MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette South Williamsport will look to bounce back from last week’s loss and will face a Montgomery team that brutally dominated its past two opponents in Northwest and Holy Redeemer.
South PPG – 22.8, PPA – 23.6. YPG-277.6, YPA-282.4
South’s point: South (4-4) is fighting to keep its district playoff winning streak alive. The Mounties and Loyalsock share the longest record in the region at 12 years each. South bounced back from a 1-3 start to finish eighth in the District 4 Class AA standings, with the top eight teams advancing.
Muncy ended South’s winning streak at three a week ago, but the Mounties played strong in the second half, allowing just seven points against one of the area’s best offenses. The starting lineup didn’t allow a point against Thayer last week either. Freshmen Eli White and Kasim Davenport each recorded over 30 tackles and combined for three sacks. White is also part of a young backfield that includes Cade Rask, who ran for 145 yards and a touchdown in a season-changing 21-19 win at Wyalusing. Quarterback Tad Rask has run for a team-high seven touchdowns and has also thrown for three over the past two weeks. Dylan Scherer caught all three scores, becoming South’s leader in both career catches and yards in the 2000s. He also rushed for 90 yards five times and caught a 52-yard touchdown against Muncie. South turned its season around with hard-fought road wins at Wyalusing and Cowanesque Valley. The Mounties came out late to protect their two-point win at Wyalusing, rallying from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to overwhelm CV and then win their second straight game.
South player to watch – Paxton Gephart: Both teams have quality lines, so as is often the case, the game is more likely to be won there. Gephart provides a solid foundation for South and is capable on both sides of the ball. Gephardt, a standout for last year’s district champions, has served as the team’s anchor this season and is also a great run stuffer with five tackles for a loss.
Montgomery PPG–27.9, PPA–17.3; YPG-313.6, YPA-211.6
Montgomery said: Montgomery (5-3) is one of the most improved teams in the district, already improving four wins from last year. The Red Raiders are looking for their first win over South since 2009 and are likely to be the No. 3 seed in the District 4 Class A playoffs. If these current seeds hold, Montgomery will host Northwest in the quarterfinals. Montgomery has won five of its past six games and last Saturday allowed just 100 yards in a 55-0 victory over Holy Redeemer. The defense leads the area in yards allowed, and the starters haven’t allowed a score the past two weeks. Like South, Montgomery has a strong, young base, with sophomore linebackers Cam Walz and Trace Furman leading the team in tackles. Furman intercepted two passes at Northwest last week and returned one for a touchdown the week before. Sophomore linemen Connor Jarrett and Ethan Tapper both had three sacks, and Hayden Wilt had three interceptions. Wilt caught two long touchdowns from Parker Pershing in the first quarter against Redeemer as Montgomery built a 35-0 lead at halftime. Pershing was one of the most efficient passers in the area and kept the defense honest with Montgomery running the ball well. Coy Bryson last week became the second Raider in the 2000s to reach 1,000 consecutive yards, joining his cousin Hunter Budman. Furman, Walz, Lincoln Miller and Austin Luckenbill also had strong performances, and Logan Joy also scored against Redeemer. Mason Bryson caught a 39-yard touchdown pass in that game, marking his second consecutive sack in weeks.
Montgomery player to watch – Brady O’Rourke: The freshman linebacker made a great impact in his debut season and seems to be improving each week. He nearly intercepted three passes and added his second sack against the Redeemers. He also played a key role on defense, frequently pressuring the passer and allowing just four yards rushing.
Outlook: Tonight’s game could be the first of several big games these rivals play over the next few years, as many of the better players are underclassmen. These teams are built similarly and play similarly, so expect a physical and exciting match.
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