for their running game, in fact they didn’t attempt a pass in their blowout victory over Muncy in the district final due to rainy weather conditions and ran for 402 yards, but a midseason injury at quarterback and a switch at halfback has led to an improved squad.
“We sustained some injuries, and Tadd Lusk has stepped in since at quarterback and done just a tremendous job leading the offense,” South Williamsport coach Chris Eiswerth said. “He’s thrown 15 touchdown passes since Week 5, and we’re very pleased with him and his leadership. Kaiser Kistner has stepped in as one of the halfbacks and has just been a really pleasant surprise. He’s a physical runner and very, very intelligent. He’s a multi-sport athlete that has done very well. Those guys have picked the pace of the offense up.”
For the Highlanders, Isaac Weiland has opened things up for an offense that is traditionally run heavy with nearly 1,000 yards passing. Weiland got some time under center last season when quarterback Ty Stockley was injured and the experience has paid off this season.
“My best teams have had multiple guys contribute,” Cambria Heights coach Jarrod Lewis said. “We have had some fantastic players come through here, but when you have multiple guys contributing and are able to beat teams through the run and the pass game, it helps. You are always going to run into teams that are really good at stopping the run or really good at stopping the pass but they struggle against the other. To be a really good team, you have to be good at both so that if someone sells out against one you can beat them with the other.”
The threat of the pass has helped both the Mountaineers and Highlanders and helped South Williamsport avenge a regular-season loss to Canton in the postseason.
“We have been very blessed, because Dylan Scheller and Landyn Gephart have really come on at wideout,” Eiswerth said. “Canton notoriously has a tremendous run defense. They spare no cost or measure to stop you from gaining an inch. Breaking through them and getting to the district final was a huge thing.”
Lusk was 8-for-12 with 224 yards passing in that game while taking advantage of Canton stacking the box.
“They can throw the ball,” Lewis said. “If they see you peeking in the backfield or they see you not respecting their receivers, they will throw over your head. Any time you play someone this time of the year in the state playoffs, you are facing a quality team, and South Williamsport certainly is a quality team.”
Heights is looking to continue a history-making season in which it won the first District 6 title in school history and also has won 10 games for the first time.
“It has been surreal,” Lewis said. “I’m not sure it has totally sunk in yet what we accomplished. I couldn’t be prouder for our community and the school, especially our players as well. These guys have put in a lot of hard work, and it has been super exciting. After the game, we were met by an escort and went through a couple towns, and people were out cheering for us throughout Carrolltown and Patton, and it was really exciting seeing all the community come out and how proud they were.”
Lewis made sure his players knew they cemented their legacy with their district title win over Purchase Line, which like South Williamsport’s win over Canton, avenged a regular-season loss.
“I told the kids they made history,” Lewis said. “We talked about the kids in 2020 (when Heights lost to Richland in the 2A final) proving we could get to a championship, and this team made it possible for kids to believe we could win a district title. Whenever you have people that pave the way and show the way to do something successfully, they provide a map for future teams to get to that same spot. I’m proud of our team, our coaches and our community.”
The Highlanders will travel more than two hours for Saturday’s game, but Lewis isn’t concerned about going on the road.
“I don’t think I have to worry about that,” Lewis said. “This team has been resilient all year. They have been able to stay focused and take it one game at a time. I think they have done that as well as any team I have ever coached. I know it’s a long ride, but we have been on long rides to Southern Huntingdon and West Shamokin in the past. We’re going to get there early and make sure we get our bodies moving a little bit, and we’ll be prepared.”
Ryan Casella and Kistner will lead the way on the ground for the Mountaineers behind a massive line.
“They are huge and are a big strong team that prides itself on physicality,” Lewis said. “They go right at you, and if you can’t stop it, they will continue to go right at you every single play. They don’t try to do anything fancy and try to defend the whole field. They have two running backs that are horses and a very big offensive line.”
Eiswerth said despite his team’s size advantage, it could be tough to move the ball against the District 6 champions.
“Cambria Heights defensively is very aggressive and tackles well,” Eiswerth said. “They play really good team defense, and they pursue well and fit well. Offensively, they seem to be very multiple and have team speed. They do some nice things with the tight end moving him to tailback, and the quarterback stretches the field.”
Lusk’s ascension to starting quarterback has helped clean up some of the turnover issues that plagued South Williamsport early in the season, but fumbles had remained an issue until the district final win over Muncy.
In what is expected to be a tight game Saturday, the team that turns it over the least may be the one that comes out on top.
“If we can stay clean, it has really been helpful,” Eiswerth said. “The district final, we played really clean. When we don’t turn the ball over and don’t make mistakes, that’s when we’re at our best. We’re excited. Hopefully we can come and have a good evening and have the kids ready to go.”
Cambria Heights vs. South Williamsport
Where to watch: Renda Media will have live coverage of the game on its Renda Digital TV YouTube channel. The pregame show will start at 6 p.m.
How to get it: On YouTube, search for Renda Digital TV. Click on the channel, go to the “live” bar at the top and click on the Cambria Heights and South Williamsport game from the drop down choices.
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