Hunter Smith of Central (left) and Karson Kiesewetter of Bishop Guilfoyle are first cousins who will be competing against each other on Saturday night at Mansion Park when the Red Dragons and the Marauders open up their high school football seasons.
By John Hartsock
Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and Central High School enjoyed a long and spirited rivalry on the football field that was interrupted following the 2005 season, after the Scarlet Dragons joined the Mountain League.
Central left the Mountain League for the Laurel Highlands Conference last year, and the rivalry has been rekindled.
The Marauders and Scarlet Dragons, who figure to be among the top teams in the state this season in the PIAA Class 2A and Class 3A divisions, respectively, will meet for the first time in 17 years in the 2022 season opener for both teams Saturday at Mansion Park. Kickoff is 7 pm
“It’s exciting for both programs,” said BG coach Justin Wheeler, who led the Marauders to the PIAA Class 1A state championship last December before BG moved up to Class 2A this season. “The last time we played each other was before I got here, but I have been hearing the stories about the rivalry, and I think that everybody is kind of excited to rekindle the series.
It’s opening weekend of the season, and I think that there is going to be a packed stadium at Mansion Park – especially seeing that both teams were at the top of their classifications last year,Wheeler added. “I think that there will be a lot of interest.”
Adding to the intrigue will be the fact that two of the best athletes on the field Saturday night, Bishop Guilfoyle senior quarterback-defensive back Karson Kiesewetter and Central junior fullback-linebacker Hunter Smith, are first cousins.
The family ties between the two players, and the Central-BG connection, run very deep. Smithís mother, Kim, a 1989 BG graduate and former standout basketball player with the Lady Marauders, is a junior high school guidance counselor in the Spring Cove Area School District.
She is married to former Central High sports standout Monte Smith, and she is the brother of former BG athlete Kraig Kiesewetter – who is Karsonís father.
Kim Kiesewetter was a high school basketball teammate of Gina (Reilly) Kiesewetter, who is Kraigís wife and Karsonís mother.
Kraig Kiesewetter said that his late father Karl – the grandfather of both Karson and Hunter Smith – passed away before seeing his two grandsons on the football field together, but would have loved to have been present for Saturday’s game.
ìItís unfortunate, because he would have been more than thrilled,íí said Kraig, a 1991 BG graduate. ìTheyíre two great kids who are both really good athletes and will be doing their best to compete with one another. Itís unfortunate that one team has to lose this game.íí
Karson Kiesewetter and Hunter Smith are good friends off the field, and often get together with their families for holiday dinners or to toss around the football in the backyard. But they will be playing for a little bit of bragging rights Saturday.
ìObviously, we grew up together and weíre really good friends,íí said Karson, who was named the 2021 Pennsylvania Football News Class 1A football Player of the Year last season after throwing for 1,942 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushing for 1,133 yards and 22 scores.
ìWeíll be talking to each other on the field Saturday, and maybe even talking a little trash,íí Karson said with a chuckle. ìBut itís all in fun. Heís a really talented athlete, and itís just cool to play him in a big-time game in Week 1 to open the season. It should be fun.íí
A three-sport standout at Central, Hunter Smith rushed for 551 yards and three touchdowns last year, while catching 38 passes for 386 yards and 12 scores. Standing 6-feet-2 and weighing 207 pounds, Smith is also a formidable presence at linebacker for the Scarlet Dragons, who made it all the way to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals last year.
Hunter Smith is excited about playing BG on Saturday, and also, about lining up opposite his first cousin on both sides of the ball.
ìItís definitely going to be interesting,íí Hunter Smith said. ìIím definitely excited. Itís going to be fun.íí
Hunter Smith and Karson Kiesewetter played sports together in the Altoona Parochial League when they were younger, before Smith transferred into the Spring Cove School District.
ìHeís something,íí Hunter Smith said of Karson Kiesewetterís athletic prowess. ìHe can play with the best of them, and he believes in himself. He definitely takes control of a game, and he has that mentality that he can take over a game.íí
Wheeler also thinks the family connection between Karson Kiesewetter and Hunter Smith adds an interesting touch to what should already be a very exciting game.
ìTheyíre definitely two great kids,íí Wheeler said. ìYouíre looking at two of the best athletes in the game, who also happen to be first cousins. It will be exciting to see them competing against one another.íí
Kim Kiesewetter Smith agreed.
ìI think it will be a great game, it will be fun to watch, and exciting,íí Kim said. ìOf course, I want to see (Central) come out on top, but honestly, Iím just hoping for a game in which nobody gets hurt, and I just want to see a good, fun game for all the players.íí
Monte Smith said that there is a lot of mutual respect behind all the good-natured family ribbing.
ìKimís brother Kraig and I give each other the rhubarbs being that Iím from Central and heís from BG,íí said Monte Smith, a former three-sport standout at Central and 1980 graduate. ìItís a rivalry, but the players at both schools have always respected each other. Hunter and Karson are very familiar with each other, and so are all the players on the Central and BG teams. It should be an interesting game.íí
Veteran Central coach Dave Baker said that BG will represent a good season-opening challenge for his team.
ìItís going to be a tough game,íí Baker said. ìIt will be a good gauge for us to see how good we are as a team at the beginning of the season. They’re good – they’re the defending state champions. Weíre looking forward to this game.íí
A huge factor in Saturdayís game will be how well the Marauders can defend Central senior quarterback Jeff Hoenstine, who was named the PIAA Class 3A Football Player of the Year last season by both the Pennsylvania Football Writers and Pennsylvania Football News while throwing for a single- season Pennsylvania high school state record 57 touchdowns.
But Hunter Smith and Karson Kiesewetter should also both figure heavily in the outcome of the game as well.
ìWeíve got a lot of guys coming from back from last year, and theyíve got a lot of guys coming back,íí Karson Kiesewetter said. ìIt should be a really interesting matchup.íí
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