Hollidaysburg will have 20 days off between games before they finally hit the football field again to play Grove City in the PIAA 5A playoffs.

“Way too long,” said Hollidaysburg coach Homer DeLattre. “I wouldn't wish 20 days off on any coach.”

But it's the nature of the beast for DeLattre and the Golden Tigers, a District 6 team that doesn't play in a conference and didn't play for a district title.

Hollidaysburg has a wide-open schedule and put teams on it from different districts and even different states.

The Golden Tigers played two teams from Maryland, including a four-time champion in that state, and also played DuBois, State College and McDowell.

“We play an independent schedule,” DeLattre said. “Our goal is to be the best program in the state of Pennsylvania and we want to put a schedule together where people look at it and say, 'Whoa, they're playing them.'”

DeLattre believes their schedule has prepared them to play teams like Grove City.

That will be put to the test at 7 p.m. Friday when the two teams meet at Penns Manor High School in Clymer.

“We could easily schedule teams we know we could beat,” DeLattre said. “But we don't.”

DeLattre, who coached at Corry in District 10 before taking the job at Hollidaysburg in 2013, is still familiar with Grove City and coach Sam Mowrey.

“It's neat. We sometimes played Grove City twice a year,” DeLattre said. “I've known Sam for awhile, back when he was an assistant under (Jeff Bell). I'm glad for (Mowrey). He had a slow start but he's got a good program.”

Grove City (11-0) is shooting for history.

A win will give this Eagles' team the most in a season in school history.

Hollidaysburg, though, will have something to say about that.

The Golden Tigers are balanced. Junior Brady Waters, in his first year as quarterback, has thrown for 1,245 yards and 19 touchdowns. He's also rushed for 607 yards and 11 scores.

Senior running back Patrick Young leads Hollidaysburg with 864 yards on 175 carries and also has scored 10 touchdowns.

“They have a quarterback who does a good job getting the ball out, and he can also hurt you with his legs,” Mowrey said.

But Grove City has its own gifted junior quarterback.

Brady Callahan, also in his first year as a starter, is putting up eye-popping numbers for the Eagles.

He's completed 78.4 percent of his passes (127-of-162) for 1,646 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Junior Logan Lutz, who also lines up at times at quarterback in the wildcat, has 53 receptions for 707 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 742 yards.

Senior Trey Adams has gained 923 yards on the ground and has scored 23 touchdowns.

“We have a lot of different weapons,” Mowrey said. “Each kid brings something different to the table.”

That has DeLattre trying to find a way to slow all those weapons.

“They are very multiple,” DeLattre said. “And those guys are great playcallers.”

DeLattre is also impressed with the Eagles defense, sophomore defensive tackle Lance Craig in particular.

“He's the best defensive lineman we'll see all year,” DeLattre said.

Mowrey is not concerned about the big discrepancy in the time each team had to prepare for this game.

“I would rather have our schedule and have games and be tested,” Mowrey said. “I would rather have games to keep the kids focused and excited and have a quicker turnaround.

“I told them Saturday night there were 100 different things from that (District 10 title win) that you'll remember forever, but put that aside and focus on Hollidaysburg. I think they're ready to get back at it.”