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Loyalsock PPG--27.6, PPA--32.4; YPG--351.6, YPA--386.1
Loyalsock facts: It has been a rough three-week stretch for Loyalsock, missing a game because of a last-minute cancellation being sandwiched between home losses against Troy and Mount Carmel by 47 combined points. The upside to last week's 60-41 loss against Mount Carmel was how well the offense performed against a stout defense. Despite not running an offensive play in the third quarter, Loyalsock still produced 367 yards. Quarterback Tyler Gee was sensational after missing the two previous games, throwing for 290 yards and four touchdowns. JerVal Weeks-Shuler caught two touchdowns and had 97 yards while Rian Glunk added six catches, 80 yards and a touchdown. Glunk is second among area players in receptions and yards despite Loyalsock not playing two weeks ago. Davion Hill also scored on a long pass play and is among the area's leading rushers, averaging more than 100 yards per game. Naz Smith returned a kickoff 76 yards for a touchdown against Mount Carmel. He has two return scores this year and opened last season by returning a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in a 55-18 win against Hughesville. The defense has struggled mightily against the run the last two weeks, allowing 1,116 yards and 12 touchdowns. Loyalsock is ranked 16th out of 17 area defenses, but Tyler Barnes played well last week, making 12 tackles, including 10 solos. Hill made nine solo tackles and Logan Bastian nine total tackles with Cy Cavanaugh adding eight. Glunk added an interception. Loyalsock was trailing by just a point in the third quarter before Mount Carmel recovered consecutive onside kicks.
Loyalsock player to watch--Gavin Rice: The junior linebacker leads Loyalsock in tackles, averaging 10 per game and made 12 more last week. Eight of those tackles were solos. Rice enjoyed a breakthrough season a year ago and has topped 10 tackles four times this season.
Hughesville PPG--13.1, PPA--32.8; YPG--192.4, YPA--317.3
Hughesville facts: While Loyalsock has struggled defensively the last few weeks, Hughesville has done so offensively, so something has to give tonight. After defeating Warrior Run, 46-7, Hughesville has managed just 10 offensive points the past three weeks. One of those games was against Southern Columbia last week which can be dismissed but the Spartans missed an opportunity to win at Bloomsburg when the defense played well in a 20-5 defeat. Underclassmen Mason Hoppes and Aiden Barlett each made seven tackles a week ago and the defense has been opportunistic, forcing an area-high 22 turnovers. Senior Joey Swink is third among area players with five interceptions and Justin Fowler has two. Hoppes is averaging a team-best 7.7 tackles per game and freshman Luke Stutzman looks like a strong building block for Hughesville, averarging 6.3. Defensive lineman Chase Snyder has added five tackles for loss. Hughesville also is among area leaders in sacks with 12 players combining for 20. The offense erupted against Warrior Run and moved the ball well a week later against Athens but struggled to sustain drives in that game. Brenden Knight ran for 357 yards in those games and Luke Kaiser threw three first-quarter touchdowns against Warrior Run. Sophomore receiver Angelo Ferrigno has caught three passes in two straight games and Swink and Fowler each are big-play threats. Hughesville is seeking its first win against Loyalsock since 2015 when it defeated the Lancers in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals.
Hughesville player to watch--Gabe Wagner: Hughesville has a nice foundation to build upon for next season and Wagner provides one of those bricks. The junior defensive end averages 5.5 tackles per game and also has a team-high 13 quarterback hurries. Wagner has two sacks, a fumble recovery and seven tackles for loss. He was outstanding against Bloomsburg, making seven solo tackles (three for loss).
Outlook: Loyalsock is still in the hunt to host a District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal if it wins out. Hughesville showed promise against Bloomsburg but could be in the wrong place at the wrong time against an angry Lancer team eager to reassert itself on the District 4 stage.