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There's plenty of mystery surrounding Penns Valley football heading into its Week One rematch against Bishop Guilfoyle. After starting last season 0-7 and finishing 2-8, the Rams saw numerous key positions vacated due to graduation, with a new starting quarterback and running back set to be revealed on Friday.
Nonetheless, head coach Martin Tobias looks forward to the start of the season and hopes the Rams can effectively set the tone with what they have back. Key returners like receiver Spencer Althouse and TE/LB Emory Reed could give their new-look offense a spark while a seasoned offensive line and experienced defense could also make an impact.
In terms of getting a good chance to find out what does and doesn't work, the Rams don't get many easy opponents, especially not in Week One. Bishop Guilfoyle is coming off back-to-back PIAA Class A championship appearances, including a title win in 2024, and the Marauders most recently defeated Penns Valley, 42-18, in 2025.
"It's going to be a real test for us that will help set the tone for the season," said Tobias on the matchup. "It's going to force us to really be prepared and give it our best shot, and that can help us know where we're at for the remainder of the schedule and rest of the season."
Bishop Guifoyle does lose key contributors to those deep postseason runs, with its most notable departure being two-way star and current Villanova freshman Jake Kissell. As a senior, Kissell totaled 177 tackles and almost 2,500 offensive yards, a staple that will likely be sorely missed.
However, the Marauders still return a scary bunch.
Justin Wheeler showed tremendous promise as a dual-threat quarterback last season, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,412 yards and nine TDs while adding just under 800 yards on the ground. Sophomore Keegan Hewitt gives their rushing attack added dimensions, and BG returns two of its four leading receivers.
Defensively, three of its four top tacklers from 2025 also return, with Rocco Cacciotti having a similar impact to Kissell as a linebacker with 145 tackles, 27 TFLs and 11 sacks. Much of the defense that allowed 12 points per game last season is back, putting Penns Valley's new-look offense in a rough spot for Week One.
With that, it should be interesting to see how the team attempts to combat such a tough opening opponent and how its first-time starters at quarterback and running back handle the adversity. Expect a tough challenge for the Rams but keep an eye on how their experience on the line and defensive end affects things.