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Chris Masse on football: Shore kicker Breck Miller has passion of giving back

By Chris Masse 12 min read

Breck Miller never played football before last year. All he did during his debut season was kick an area single-season record 15 field goals and earn all-state honors.

There has been no sophomore slump either. Miller already has equaled his total of 65 extra points from last season and added a 35-yard field goal last Friday as undefeated Jersey Shore blanked Montoursville, 58-0. He is writing quite a football story.

And yet there is an even better story which Miller authors and it has nothing to do with football.

Miller will head to Spokane, Washington, next fall and attend Moody Aviation as he pursues his dream of becoming a missionary pilot. Miller has spent the majority of his life living in Venezuela. Division I schools have reached out and inquired about Miller kicking there, but his true passion is giving back and his mind is made up.

"That's the plan. I go to school and get all my certifications and my pilot's license I can start flying in a different country for missionaries," Miller said after producing 10 kicking points and running for his first high school touchdown against Montoursville. "Then after your four years up, you decide where you want to go and go there and start flying those missions."

This has been Miller's goal for a long time. It is one born from his experiences growing up in Venezuela. Miller and his family headed to Venezuela a few months after he was born.

With the missionary work they do, the Miller's would spend four years in Venezuela before returning to Jersey Shore for a furlough year to spend time with family. It was during those furloughs that Miller planted roots in the community, attending first and fifth grade in Jersey Shore and Salladasburg. Miller's family returned for his freshman season, and because of all the turmoil in Venezuela, they have remained here since.

Growing up in Venezuela opened Miller's eyes and his heart. Watching those who transported the goods residents needed to survive inspired him. That was when Miller knew the path he wanted to travel.

"I've always known that we needed an airplane to bring in the food and groceries and supplies. There's such a need down there and I appreciated the pilots so much for bringing that stuff in," Miller said. "I can't do what my parents do because I'm not good with language, so the only way I can help those people is to be a missionary pilot. I learned a lot about being grateful for what you have. Things will be hard sometimes, but God will always provide for you even through tough times."

Miller feels that power coming throughout his football journey. It was a broken arm suffered playing soccer his sophomore year which actually made Miller think about playing football. He knew the team would be looking for a kicker after Cam Allison graduated in 2019 and thought he could help.

And oh, how he did. Miller put together a remarkable season for any kicker, especially one playing football for the first time. He boomed kickoffs, created long fields for opponents and produced an area single-season record 110 points. Miller became a weapon and his two field goals played a key role in Jersey Shore securing a hard-fought state tournament win at Allentown Central Catholic.

"I wasn't sure how he was going to do until he came out to summer workouts and kicked one ball. I was like, 'yeah, he's pretty good,'" quarterback Brady Jordan said. "He's a great asset. When we can't quite punch it in the end zone but we're in field goal range he gives us three points. That's huge."

Miller has no formal kicking training but looks like a natural. His 35-yard field goal against Montoursville probably would have been good from 45 yards. When Miller does not produce touchbacks, he often skillfully drops the ball in the corners inside the 10-yard line, cutting off 2/3 of the field for the coverage unit.

It all came so quickly and the one most surprised was Miller. A player who never kicked a football before his junior year wasted no time becoming one of the best in Pennsylvania to do so.

"I totally didn't expect that. To this point, I really don't know how to professionally kick a football," Miller said. "When I got to the point where I kicked that first ball in the summer I kind of wowed myself because I didn't know it was going to go that far. It was cool to see that success but I give that success to God."

It is that faith which guides Miller in all facets of his life. An honor roll student, Miller has excelled on and off the field. He is a gifted athlete who easily puts up 225 pounds in reps of 10, but his heart may be his strongest asset.

"He brings a positive attitude to practice all the time," wide receiver Connor Griffin said after catching two touchdowns last Friday. "If we're ever down, he brings us back up. He's a great guy."

"What a great attitude he has," Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish said. "He will do anything for the team."

Gravish firmly believes Miller could play Division I football and Miller certainly looks the part. He also is an excellent all-around athlete who has good speed, has made some impressive tackles on kickoffs and who Gravish said is an outstanding defensive back.

Add in all the intangibles Miller provides and he looks like a player who could provide any college a special teams weapon. Still, while Miller loves football, he lives to serve God. That is what his career ambition is all about.

Football is just a small part of his life. Miller is a competitor but, ultimately, it is his service which could be his lasting legacy. And what an impressive one that will be.

"He's a great person," Gravish said. "You took about values, well, his values are through the room. He's an unbelievable young man."

AROUND THE AREA: Evan Tortellet, Austin Bowersox, Paxton Gephart, Chris Confer, Logan Ball, Owen Bird and tight end Connor Apker dominated up front, paving the way for 333 rushing yards as South Williamsport blanked Wellsboro, 20-0. Ryan Casella and Caden Harris both topped 100 yards and the defense allowed just 18 rushing yards as South (4-3) made a fourth quarter goal line stand to help seal the win … Hughesville heads to South this Friday and also featured stifling defense, shutting out Towanda, 20-0. The Spartans (4-4) produced their third shutout and limited Towanda to 135 yards. Luke Kaiser threw for a career-high 209 yards and two touchdowns to Aiden Barlett and Conor Knight. Barlett went over 100 receiving yards for a second straight week and Kelby Gordner ran for a 35-yard touchdown. Gabe Wagner and Mason Hoppes recovered three fumbles as well and Hoppes made a career-high 21 tackles,including 17 solos and four for loss…. Warrior Run (3-5) continues surging and defeated Montgomery, 41-6 for its third win in four games. Ryan Newton threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, while Samuel Hall totaled 213 yards, scored three times and intercepted a pass. Carter Marr turned a screen pass into an 83-yard score and a resurgent defense has allowed just 14 points the past two weeks … Bucktail's offensive line continued excelling and cleared the way for 398 rushing yards in a 42-36 loss against Otto-Eldred. Tanner Pettingill ran for 203 yards and four touchdowns, while Brody Pentz added 110 yards and Braylon Fantaski 85. All three players have gone over 500 rushing yards in seven games.

Chris Masse covers high school football and may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Jersey Shore (8-0): Linebackers Payton Samar and Stone Sechrist have come up big splitting time and both delivered strong performances against Montoursville. Samar had a tackle for loss on the first play and forced a hurried throw two plays later. Sechrist added two tackles for loss and broke up a pass. Two-time all-state linebacker Hadyn Packer ran for two touchdowns and Tate Sechrist produced his eighth sack. Zach Rooney, Dierk Stetts and Luke Springman might not put up huge numbers, but there super work on the interior of the line opens up alleys and helps create the havoc which makes Jersey Shore's defense so good. Kooper Peacock continues excelling on special teams and set up three touchdowns with three returns totaling 87 yards. He also dropped each of his punts inside the 10-yard line.

2. Canton (8-0): Athens had been scoring points in bunches but ran into a Red wall at Canton as the Warriors won, 21-0 and allowed just 80 yards. Canton produced its fifth shutout and Hayden Ward collected his sixth sack. The Warriors blanked Athens for a second straight year and built a 21-0 first quarter lead. The offensive line imposed its will and Riley Parker and Weston Bellows both went over 100 yards. Linemen Brenen Taylor, Mason Nelson, Mason Harold, William Colton, Gage Pepper and Rian Eberly have excelled as a unit all season and paved the way for Canton going over 300 rushing yards for a fourth time in seven games. Michael Davis became the sixth Canton player to complete a pass this season, finding Hudson Ward for 38 yards on a halfback option. The Warriors close their regular season with showdowns against fellow unbeatens Jersey Shore and Troy, with the Old Shoe Game doubling as the NTL-I championship as well.

3. Loyalsock (7-1): Football took a backseat when Wyalusing's Dylan Johns suffered what appeared to be a serious injury last Friday and all are hoping he makes a speedy, full recovery. Because of the injury the game was stopped at halftime and Loyalsock won, 47-0. Davion Hill had quite a night, going over 1,000 yards rushing for a third time while returning the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown and an interception 38 yards for a score. Hill has gone over 1,000 yards in each of his three years playing, missing his sophomore year with injury. Quarterback Tyler Gee accounted for four touchdowns and Jaylen Andrews, Cy Cavanaugh and Alec Kulp all caught scores. The defense was nasty and held Wyalusing to minus-24 yards while producing a third shutout. The starters have not allowed a point in three consecutive games. Loyalsock heads to undefeated Troy Friday and is seeking revenge after the Trojans punished them last year 42-14, while running for 562 yards.

4. Muncy (7-0): Brady Ryder is becoming quite a special teams weapon and set the tone against Cowanesque Valley, returning the opening kickoff 73 yards for a touchdown. Ryder has taken kickoffs for scores in consecutive home games and Muncy built a 40-point halftime lead while winning 46-21. The starting defense did not allow a point and Branson Eyer hit his cousin Ross Eyer with two long touchdowns. Austin Johnson ran for 90 yards and two touchdowns as the offensive line took control. Five of Muncy's touchdowns covered more than 20 yards, including Jacob Fowler scoring his sixth touchdown this season, running in from 24 yards out. The Indians host Northwest Friday in what essentially is a NTL-II title game. If Muncy wins, it secures the outright title for a second straight year. If Northwest wins, it earns a share of the crown and would then try to win it outright the following week against South Williamsport.

5. Milton (7-1): Make it two straight years that Milton has erased a double-digit second half deficit against Mifflinburg. This time, the Black Panthers rallied from down 13 in the third quarter to win, 29-26, and hand Mifflinburg its second loss. It was a win which put Milton in the driver's seat to host a District 4 Class AAAA semifinal but more importantly, revealed its resiliency again. Just like the previous week against Bloomsburg, Milton overcame some misfortune, kept believing and battled back. The defense dominated as did the offensive line and Milton outgained Mifflinburg, 405-197. The Panthers have won four straight games and are two wins from securing their best regular season finish since 2001. Doing so also would ensure Milton hosting that semifinal which could be huge since the Panthers have been drawing big, boisterous crowds all season.

Players of the Week

Xzavier Minium, Milton and Brady Jordan, Jersey Shore: Minium did almost all his damage in the second half and wore out Mifflinburg for a second straight season. One of the state's more versatile players ran for 128 yards and three second-half touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 63 yards and was a big part of Milton's stingy defense. Jordan mirrors Minium in terms of athletic ability and being a jack of all trades. The senior quarterback threw for 136 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 135 yards and three scores and added an interception. Jordan has accounted for 1,319 yards and 22 touchdowns this season.

Game of the Week

Jersey Shore at Canton: People have been talking about this game since the schedules came out. The state's top-ranked Class A team is facing the state's third-ranked Class AAAA squad Friday at Miller A. Moyer Stadium. Both reached the state semifinals last year and have won a combined 49 straight regular-season games. Jersey Shore's starting defense has not allowed a point this season and Canton's none since opening night. Multiple all-state selections from each team are back this year there are 15 mercy rule wins between these powerhouses. On paper, this looks like about as even a matchup as one can find, but the classification difference is significant, so Canton faces a Herculean task. Expect an overflowing crowd and an electric atmosphere.

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