The Mountain Athletic Football Conference held their first annual end-of-season banquet to honor their All-Star selections on Nov. 5, 2004.
With the MAFC being an offshoot of the old Big 8 Conference, this was the 31st annual banquet. The Big 8 had actually consisted of only seven teams (Tyrone, Bald Eagle Area, Lewistown, Huntingdon, Indian Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola and Bellefonte) for several years. With the addition of Bellwood-Antis, Bishop Guilfoyle, Penns Valley, Clearfield and Punxsutawney, the league was renamed the Mountain Athletic Football Conference with the large schools (Huntingdon, Bellefonte, Lewistown, Indian Valley, Punxsutawney and Clearfield) in the Seven Mountains Division and the smaller schools (Tyrone, Bellwood-Antis, BEA, Philipsburg-Osceola, Penns Valley and BG) in the Nittany Division.
Tyrone, Bellwood-Antis and Philipsburg-Osceola share the first MACF Nittany crown, with all finishing with 4-1 records. Tyrone defeated Bellwood-Antis 40-13, Philipsburg-Osceola defeated Tyrone 7-6 and Bellwood-Antis defeated P-O 6-3 in over time.
Tyrone, Bellwood-Antis and Philipsburg-Osceola also finished in the top three of both offensive and defensive points per game. Tyrone led in both most points scored with Philipsburg-Osceola second and Bellwood-Antis third, and in least points scored by their opponents, with B-A second and the Mounties third.
Tyrone had seven players named to the MAFC Nittany Division First Team All-Stars and four more to the First Team Defense.
Terry Tate was selected at center, Ron Miller at guard, Ralph Van Allman at tackle, Tad Chamberlain at tight end, Ben Gummo at wide out and place kicker and Brice Mertiff at running back. Tate, Van Allman and Mertiff were among the six unanimous offensive selections. Van Allman and Mertiff repeat from the final Big 8 All-Star Team in 2003, while Gummo was an Honorable Mention choice as running and place kicker.
On the Second Team, Jake Houck was named at guard, Mike Jones at tackle, Leonard Wilson at quarterback and Brinton Mingle at running back.
Bellwood-Antis had no First Team Offense picks, but had Tony DelGrosso at guard, Dustin Hoffer at tackle, Derrick Hoffer at wide out and Josh Kleinfelter at running back on the MAFC Second Team Offense.
Philipsburg-Osceola’s Ron Pollock was the only other repeater from last year’s Big 8 First Team at guard. Pollock, who was selected as a tackle last year and P-O teammates Jeff Winter (quarterback) and Lou LaFuria (wide out) are the other unanimous choices on offense.
On the Defensive First Team, Golden Eagle senior Tate repeats on the defensive line and has the distinction of being the only player to be selected unanimously on both offense and defense. Joining their teammate, Ben Gummo was chosen at end, Brinton Mingle at linebacker and Josh Crabtree as defensive back. Tyler Hoover (defensive line) and Brandon Maceno (linebacker) were selected to the Second Team Defense for Tyrone.
Bellwood-Antis had three First Team picks-Brandon Cherry (defensive line), Tony DelGrosso (linebacker) and Derrick Hoffer (defensive back). Blue Devils Troy Brunner (end), Adam Martin (defensive line), Dwayne Cherry (linebacker) and Chris Edmiston (defensive back) made the Second Team Defense.
