SOUTH CENTRE TOWNSHIP - Running back Troy Hembury has been fun to watch all season and was so again Saturday against CMVT.
Hembury ran for 146 yards and four touchdowns as Muncy overwhelmed the Rams, 54-6. The reason he was so successful, though, is because his offensive linemen were not watching him. Players like Nick Ring, Erik Springer, Jake Colburn, Levi Myers, Justin Stipcak, Sam Cutler and Skylar Ebner stayed on defenders at all times, drove them off the ball and left the watching to the crowd while dominating the line of scrimmage.
The offensive line played one of its best games and Muncy (5-2) scored at will while gathering momentum for a huge stretch of games that starts next week against South Williamsport.
"We have some big bodies up front, but they don't always stay with people. If we get body on body and stay with people we're tough," Muncy coach Jay Drumheller said. "I tell them, 'if you want to watch the play, watch it tomorrow on HD.' Sometimes we have too many watchers, with guys turning around and watching the play. Troy is running hard, but watch it on film."
The line heeded that advice all day and helped Muncy build a 47-0 lead after three quarters. Hembury scored on his first two carries, covering 33 and 44 yards and was not touched on his second score. Muncy ball carriers roamed free throughout the game as Junior Ramos and T.J. Moyle also ran for scores. Muncy had nearly 300 yards by halftime and CMVT (0-7) never had a chance.
Muncy's line is one of the area's biggest and can be one of the most physically imposing. That was evident early in the season when the Indians started 4-0 and now that those linemen know what not to do, they could prove pivotal down the stretch.
"Our line has the potential to do that every week, it's just a matter of whether they do it or not. Today they came out and overpowered the other team and now they have to come out and do it again next week," said Moyle. "I wouldn't feel as safe running behind any other offensive line. I've played since I was 7 and this is the best I've ever felt in the backfield and Troy feels the same way."
Hembury topped 100 yards for the sixth time and ran for all his yards and touchdowns in the first half. Three of his touchdowns came from 33 yards or longer and his 33-yarder in the first half's final minute made it 34-0.
Quarterback Anthony Barbiero was efficient, completing his final five passes, throwing for 128 yards and hitting Maurice Brown with a 40-yard touchdown pass. Barbiero hit Brown in stride down the right sideline and the sophomore receiver continued playing well.
"Every week we're working with him (Barbiero) getting better at understanding things. Part of it is understanding the game and how it flows and where he needs to be and he played well today," Drumheller said. "Brownie, if you put it near him he's going to catch it. He's a good receiver."
Calling the Muncy starting defense good yesterday would be an understatement. That unit obliterated CMVT at the line of scrimmage and allowed only 2 yards in three quarters. The Rams ran 30 plays against Muncy's starters and 22 of them went for minus yards or no yards, including the first seven and the last seven. Ebner and Hembury recovered fumbles while defensive tackle Nick Roberts consistently wrecked plays and added a sack. CMVT did not reach positive yardage until it ran its 19th play.
Colburn and Moyle swarmed ball carriers and combined for 16 tackles while Ken Koch and Preston Bitler intercepted passes. Koch also returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown.
"It's like coach says, never be satisfied, show no mercy," Moyle said. "Next week we have to come out and try for zero or negative yardage. It's just working hard and working on tackling and fundamentals."
Muncy outgained CMVT 358-2 through three quarters and controls its own District 4 Class A and NTL Small School championship destiny the next three weeks. Next week's game is one of the area's years biggest thus far and could determine the league champion.
"It's great," Moyle said. "That's what we play for."
