Former Lilly Raiders coaching BG Marauder and Altoona Mountain Lion football teams


... Justin Wheeler sets high bar for Nick Felus 


When you come from a small town, everyone is proud when one of your former players becomes successful.

That is the case of the Lilly Raiders program that started in 1961 and lasted into the 21st Century.

Justin Wheeler

The Raiders are very proud that Justin Wheeler has led his Bishop Guilfoyle Marauders to two straight PIAA Class A championships.

One was nice, but two straight is almost unprecedented in the state -- unless you are someone like the late George Curry of Berwick, who passed away earlier this year.

Curry directed Berwick to six PIAA titles and four straight from 1994-95-96-97.

From what the early predictions are saying, BG could again make a run at the third straight.

Last year, the Marauders ended the season with an 16-0 record and defeated Farrell for the state title. In 2014, BG defeated WPIAL perennial power Clairton.

Very impressive.

Justin played for the Raiders until 1986 and was on the 1985 team that won the championship of the Cambria County Grade School Football league.

He played high school ball at Penn Cambria and then at Penn State. He was a member of the 1994 Nittany Lion team that went undefeated and won the Rose Bowl.

Great job, Justin, and good luck!

Justin is the son of Bruce and Cheryl Wheeler of Lilly.

Nick Felus

Taking over at Altoona Area High School is Nick Felus, who is a few years younger than Justin. Nick played for the Raiders for four years, finishing in the 1991 season. He played on two Cambria County championship teams in 1989 and 1990.

Nick coached at Coatesville for six years prior to taking the Altoona job. Coatesville was a AAAA school and will be a 6 A now under the new PIAA classifications, as will the Mountain Lions. 

He was the offensive coordinator at Coatesville and had the same job at Sherando High School in Va.

Felus reached the state finals at both Coatesville (2012) and Sherando (2007). They finished as runner-up in both trips.

According to John Franco who previously held the AAHS job, "This is one of the best senior classes Altoona has had," Franco told the Altoona Mirror. "This may be the best depth Altoona has had in 20 years."

Altoona will compete in the Western Pa. Interscholastic Athletic Association (WPIAL). the most competitive conference in the western part of that state.

Nick is the son of Mike and Patsy Felus of Lilly.

Good luck Nick!

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