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SPRING MILLS - Coming off a momentous, 26-19 win over rival Bellefonte, Penns Valley football is looking to build off that success against another Class 4A opponent. The Rams host Clearfield (1-4) in their return home, as they shoot to put together their first win streak since September of 2023.
Penns Valley (1-4) has turned over a new leaf since struggling through its first three games. Prior to securing its first win of the season in Week 5, the team fell one score short of victory against 4-1 Philipsburg-Osceola, and those two performances give it confidence when it comes to alleviating that rough start and pushing for a playoff bid.
Sophomore quarterback Cael Smith continues to grow under center. Last Friday, he posted his second 100-yard rushing performance on just 12 rushes, logging big rushes of 23 and 24 yards. His passing success is still a work in progress, but he managed a solid night there as well, going 8-of-12 for 100 yards and a 40-yard touchdown pass.
Through five games, he's completed over 53 percent of his passes for 619 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions. Rushing wise, he's added over 400 yards and three scores. And he was far from the only standout from Week 5.
Senior receiver Spencer Althouse is coming off a career-defining performance against the Red Raiders, scoring four times in four different ways while compiling over 300 all-purpose yards. He heads into Friday with 17 receptions, 218 yards and three scores, leading the Rams in all three categories.
Tight end Emery Reed, Isaac Harpster and Christian Merrill give Smith multiple passing options alongside Althouse, with Reed standing two performances removed from an eight-reception, 128-yard outing against Philipsburg-Osceola. Gannyn Stover logged a season-high of 49 yards on 12 rushes in Week 5, and Tripp Watson nears 150 on the season.
Defensively, the Rams held Bellefonte to six points through three quarters and produced two turnovers, each of which led to touchdowns. When it comes to building on the win, it's really just a matter of maintaining what's gone right over the last two weeks.
Clearfield is a tad less imposing than in recent years and heads into Friday's matchup on a three-game losing streak. Within that span, it's surrendered 43 or more points twice, but that doesn't mean the Rams will have it easy in Week 5.
Freshman quarterback Dylan Foust has had success as both a passer and runner. He surpassed 90 rushing yards for the second time in the team's last loss to Huntingdon and heads into Friday averaging nearly six yards per carry. And passing wise, he's completed 54 percent of his passes for 484 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Junior receiver Elijah Glunt makes up much of the team's passing success, averaging 77 yards per game and logging a team-leading three receiving touchdowns. But Spencer Rosinsky and Curtis Putt - both underclassmen - offer Foust versatility in the receiver room with 120 or more receiving yards each.
Though Penns Valley's win over Bellefonte was momentous, a win over Clearfield could hold added significance from a historic standpoint. The teams have met every year since 2007. And within that span, the Rams have never come out victorious, marking 19 straight wins for the Bison.
Friday's matchup is set to kick off at 7 p.m.