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Guerrisky a talent grab for Mounties

NICK FIORINI/For The Sun-Gazette Aaron Guerrisky (11) of South Williamsport did not play his freshman and sophomore years.

South Williamsport is not a private or charter school. Football coaches cannot go anywhere around the globe and recruit players.

But coach Chris Eiswerth sure can go after South’s own athletes. He did just so two years ago, targeting Aaron Guerrisky. And oh, how that recruitment has paid off.

Guerrisky has developed into one of South’s best overall players the past two seasons, literally doing  just about everything. A gifted wide receiver, an elite cornerback and a special teams weapon, Guerrisky is a big reason South has won 15 games the last two years and is playoff-bound once again.

Everything that makes Guerrisky so valuable was on display again last Friday as he made a series of big plays in all aspects and helped South defeat Muncy, 31-7.

“Coach E came to my house and told me what was happening,” Guerrisky said. “He told me about what (former South receiver) Riley Thomas did and said he’s going to help me become just like Riley Thomas.”

Guerrisky had played junior high football, but did not play high school football as a freshman and sophomore. Still, the Thomas pitch intrigued Guerrisky. Thomas also did not play his first two years in high school but became an all-state wide receiver and valuable three-way starter. He helped South win 23 games in two seasons and reach the 2014 Class A state semifinals.

Guerrisky was coming back and South was moving forward despite losing nearly every starter from that district championship team. A three-way starter last year, Guerrisky made a sudden impact and was instrumental to the Mounties winning another league championship.

The versatile senior has been even better this season, helping South (8-1) win seven straight games and the HAC-III championship. Guerrisky continues making Eiswerth’s pursuit look better and better every day.

“He’s been an unbelievable pick-up for our program,” Eiswerth said. “He’s one of the best athletes in the school, if not the best. He’s a star basketball player, a star baseball player and now he’s become a star football player, too.”

Guerrisky caught three passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns against Muncy while adding an interception, punting well and setting up a touchdown with a 49-yard kickoff return. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder has become a weapon in all facets. Watch Guerrisky play and it’s hard believing he did not play football his first two high school years.

That someone can take two years off, come back and contribute in so many ways speaks to Guerrisky’s athletic ability and his drive. If one is putting a football resume together, good luck having a much more complete list than Guerrisky who basically never leaves the field.

“I enjoy it. I don’t get tired. I have a lot of stamina from basketball,” Guerrisky said. “I’m happy I came back. It’s probably the best decision I’ve made.”

South features a dominant offensive line and a power running game. Passes can be few and far between. But Guerrisky sure makes the most of his opportunities. A nice blend of size, speed and hands, Guerrisky has caught nine passes and six have gone for touchdowns.

Guerrisky caught 27 and 25-yard touchdown passes against Muncy and added a 25-yard catch on a 3rd-and-6 that set up South’s third touchdown. Guerrisky is averaging a whopping 29.1 yards per catch and can make opponents pay for stacking the box to try and slow the run.

“He’s a big part of what we do,” South quarterback A.J. Flick said. “He’s a great athlete in all aspects. He helps us a lot.”

That includes on defense where Guerrisky has become a shut-down cornerback. Each week, Guerrisky is locked up with the opponent’s best receiver and nearly every week, he has slowed him down or taken him completely out of the game. Guerrisky’s coverage in wins over Hughesville and Bloomsburg has especially stood out and he provided blank coverage in the first quarter Friday when he jumped and made a leaping interception.

What he does on special teams cannot be overlooked either. Guerrisky is an all-league punter and an excellent return man. A basketball and baseball standout last year as well, Guerrisky nearly went all the way on the game’s opening kickoff, taking it 49 yards and setting up Ashton Martin for a 17-yard touchdown. Games often can be won and lost on special teams and Guerrisky provides South a nice security blanket.

Just like Thomas before him, Guerrisky has become a hidden gem. Eiswerth told him he could be the next Thomas and Guerrisky has worked hard to perform just like that all-stater. What postseason accolades await Guerrisky will be determined later, but South simply is happy that it discovered such a gifted athlete in its own school.

“He’s so coachable. He’s such a good kid and a great student,” Eiswerth said. “Anything we ask him to do he does and he’s a great team leader. That’s exactly what you’re looking for in a player and he definitely fills the bill there.”

ALL OVER: Muncy played South tough and it was a seven-point game at halftime. The defense held South to its fewest yards during its seven-game winning streak. Sophomore linebacker Mike Kustanbauter and junior defensive end Hunter Poust were major reasons why. Muncy features a strong defense and players performed well against South, but Kustanbauter and Poust especially stood out.

Kustanbauter, who has 14 tackles for loss this season, added three more Friday. The hard hitter set a physical tone and made a spectacular play when he dropped Ashton Martin for a three-yard loss on a 4th-and-1 from the Muncy 36-yard line. That play ignited a game-tying scoring drive that Kustanbauter capped with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Poust has played like one of the area’s premier defensive ends all season and made a big impact in slowing the run against South. Poust had eight tackles, including two for loss, and has a team-high 17 for loss this season. Poust gets after the quarterback too and Muncy looks like a serious District 4 Class A title contender if it builds off Friday’s performance.

“Those two are playing lights out this year. I couldn’t ask for more out of a sophomore and a junior,” Muncy coach Sean Tetreault said. “It gives us opportunities to do a couple things different with those two out there because we know they can handle it. This is Week 10 now so all those sophomores that didn’t play before this year, they’re experienced now, so it’s good to see them out there flying around and doing what we thought they could do all year.”

EXTRA POINTS: North Penn-Mansfield is playing some terrific defense and recorded its third shutout in five weeks Saturday, blanking Troy, 21-0. The Panthers (8-1) have allowed just 14 points during a five-game winning streak and have held seven teams to eight points or fewer … Lewisburg played dominant defense, forcing five turnovers and blanked Bloomsburg, 17-0, setting up a winner-take-all showdown with Miffilnburg for District 4’s final Class AAA playoff berth. Jaylon Dodson returned a fumble for a touchdown and Lewisburg allowed just 88 yards … Warrior Run (4-5) kept its playoff hopes alive with a 21-13 win at Montgomery. Quarterback Gage Anzulavich accounted for two touchdowns and went over 1,000 yards for a second straight year while Austin Hampton had 11 tackles and a sack. Montgomery quarterback Brayden Strouse accounted for a touchdown for a ninth straight game and threw for 140 yards.

Dr. Masse’s top five in high school football

1. Williamsport (8-1): Wyoming Area entered Friday’s game allowing just 85 points in eight games. Williamsport scored 56 by halftime and romped to an eye-opening 62-21 win on Senior Night. The Millionaires scored early, often and quick with seven touchdowns covering 40 or more yards. Offensive lineman Kurt Danneker, Tucker Kreisher, Eli Clary, Chance Bower and Tyler Anderson dominated the line of scrimmage and both Treyson Potts and quarterback Isaiah Hankins topped 100 yards rushing with Hankins also throwing for 113 yards and two scores. The defense also showed marked improvement, shutting down a good running game. It was a super all-around performance against a good team. If the Millionaires keep ascending following that effort against Berwick Friday and into the playoffs it could do some special things. If the Millionaires defeat Berwick Friday they will earn homefield advantage throughout the District 2 6A playoffs. Elliott Walker continues shining on both sides of the ball and caught two passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns while intercepting his team-high fourth pass.

“Elliott is a very dangerous football player. If he gets ball out in spaces, it’s him and a secondary player and I like my chances with Elliott any day,” said Hankins who totaled 238 yards and six touchdowns. “It’s a very good gift to have Elliott out there with the rest of receivers as well.”

2. Montoursville (8-1): The Warriors won their fourth game decided by five points or fewer Saturday, edging Hughesville 38-35 and clinching homefield advantage for the District 4 Class AAA playoffs. Montoursville has excellent senior leadership and seniors like Torin Lewis, Nolan Ott and Tommy Shea (1,071 yards, 12 touchdowns) have excelled on both sides of the ball. They combined for three touchdowns, two interceptions and a fumble recovery Saturday. Senior defensive lineman Bryce Ranck is having an excellent season and had two sacks in addition to a hurry. All-state kicker Ethan Lazorka continues being a weapon. He has not missed on 37 extra-point attempts and has five field goals in the five games decided by five points or fewer. Without Lazorka, this season might look a lot different.

3. Wellsboro (9-0): Another week, another Wellsboro shutout. The Green Hornets blanked Wyalusing, 48-0 Saturday, recording their sixth shutout in nine games. Wellsboro’s starting defense has not allowed a point in four straight games and has scored more touchdowns (5) than it has allowed (3). The Hornets, last year’s District 4 Class A champions, have outscored opponents, 387-33 and coach Matt Hildebrand has led them to 37 wins in his four seasons. Wellsboro is seeking its second undefeated regular season in four years and its second NTL-I title during that span. Dalton Prough and Taylor Baker recovered fumbles for touchdowns  against Wyalusing and the surging offensive line paved the way for 395 rushing yards.

4. South Williamsport (8-1): The Mounties put together a true team performance without 1,400-yard rusher Gideon Green who was sidelined with an ankle injury. It was an impressive performance as Martin ran for 133 yards and the defense played an outstanding game. The Mounties allowed only 172 yards and held an opponent to fewer than 100 rushing yards for a seventh time. Freshman linebacker Luke Winner made nine tackles, starting in place of Green. Winner is one of several talented underclassmen making impacts and making both the present and future bright at South.

“He’s a kid were very excited about,” Eiswerth said. “He has a great build, good size and he can run. That’s a big stage for a stage for a freshman but he’s progressing very nicely and we’re really happy with him.”

5. Loyalsock (7-2): The Lancers could not be in a much better place entering Friday’s showdown against Montoursville. Loyalsock has won three straight and made a nice statement at Shikellamy, beating a 4A district title contender, 35-15. The Lancers are surging on both sides of the ball and the defense stifled the Braves dangerous offense despite losing all-state worthy defensive lineman Crae McCracken. Sophomore Carmen Barone was outstanding in place of McCraken, making eight tackles while dynamic linebacker Hunter Webb added 16 tackles. Nahiem Davis keeps surging each week and had a career-high 12 tackles along with a sack.  An offensive line that was a question mark entering the season is now a strength and paved the way for 464 yards.

Players of the week

Marcus Williams, Loyalsock and Treyson Potts, Williamsport: If there is a better District 4 Class AAA candidate for the all-state athlete position than Williams, this reporter has not seen him. The senior continues excelling in all facets a year after tearing his ACL and dazzled Shikellamy. Williams ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries, while catching five passes for 88 yards and a score. Williams ran for a game-changing 74-yard touchdown in the first-half’s final seconds and also played strong defense. Potts put on a show in his half of action against Wyoming Area, running for 186 yards and three touchdowns on just four carries. Potts scored on runs of 58, 69 and 54 and took the District 4 rushing lead with 1,429 yards and 24 touchdowns. Potts is averaging 11.8 yards per carry … And he is just a sophomore.

Games of the week

Montoursville at Loyalsock and North Penn-Mansfield at Wellsboro: Regular-season games do not get a whole lot better than these two rivalry games. The Battle of the Bridge might be the area’s best rivalry with both teams almost always playing outstanding games and with both teams building strong traditions. They enter Friday’s game a combined 15-3 and this could be one of the best games this series has produced. North Penn-Mansfield-Wellsboro is the NTL’s version of Montoursville-Loyalsock and the heavyweights play for the NTL-I championship at Mansfield University. Wellsboro defeated NP-Mansfield in the district final there last year and the sequel for a league title should provide for a thrilling night.

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