DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Ian Hornberger (72) and Jeremiah Johnson (51) of Loyalsock celebrate their 48-14 win over Montoursville at Loyalsock on Friday night.

Ian Hornberger went through senior night festivities last Friday as Loyalsock honored its graduating football players. Then he took off the pads and did it again.

Hornberger made a quick change, donned the band uniform and joined his fellow members in those festivities. Versatile, sound of mind and sound of body, Hornberger has become a true renaissance man.

A good question is which Hornberger is better at? Is if football where the center/defensive tackle has helped Loyalsock (9-1) win six straight games? Or is it as a musician with Hornberger being a two-time all-state tuba player.

There is no wrong answer. And featuring Hornberger sure makes both the team and the band mighty strong.

“Doing band and football, they don’t really mix well, doing them together,” Hornberger said following a terrific performance in Friday’s 48-14 win against Montoursville. “The band is always here (at football games), but you don’t see someone doing both all the time and someone being so successful at both. What I want to be for both is be an inspiration and role model for young kids.”

Hornberger is doing just that, blazing quite a trail on and off the field. The 300-pound center is one of the area’s top linemen and also has helped the defense continue thriving, slowing the run and freeing up linebackers to make plays. A pleasant person with a nasty mean streak on the field, Hornberger has become a mauler and one of the team’s most valuable players.

Watch the game and one sees Hornberger paving the way for an explosive offense. Watch him before the game and one sees him playing the tuba while helping the band produce another quality show. Ranked as the Northeastern region’s top tuba player, Hornberger is making his mark all over the field whether he’s snapping the ball or making sweet sounds on his tuba.

“It’s so fun. It allows my mind to escape from all the stress and everything else in life,” Hornberger said. “It’s so cool to have people from away schools who don’t usually see that (football players on the band) and come up to me after the game and say they love it. It makes you feel real good.”

Hornberger makes beautiful music on and off the field and plans on following that script in college. Strong, physical and smart, Hornberger is receiving significant college interest. He will major in exercise science at the next level, while minoring in music, again pairing his two passions.

After that? Well, Hornberger will likely follow wherever his major takes him, but no one can ever take the music from him. For aspiring bands, he would be a tremendous free agent acquisition.

“I don’t want to teach or anything but if a local group is around I’ll definitely be playing,” Hornberger said. “Always.”

For now, both the band and football team are glad Hornberger is playing for them. The offensive and defensive lines have absorbed some costly injuries to outstanding players this season, but Hornberger has been the glue and helped hold both units together. A player who has improved each season at Loyalsock, Hornberger talks the talk and walks the walk, developing into one of the team’s top leaders.

Loyalsock elected Hornberger as one of its captains during the preseason and he has done everything possible to help the team reach its goals. Thus far, his fingerprints are all over the best regular season Loyalsock has produced during the 2000s.

“He’s a vocal leader. He breaks us down every practice. He’s working hard and he has a lot of brains up front,” quarterback Tyler Gee said after totaling 384 yards and five touchdowns against Loyalsock. “He’s one of our biggest leaders up front. The Troy game showed that perfectly.”

In that game 11 nights ago against the previously undefeated Trojans, Hornberger played like a wrecking ball on both sides, helping Loyalsock control both lines. The Lancers smashed Troy with a bruising running game and Hornberger helped pave the way for 454 yards against a team which had not allowed more than nine points in a game all season.

“He’s grown not just physically, but in terms of his work ethic as well as his technique every year,” Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said. “He puts as much time in as anybody. That’s saying something because he’s putting as much time as anybody in a lot of different things, too.”

Hornberger excels in the class room and whatever he is doing, he is going all-out. His size might mask it, but Hornberger always is moving fast.

The senior juggles a lot of different activities and labels but whatever he is doing, he is fully focused on making the most of it. Moments are precious, especially at his age, and Hornberger is owning those moments.

Former San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott often talks about “exhausting life.” His phrase is all about people making the most of every opportunity and attacking every goal with passion. Hornberger is living those words every day.

“He’s come a tremendous way in his personal development and we’re all very proud of him. It’s been a really positive experience for everyone because he’s a multiplier. The more you give, the more he gives you back,” Van Fleet said. “He doesn’t have a lot of time to hang out, but he manages everything well and that’s a testament to his character and his family. He understands the moment can be difficult, but the long term payout is worth it with whatever he is doing.”

Loyalsock has put up some big numbers this season and when the offense is operating at peak capacity, it sometimes feels like it is conducting a symphony.

And Hornberger is the perfect choice to set this season to music.

FIGHTING ON: Montoursville entered the season having to replace most of its starters from last year. Coach Mike Boughton was diagnosed with cancer in the preseason and has valiantly fought on since then while Joe Hanna has served as interim coach. The Warriors have suffered a series of costly injuries and the schedule has been brutal, but nothing will break this team.

Yes, Montoursville (4-6) lost Friday but in the big picture, it continues winning. The Warriors have played their last five games against Southern Columbia, Danville, Jersey Shore, Selinsgrove and Loyalsock teams which are a combined 44-6 but they have competed hard each time and will be as battle-tested as a team can be Saturday when they head to Athens for the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals.

“In 21 years of coaching I don’t remember a stretch of five games that a Montoursville team that I coached has been through this tough. With the loss of Marco (Pulizzi) and some other kids it got even harder but the kids persevered,” Hanna said. “I told them life isn’t always easy, but you’ve got to keep fighting. A lot of my kids are going to be up early (Saturday) doing a charity walk for Coach Boughton at our school and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

EXTRA POINTS: Williamsport won its second straight home game, defeating Tunkhannock, 69-7, to earn an Eastern Conference championship berth. George Whaley threw for 215 yards and three touchdowns, Jamaire Harden caught a long score and Lucas Naughton scored on defense … South Williamsport (6-3) is coming on strong and made an impressive statement in a 55-6 win at Northwest. The Mounties won their third straight, built a 35-0 halftime lead and their physical offensive line cleared the way for 384 rushing yards. Ryan Casella ran for a score and intercepted a pass, Radley Knapp found Caden Harris and Landyn Gephart for touchdowns, Garrett Cooley intercepted a pass for a second straight week and the starting defense did not allow a point. Jonah White returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown as South earned a spot against Canton in Saturday’s District 4 Class A semifinals … North Penn-Mansfield rallied from a halftime deficit to edge rival Wellsboro, 24-21, and earn the final spot in the District 4 Class AA quarterfinals. The Panthers won their second straight with some stifling defense, surrendering just 146 yards. Jacob Johnson ignited both lines and Kohen Lehman ran for 132 yards and a touchdown. Karson Dominick accounted for three scores and found Sammy Lawrence for the go-ahead 25-yard touchdown … Warrior Run’s Sam Hall caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown, going over 1,000 yards in Friday’s loss against Milton. A converted running back, Hall is the first area sophomore to ever top 1,000 yards receiving and he scored on a 70-yarder … Quin Michaels intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown, as Lewisburg nearly pulled the upset before losing, 18-13 at Mifflinburg. Lewisburg, which plays at Loyalsock in Friday’s district quarterfinals, took a 13-12 fourth quarter lead on Michaels’ Pick 6 and erased a 12-0 halftime deficit.

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 (10-0): Jersey Shore made it three straight undefeated regular seasons and ran its regular season winning streak to 29 games, defeating rival Central Mountain, 71-6. Kooper Peacock continues dazzling in all facets and returned his third interception this season for a touchdown, this one covering 95 yards, while also returning his second punt for a score. Tate Sechrist is an all-state defensive end but also an imposing running back who ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Brady Jordan added 105 yards and two scores as the offensive line helped Jersey Shore produce 454 yards. The starting defense allowed its first points this season but also forced four turnovers, with Connor Griffin and Dathan Tyson intercepting passes. The four-time defending District 4 Class AAAA champions open the district semifinals against Shamokin. The Indians trailed just 7-0 in the second quarter in Week 7 before Jersey Shore pulled away.

2. Loyalsock (9-1): Despite losing excellent players like David Boring, Dominic Cellini, Rian Glunk and Logan Bastian, to name a few, at different times, the next man up continues performing well.

“Practices are tough. The second string comes to play and they make us better and that’s what makes us a good team,” Hornberger said. “The whole thing is trust and keeping our heads straight and I feel like this year we’ve done an incredible job of that. This is the closest team I’ve ever been a part of and I love them all.”

3. Canton (9-1): Winning any league championship is impressive, but capturing three straight NTL-I titles as a small school playing in a big school division really stands out. That is what Canton achieved after beating Troy, 28-14, and also winning its third straight Old Shoe Game. The Warriors completed a third consecutive undefeated league campaign and limited a powerful offense to a season low 135 yards. Weston Bellows intercepted two passes and Riley Parker went over 1,000 yards for a second straight season, gaining 125 yards. He also helped set the tone three plays into the game, hauling in a 60-yard touchdown pass from Bailey Ferguson.

4. Muncy (9-0): At the perfect time, Muncy’s offensive line is jelling and playing its best football. That line, consisting of all underclassman shined bright against Hughesville’s stingy defense, paving the way for 370 rushing yards as Muncy won, 44-16, and capped its first undefeated regular season. Austin Johnson also is coming on strong and ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns, igniting a 21-point third quarter with an 80-yard score. He and Eli Weikle both topped 100 yards for a second consecutive game with Weikle running for 115 yards and two touchdowns, including a 60-yard score which followed Johnson’s big run. Quarterback Branson Eyer went over 1,000 passing yards and broke a late second quarter tie with a 20-yard touchdown run. The starting defense did not allow a point and produced two with a second quarter safety. Muncy earned the top seed for districts and hosts Northwest Saturday night.

5. Milton (9-1): Peyton Rearick has developed into one of the area’s premier defensive backs and he intercepted two passes, returning one 43 yards for a touchdown, as Milton defeated Warrior Run, 63-7, and concluded its best regular season since 2001. Rearick is tied for the area interception lead with five and also caught a 57-yard score from Cale Bastian. Milton’s offensive line set a punishing tone, clearing the way for 339 rushing yards and Xzavier Minium produced 149 yards with three touchdowns on just six carries. The starting defense did not allow a point for the fifth time this season and Milton earned its first home playoff game since 2012. The Black Panthers, winners of six straight, host equally streaking Selinsgrove (8-2) in Friday’s District 4 Class AAAA semifinals.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Jaylen Andrews, Loyalsock and Amir Kemrer, South Williamsport: Andrews was unstoppable against Montoursville, setting an area record for receiving yards in a game. He caught six passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns with his four scores averaging 65 yards and covering 80, 74, 71 and 35. Andrews also went over 1,000 yards this season and has 45 catches for 1,050 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kemrer ran wild against Northwest, needing just 10 carries to produce 260 yards and three scores. Kemrer ripped off scoring runs of 67, 52 and 49 yards while going over 800 yards for the season and topping 100 yards for a fourth time.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Hughesville at Bloomsburg: These teams played a thriller in Week 3 with Bloomsburg returning a late fumble and winning, 18-14. Hughesville has yearned for a second chance since that night and gets it Friday. The Spartans (4-6) are seeking their first playoff win since 2015 and doing so would put an exclamation point on its comeback season. Expect another close, hard-fought contest in this Class AA quarterfinal.