That constant pressure did something much more powerful. It created points. A lot of them.

A swarming defense forced turnovers on three consecutive Milton series, converting them all into touchdowns as Montoursville turned a close game into a rout. Two scores came in a 39.4 second span late in the first half and Hayden Harvey’s third-quarter 47-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Montoursville drop the hammer as it defeated Milton, 35-7 at Alumni Stadium.

The starting defense did not allow a point for a second straight game, while Christian Banks totaled 157 yards with three touchdowns and Elijah Eck threw for 228 yards. Bank’s final score, an 11-yard run nearly nine minutes into the third quarter imposed the mercy rule as Montoursville opened 2-0 for a second consecutive season.

“That’s our goal on defense. We like to punish them up on the line and do what we can on the back end,” Harvey said after also running for 54 yards and a touchdown. “That’s one of the most important parts of our defense. As long as we keep that pressure going, that makes it really hard for the QB and running back to get through the line.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Christian Banks steps into the end zone to score at the beginning of the third quarter of a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

That was evident all night and shined through at a crucial time. After Eck found Banks for an 80-yard touchdown on the game’s first play, Milton and its own stingy defense dug in. It slowed the run and forced a turnover when Jackson Wertz forced a fumble on a sack which Brady O’Rourke recovered.

The Warriors (2-0) led just 7-0 inside of two minutes in the first half and it looked like Milton might get to halftime down one score, while receiving the second half kickoff. Then Kingston Fisher started fanning the flames which became an inferno and blew away Milton.

The junior defensive end, who had four hurries, charged through off the left edge and was on top of quarterback Chase Lytle when he tried threading a pass down the right sideline. Chase Jones intercepted the errant throw at the Black Panther 35-yard line and four plays later, aided by a Eck to Fisher 15-yard connection, Harvey was in the end zone, scoring on a five-yard touchdown run.

Montoursville kept the heat on Milton and forced another turnover a play later when Brayden Burkett recovered a fumble at the Panther 24. Eck found KJ Moore (4 catches, 50 yards) for 11 yards on a third-and-10 and two plays later, Banks scored his second touchdown, bursting up the middle on a draw, bouncing off a tackler and making it, 21-0 with his 13-yard score.

In less than 40 seconds the game’s complexion drastically changed.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's quarterback Eli Eck is pressured by Milton's Kamryn Wilson during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

“That helps a lot. If we’re down after we punt the ball, they go out and do that, and it just restores everything and gets us going again,” Eck said after completing 12 of 17 passes. “Those plays were really big. Those points helped us a lot. It felt good going into halftime.”

“Anytime you can put more points on the board going into halftime that gives the team a little more confidence,” Montoursville coach Joe Hanna said. “That helps you springboard into the second half.”

Turns out the train was just gaining momentum and stayed on track during the third quarter when Harvey gave Montoursville its second defensive touchdown in two weeks. Harvey was planning on blitzing but when he saw Monty Fisher, who usually lined up as the quarterback in the Wildcat Formation, not under center he dropped into coverage.

That adjustment coupled with two defenders again forcing Lytle into throwing off his back foot, created what essentially was the game-sealing touchdown. The pass did not have much zip on it because of the pressure and Harvey was sitting on the route when he stepped in front of the receiver at the 47-yard line. Harvey went untouched down the left sideline and Montoursville led, 28-0. It was a play similar to a week ago when Moore picked off a hurried throw and went 70 yards for a Pick 6.

“I went out in pass coverage and I was in the right spot at the right time and got my pick. That hyped the team up,” Harvey said. “We’re like brothers out there. We’re like a family. As long as your guys are together, you know you have each other’s backs and that’s the most important part.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Jay Houseknecht avoids Milton's defense to pick up yardage during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

Montoursville brilliantly played that team defensive game with the starters allowing just 82 yards on 33 plays. Fisher threw a pretty deep ball late in the fourth quarter and Cole Rhodes turned on the jets, catching it in stride for an 80-yard touchdown which were the first points scored against Montoursville this season but the starters were on the sidelines at that point.

The Warriors excelled at all three levels and stifled the running game, while rarely giving the quarterback time to set up. So dominant was Montoursville that it did not let Milton across the 50-yard line until the fourth quarter. Even then, Milton ran just five plays in Montoursville territory and did not get past the 40 with Noah Rakestraw’s hurry nearly forcing another interception on a fourth down stop.

“It was just like last week with that pressure creating turnovers. Any time you get pressure on the quarterback and make him throw off-balance, or the timing is off that really plays into interceptions,” Hanna said. “With some youth on both sides of the ball, the defense usually is ahead of the offense and that’s the case with us right now.”

It appears that way with Milton, too, but the defense’s performance certainly provides the team encouragement. Following Banks’s 80-yard touchdown, Milton limited Montoursville to 246 yards. Most impressive, it contained an outstanding running game which includes Banks and Harvey, players who topped 2,000 yards a year ago. The Panthers allowed just 98 yards on 34 carries.

O’Rourke continued his excellent start and was one of the game’s leading tacklers, while adding a sack, fumble recovery and two quarterback hurries. Wertz had a sack, as well as a tackle for loss, and Gavin Whiteknight made six tackles.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Eli Eck quarterbacks during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

The defense kept Milton in the game throughout most of the first half. The Panthers proved resilient, fighting back after Montoursville stunned it on the game’s first play.

Eck rolled right and found Banks in the right flat, five yards down field. Banks then shed a tackler before beating containment to the sideline. Once there, Banks went into turbo mode and burst downfield untouched, giving Montoursville a 7-0 lead just 20 seconds into the contest.

“I saw a big gap down the sideline, and I know he’s really fast and I thought he could take it,” Eck said. “That’s a really good first play. It’s a great way to start the game. It felt good getting that.”

Eck helped keep the Milton defense honest and completed passes to six different receivers. He helped Montoursville land the knockout blow in the third quarter, zipping a 36-yard pass to Brody Alexander. Banks completed his touchdown hat trick a play later, making it, 35-0.

It was just the response Montoursville was hoping for after meeting little resistance last week. Milton pushed it hard throughout the first half and Montoursville came storming back.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey (22) breaks through the Milton defense during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

“It gives us a challenge,” Harvey said. “That’s what need to compete and see what level we’re at.”

Montoursville is 2-0 and also knows it has a high ceiling. The Warriors believe they can get a lot better in all facets and know the challenges will be ramping up starting next week when they host five-time defending District 4 Class AAA champion Danville.

The work continues.

“Our energy is great. I love the energy and the kids are willing to work, we just have to clean up some things,” Hanna said. “I’m excited where we’re headed. We’re not anywhere we need to be yet, but we’ll get there.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Hayden Harvey picks up yardage during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Kingston Fisher brings down Milton’s Jensen Souder during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Christian Banks (0) and Jay Houseknecht (2) celebrate after Banks runs the opening kickoff into the end zone to put Montoursville on the board during a high school football game between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.