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Montoursville 2-0 after beating Central Columbia

It can sometimes be tough to find too many negative things when your team wins a game by a 41-0 score like Montoursville did on Friday over Central Columbia. Although Montoursville dominated the Blue Jays in nearly all facets, the Warriors made just enough mistakes to ensure that head coach J.C. Keefer has a list of things to work on in the coming week.

“I’m happy with the win and the way our guys came out with some intensity and excitement about playing on our home field with our home opener and that was nice but it was a little sloppy with some penalties that just can’t happen,” said Keefer. “We’ve got to take care of that and we had a couple of turnovers – a few interceptions, and we put the ball on the turf twice. There are definitely some things we need to work on but overall I’m pleased with the win.”

Cameron Ott put together his second straight 100-yard game as he ran for 101 yards and two touchdowns while quarterback Griffin Dunne was efficient in his limited throws, completing 4-of-6 passes for 97 yards, although he was also picked off twice. Montoursville had more first downs in the first half (12) than Central had in the entire game (7) but committed seven penalties for 80 yards. Of Central’s seven first downs, three were the result of Montoursville penalties.

Aside from the penalties and turnovers, however, the Warriors dominated the Blue Jays, as Central was not even able to cross midfield until midway through the second quarter and for the evening, ran only 16 of its 48 plays in Montoursville territory.

“We made way too many mistakes against a really good football team. That’s just a great football team with really good athletes and we didn’t make plays when we had chances and they did,” said Central coach Jason Hippenstiel. “They took advantage of everything they had.”

After Central went three-and-out on its first possession, Montoursville took over and put together a lengthy drive of over five minutes that was capped by Curtis Miller’s one-yard run. The Blue Jays got a nice play from Danny Koch on the Warriors’ next possession as he picked off Dunne near midfield but the Blue Jays returned the favor just three plays later as Wyatt Entz gobbled up a tipped Austin Farver pass near the line of scrimmage and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown just before the end of the first quarter.

A miscue on special teams by Central helped set up Montoursville for its next score as the Warriors blocked a Central punt on the Blue Jays’ ensuring possession and took over control in Central territory. Two runs for 12 and 25 yards by Alex Rothrock set the Warriors up inside the 1-yard line where Ethan Jones punched it in to put Montoursville up by three scores.

Central’s next possession saw the Blue Jays cross midfield into Montoursville territory for the first time all night as a Steven Shannon connected with Farver for a 43-yard gain but Farver was called for a facemark penalty as he attempted to stiff-arm the defender, which put Central back near midfield and three plays later, Shannon fumbled at the Montoursville 45. Five plays later, Ott scored his first of two touchdowns on the night to give the Warriors a four-score lead.

The Blue Jays made their deepest penetration all night onto Montoursville side of the field on their next drive as Shannon picked up a nice 29-yard run on a broken play but the drive eventually stalled at the Warrior 10. Montoursville would then score on two of its first three possessions on the second half.

“I was a little disappointed in some of the disciplinary issues but overall I’m pleased with the way we played,” said Keefer. “I’m kind of in the middle. I’m not displeased with where we’re at but we definitely need to improve.”

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