Around the area: Week 10

Milton at Warrior Run

Warrior Run (6-3) is fighting for a home playoff game and enters tonight fifth in the District 4 Class AA standings. If the Defenders can beat Milton for the first time since 2019 and Montoursville defeats Loyalsock that would likely would put Warrior Run into the top four and give it just the second home playoff game in program history.

Warrior Run lost two gut-wrenching games by four combined points before rebounding and defeating Central Columbia, 30-12 last week. Colby LeBarron ran for a season-high 121 yards and Sam Hall moved into second all-time among area receivers in career yards. Eli Butler continued his strong season, running for a touchdown and moving within one tackle of 100 this season. He also is second among area players with 21 tackles for loss.

Cohen Zechman caught a touchdown from James Keifer last week and Keifer threw for 236 yards. The defense did not allow a second half point and limited Central Columbia to negative rushing yards, something it also did in the second half against Loyalsock. Kicker Gavin Hunter kicked his fourth field goal as well last week.

Milton (3-6) will play in the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals next week, likely, against the No. 3 seed, either Mount Carmel or Lewisburg. The Black Panthers played Mount Carmel tough a week ago with the game being tied in the second quarter. Izayah Minium has played outstanding at quarterback the past three weeks and Monty Fisher has 13 catches for 316 yards and four touchdowns in the past two games.

Milton has twice rallied to win games on the road, erasing late fourth quarter deficits against Shikellamy and South Williamsport. The Panthers defeated Shikellamy in overtime and turned a 15-point deficit with less than nine minutes remaining into a 22-21 win at South.

Mifflinburg at

Lewisburg

Lewisburg (8-1) is having its best season since 2012 and is trying to secure the No. 2 seed for the District 4 Class AAA playoffs. Doing so would earn it a bye into the semifinals. A loss and Mount Carmel win against Shamokin would bump Lewisburg to third and have it hosting a game next week.

Lewisburg gave undefeated Shamokin a battle two weeks ago, holding it scoreless in the second half before rallying from a 10-point deficit for a gutsy 22-19 win at Montoursville. The defense repeatedly has produced big stops this season and held Montoursville to three points on four red zone trips between the second and fourth quarters. Linebackers Quin Michaels, Danon Alabakoff and Tyler Downs all had key sacks and Tyler Kitchens stopped a threat with an interception.

Jeremiah Davis is second among area rushers and his 1,306 yards are the most by a Lewisburg player in 13 years. Chase Wenrich made some excellent throws on the go-ahead touchdown drive against Montoursville, while Nick Coleman and Jaylen Walker both made terrific catches to keep the drive going.

Mifflinburg (4-5) is a few plays from potentially being an eight-win team. It lost four games during an 0-5 start by 17 combined points, including one-point heartbreakers against Loyalsock and Mount Carmel. The Wildcats have overpowered their last four opponents and quarterback Chad Martin threw five touchdown passes against Midd-West a week ago, three to Jackson Griffith. He and Landen Murray have combined for 15 touchdown catches with Murray adding a two kickoff return scores, including a 90-yarder a week ago. Mifflinburg has scored seven defensive/special teams touchdowns, four players have multiple interceptions and Mason Schenk has added six sacks.

Mifflinburg will likely play Montoursville in next week’s 3A quarterfinals. A win tonight and a Montoursville loss against Loyalsock could possibly give Mifflinburg that game at home.

Canton at Troy

Canton (5-4) was hit hard by injuries at midseason but has gotten some key players back and has scored 101 points in two straight wins. The Warriors likely will be the fourth seed in next week’s District 4 Class A semifinals and play at either Muncy or Line Mountain, making it seven straight years that they have reached the postseason.

Quarterback Ben Fitch nearly went over 300 total yards in last week’s win against Sayre and is second among area players in passer rating. He also has more than 4,000 career total yards, topping 2,000 passing and 1,000 rushing. Holden Ward has provided a huge spark since returning, totaling six touchdowns three ways. Aydin Holcomb is among the area leaders in receptions and yards, while sophomore running back Bailey Gardner has scored 13 touchdowns.

Dawson Burgess made 11 tackles, generating a sack and interception against Sayre. Senior lineman Michael Beers made seven tackles and ran for a touchdown, while fellow lineman Jake Pepper added a sack.

Troy (9-0) is the state’s top-ranked team and is trying to complete a second straight undefeated regular season. Canton is the last team to defeat Troy in the regular season, doing so in the 2022 season finale. The Trojans have been a juggernaut, averaging a district-best 50.6 points per game, while winning their last seven games via the mercy rule. Evan Woodward has gone over 1,000 yards passing and a bevy of backs have averaged 10.2 yards per carry behind a powerful line.

In addition to shining on offense and defense, Troy has had some of the district’s best special teams the past three years. During that time, the Trojans have returned a remarkable 16 kickoffs and punts for touchdowns. Kicker Gavin Lyon-Leffler also leads the district with 61 points.

North Penn-Mansfield at Wellsboro

Wellsboro (2-7) is trying to defeat its rival for the first time since 2021 and one of these teams will carry momentum into next season with some strong players to build around. Wellsboro is coming off a dominant 46-0 win at Northwest, while North Penn-Mansfield’s late comeback against Cowanesque Valley came up 14 yards short in a 23-15 loss.

Wellsboro has come a long way during the season’s second half and the offense has averaged more than 25 points per game the last five weeks. Freshman quarterback Griffin Morral has made gigantic steps during that time, throwing a touchdown in each game and totaling nine scores the past two weeks. Senior workhorse Ryder Bowen became the fourth Hornet of the 2000s to go over 2,000 career yards and Marek Mascho is among the area’s top 10 in catches. Wellsboro surrendered just 71 yards against Northwest, forced six turnovers and collected five sacks.

North Penn-Mansfield is hoping to snap a four-game losing streak which followed an exciting 16-14 win at Athens. Wide receiver Luke Kreger is having one of the best seasons in program history and leads the district with 1,173 yards. Quarterback Cooper Shaw also has had a big season and totaled 20 touchdowns. Riley Oakes is a versatile weapon and has multiple touchdowns as a rusher and receiver. Two-way lineman Braden Route had a strong game against CV, generating a sack and multiple tackles for loss.

Bucktail at CMVT

Bucktail (0-7) is trying to close the season with its first win but it will be tough against a CMVT squad coming off a 46-14 thumping of Holy Redeemer. Quarterback Brody Pentz needs 95 yards to reach 1,000 yards rushing for a second straight year. Last week, Pentz became the program’s leading rusher of the 2000s, passing Gage Sutliff.

Pentz has run for 2,871 yards despite playing wide receiver as a freshman. He also totaled more than 4,000 career yards and 55 touchdowns. Gavin Yachymiak has become a reliable weapon this season and freshman Teagan Stone appears to have a bright future. Stephen Heiser also has produced touchdowns as a thrower and receiver.

CMVT (5-4) is having one of its best seasons of the 2000s and running back Braxtyn Brown is among the state’s leading rushers, going over 2,000 yards for a second straight year. Brown is coming off a 271-yard performance with six touchdowns and leads the district in rushing. Quarterback Myles Koser has thrown the ball well since returning from an injury and also intercepted two passes at Redeemer. Axton Koser and Logan Bracey both are big-play threats in the passing game and Brayden Benjamin and Tyson Brown each have four sacks.

By CHRIS MASSE