Victory hopes fading, Muncy offered one last valiant look at what exactly made it one of the state’s four best Class A football teams this season. The Indians swarmed on third-and-goal, stopping Taurean Consiglio inches shy of the goal line. Following a five-yard penalty, the pass rush flushed out quarterback Chase Kissell and Dominic Guardini knocked down his pass as Muncy turned away an explosive offense.

This story did not feature the fairy tale ending Muncy had hoped, but that sequence provided yet another fantastic chapter. Guilfoyle scored 21 straight first-half points and turned away four Muncy scoring chances inside the 30-yard line as it defeated the Indians, 21-6 in Friday’s Class A state semifinals at Lock Haven’s Hubert Jack Stadium. The Marauders (14-1) reached their sixth state championship since 2014 where they will play Port Allegany Thursday at Cumberland Valley and brought an end to the best season in Muncy history, but not before the Indians put up quite a fight.

“We talk all the time about playing with heart, playing with energy and playing with a never say quit attitude. This senior group and team epitomize everything that Muncy football is about,” Muncy coach Sean Tetreault said. “I couldn’t ask for more from them and they’ve left a great foundation for years to come.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Austin Johnson is brought down by a pair of Bishop Guilfoyle defenders during a PIAA Class A semifinal game against Muncy at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Austin Johnson ran for a game-high 191 yards and a touchdown in the final game of his brilliant scholastic career and the defense did not allow a second half point against a team averaging 44 points per game and coming off a 56-15 drubbing of powerhouse Westinghouse. The Indians (12-3) had their chances but it was not be.

Still, what a run it was. Muncy reached its first Final 4, captured its fifth district championship since 2016 and became just the second in program history to win a district and league title in the same season. The seniors set a new mark with 42 wins the past four years and Muncy complemented its talent with a relentless fighting spirit and close bond.

Put it all together and the Indians take their rightful place as the best in Muncy history, quite an achievement considering the program’s rich tradition.

“It was awesome. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other team. Obviously, it didn’t end the way we wanted it to; we wanted to get those rings, but it was fun,” tight end Cam Kamerer said after enhancing his all-state resume with more excellent blocking after coming back from a series of injuries. “I did it for my brothers. I came back and I played with all these seniors and I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Muncy gave Guilfoyle one of its toughest games this season and tied Bald Eagle way back in the season opener for fewest points allowed against it. The Indians took the first-half hits but never buckled and kept coming back.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Landyn Wommer (12) is brought down by Bishop Guilfoyle’s Chase Kissell during a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Ultimately, it was a few plays which made the biggest difference. The Indians effectively moved the ball throughout the game, but Guilfoyle denied it points on four trips inside the 30-yard line, including three inside the red zone. Two of those red zone stops came in the first half and instead of it being a one-score game, Guilfoyle led 21-0 late in the second quarter.

“Our offense didn’t put those two scores in the red area in and that’s a big difference in the game. You never know what happens if that swing happens but that’s why you play the game,” Tetreault said. “You make mistakes and you come back and fight and our kids never quit.”

Guilfoyle ended the first threat when it recovered a fumble at the 10-yard line on Muncy’s first possession while preserving a 7-0 advantage. Two series later, the defense stiffened again and ended a drive at the 25-yard line, staying ahead 14-0.

Again, Muncy moved forward, its defense made a stop and the offense drove again, this time reaching the 29-yard line following a 35-yard Johnson run. Braden Reilly, though, ended the threat with a leaping end zone interception. Two plays later, Chase Kissell found Hamilton Gates (7 catches, 140 yards) for a 71-yard touchdown and Guilfoyle led, 21-0 with 4 minutes, 38 seconds remaining in the half.

“We knew they would get yards and the yards are harder when you get inside the red zone. Our kids made big plays when they needed to on defense,” Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. “That game could have gone either way tonight. Muncy is an incredible team.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Dominick Guardini (8) brings down Bishop Guilfoyle’s Braden Reilly (3) as he steps into the end zone during a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Johnson gained 164 first half yards and ripped off a 41-yard run late in the half to set up Muncy at the 13. The Oklahoma State-bound wrestler made sure Muncy finished this time, following a good edge block from Landyn Wommer and running over a series of defenders for the final score his his brilliant high school career.

That touchdown pulled Muncy within 21-6 at halftime, but Guilfoyle’s defense stiffened in the second half. The Maruaders then all but sealed victory with one last timely stop after Muncy moved from its own 6-yard line to Guilfoyle’s 17. Two runs lost three yards and a holding penalty had Muncy looking at third-and-23. Stiles Eyer looked like he might hit Nate Rogers for a fourth down touchdown but Kissell made an excellent read, knocking down the pass in the end zone with 5:41 remaining.

Now, Kissell (186 yards, 2 touchdown passes) and his senior teammates have the opportunity to bookend their high school career with state championships after Guilfoyle won the 2021 crown when they were freshmen.

“Anyone who is in sports knows how big these moments are to kids. It’s pretty exciting,” Wheeler said. “This is a great group of kids. Last year didn’t end the way we wanted it. This group was so dedicated to try and get back.

“This was a really good football team and defense wins championships. Offense is fun but at this time of the year you have to be able to play defense, and even though we gave up some yardage, we made the stops when we needed to.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy head coach Sean Tetreault meets with his players at the end of a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Muncy made another memorable stop in a season filled with them on that goal line stand. Guilfoyle had a second-and-goal from the 4, but Muncy stopped Consiglio (98 yards) right before he could cross the goal line. Rogers, Nick Delany and Nixon Lamper then bulldozed through the scrum on third down, stopping Consiglio inches from the goal line.

Guilfoyle was hit with a 5-yard fourth down penalty after aiding the runner into the end zone and Muncy closed its fierce stand by charging through the line and flushing Kissell to his right. The coverage was perfect as was outside containment and Guardini easily knocked down the pass, helping Muncy cap a second half shutout.

Guilfoyle won the game but that defensive stand showed that Muncy would not be defeated.

“We have a lot of heart on this team,” Kamerer said. “The scoreboard didn’t reflect it tonight but that stop was crazy.”

“That goal line stand at the end was awesome. They were not going to give up points in the end,” Tetreault said. “They have a never say quit attitude and I couldn’t ask for more from a group of players.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Austin Johnson (2) takes a handoff during a PIAA Class A semifinal game against Bishop Guilfoyle at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Rogers intercepted his third pass in two playoff games since returning from injury and his pick at the 8-yard line snuffed out a Guilfoyle third quarter threat as Muncy stayed in the game. Johnson closed his season with 2,917 yards and 48 touchdowns, producing more yards and scores than any player in area history except Dominick Bragalone.

Linemen Delany, Lamper, Tyler Humphrey, Ken Hampe and Evan Trostle, as well as Kamerer, helped Muncy go over 5,000 yards rushing this season and Wommer finished the year with 1,379 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns scored five ways.

The list of Muncy individual and team achievements this season reads like a fine novel. The ending was not the one the team intended, but all the fans who braved a wind chill in the teens absolutely loved the story they wrote. They showed it one last time, giving the team a hearty ovation as time expired.

“It was fun. We did accomplish a lot as a team and as seniors. Most wins by a class, most wins in a season, we got to the district championship and made it to the state semis for first time,” Kamerer said. “We talked about it a lot in the locker room at halftime and we came out and played Muncy football.”

Bishop Guilfoyle 21, Muncy 6

Guilfoyle 7 14 0 0―21

Muncy 0 6 0 0―6

First Quarter

B–Braden Reilly 19 pass from Chase Kissell (Michael Cacciotti kick), 5:43

Second Quarter

B–Hamilton Gates 3 run (Carter Boland kick), 8:27

B–Gates 71 pass from Kissell (Cacciotti kick), 4:38

M–Austin Johnson 13 run (kick failed), :45

TEAM STATISTICS B M

First Downs 18 15

Rushes-yards 33-158 32-247

Passing yards 186 42

Comp-Att-Int 28-46-2 4-15-1

Total yards 344 289

Fumbles-lost 0-0 2-1

Penalties-yards 6-40 3-17

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: Guilfoyle, Taurean Consiglio 20-98; Hamilton Gates 8-32, TD; Chase Kissell 5-28. Muncy, Austin Johnson 20-191, TD; Landyn Wommer 8-69; Stiles Eyer 3-3; Team 1-(-26).

PASSING: Guilfoyle, Kissell 11-20-1, 191 yards, 2 TD. Muncy, Eyer 4-14-1, 42 yards; Wommer 0-1-0.

RECEIVING: Guilfoyle, Gates 7-140, TD; Braden Reilly 1-19, TD; Tyson Lestochi 1-13; Jake Kissell 1-10; Consiglio 1-4. Muncy, Nate Rogers 1-18; Paxton Derr 1-13; Cam Kamerer 1-11; Wommer 1-0.

INTERCEPTIONS: Guilfoyle, Reilly. Muncy, Rogers.

RECORDS: Guilfoyle 14-1. Muncy 12-3.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy’s Dominick Guardini (8) brings down Bishop Guilfoyle’s Braden Reilly (3) as he steps into the end zone during a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy players walk onto the field to congratulate their opponents, Bishop Guilfoyle, at the end of a PIAA Class A semifinal game at Hubert H. Jack Stadium in Lock Haven on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.