Elijah Eck completed 12 passes and threw for a career-high 229 yards.

But if one wants to best understand the Montoursville sophomore quarterback’s development, it might be best to look at some of those five incompletions. It was the throws he did not make as much as the ones Eck did make which loomed large in Friday’s 35-7 win at Milton.

On a deep second quarter throw, Eck sent it far enough away that only his receiver could make a play. It was a similar story in the second quarter when Montoursville was threatening and he throw a pass toward the sideline low and away, giving only a Warrior a shot at a catch. Following that play, Eck found Kingston Fisher in stride for a 15-yard third-and-long completion and Hayden Harvey scored on a five-yard touchdown run a few seconds later.

Simply put, it was Eck’s decision making which stood out Friday. For a quarterback making just his fifth varsity start, it was another step forward as Montoursville won its second straight game and built momentum for Friday’s home opener against Danville.

“Sometimes the best decision is to just put it where only your guy can make a play, and if he can’t than it’s an incompletion. He made some really good decisions. He didn’t force any balls,” Montoursville coach Joe Hanna said. “That’s a great thing. Some of the other stuff will come with time but he made some really good decisions.”

Some of that can be attributed to Eck’s work ethic and film study. It also helps that he received starting experience last season. As a freshman, Eck did not just start three games, but three of Montoursville’s biggest games, beginning with the Bridge Game against Loyalsock before playoff encounters against Mifflinburg and Danville.

It was an up and down journey with the high coming when Eck threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns, helping Montoursville turn a 14-point deficit into a 28-27 win against Mifflinburg. More than anything now, it’s simply the fact that he played so often against strong competition which is paying dividends.

“It is nice having those starts at the end of the year. It feels more real now,” Eck said. “It feels like it’s more my team and I’m more in control. As a sophomore, no longer being a freshman, it seems a little bigger.”

Eck built off his starting experience by attacking the offseason well, while also playing basketball and baseball. He has quality physical tools and the 6-foot-2 signal caller combining those with his mind helped Montoursville open a 35-point lead against Milton.

Consistently hitting his receivers in stride, Eck kept the defense off-balanced and helped sustain drives when the Panthers slowed the running game. Even on an 80-yard touchdown pass when Christian Banks (157 total yards, 3 touchdowns) turned a five-yarder into something huge, it was Eck’s ability to hit him in stride which gave Banks the start he needed to gain speed.

Eck also converted third-and-long throws to Kingston Fisher and Brody Alexander, totaling 15 and 36 yards. Montoursville scored on the ensuing plays each time.

“I felt pretty comfortable,” Eck said. “A few times I rushed myself and it showed. But for the most part, I stayed relaxed and stay backed in the pocket. Our receivers did really well and we’re on the same page.”

Eck found six different receivers for completions and also made some good throws on the run. Even with quality coverage, Eck was able to zing some completions to players, including KJ Moore four times for 50 first-half yards, putting them in position to run after the catch and/or help move the chains.

“Overall, he looked pretty poised. he looked pretty poised,” Hanna said. “Any time you can get some experience the year before that helps. Now he’s the guy. He got to see some live action and that helps.”

Montoursville’s defense forced two game-changing interceptions when it pressured the quarterback and forced errant, ill-advised passes. So, again a striking play Eck made was one which may have looked like a negative at the time, but was a positive in the grand scheme of things.

During the second quarter, Eck was quickly engulfed by two blitzers. With nowhere to go after rolling out and no receivers open, Eck took the sack. Obviously, nobody wants to be sacked and lose yards, but it’s a whole lot better than forcing something and turning the ball over. Living to fight another play and keep possession kept momentum on Montoursville’s side and it blew the game open in the middle quarters.

Eck is still learning; still maturing. But it’s the little things that signal big growth thus far.

“I’ve been pretty comfortable back there. They have a pretty good. physical team, and the line was doing a good job keeping it (the game) slow for me,” Eck said. “It’s going to get slower as I go on.”

As the game slows and his knowledge accelerates, Eck can continue moving forward. Hanna already said during the offseason that he has assumed a leadership role and displays a maturity that goes beyond his grade.

All are positive developments as Montoursville chases its goals. The bonus is that Eck and the Warriors have nearly three full seasons to keep growing together.

“I think he’s comfortable in his position. He puts in the time in the offseason and during the season,” Hanna said. “He watches film and gets together with (offensive) coach (Dave) Fortunato. “He’s doing everything that we need him to do as a quarterback.”

O’WOW

Linebacker Brady O’Rourke helped fuel the Milton defense for a second straight week. After excelling as a freshman last fall at Montgomery, O’Rourke has provided his new team a weapon at outside linebacker and reached double figures in tackles again. O’Rourke made 10 tackles, giving him 23 in two games, including 3 1/2 for loss.

Milton’s defense played better than the final score indicated with one touchdown coming on a Hayden Harvey interception return and two others being set up by turnovers inside the 30-yard line. O’Rourke was a big reason why the defense settled in and allowed just 109 rushing yards on 34 attempts. In addition to the tackles, O’Rourke collected a sack, recovered a fumble, generated three quarterback hurries and added a tackle for a loss.

Jackson Wertz and Gavin Whiteknight made 11 tackles each, giving Milton a triple threat of underclassmen to be excited about.

EXTRA POINTS

Rare is the time a defense scores more touchdowns than it allows yards. But Hughesville made it happen Friday at Towanda as Carson Stackhouse returned an interception for a touchdown and the defense held the Knights to minus-7 yards in a dominant 32-0 win. Hughesville kept driving Towanda backward and it had minus-27 rushing yards on 26 attempts. Defense created short fields as well and the Spartans built an 18-0 halftime lead, scoring in each quarter. Chase Shrawder ran for a career-high 97 yards, Nicholas Stubbs threw a touchdown and Connor Anstadt caught three passes for 64 yards and a score. The defense has allowed just one touchdown not set up by a turnover in two games … North Penn-Mansfield is 2-0 for the first time since 2016 after blanking Sayre, 25-0. The Panthers surrendered just 95 yards and Jeremiah Lawrence ran for a career-high 121 yards with a touchdown. Luke Kreger scored three times for a second straight week and ran for 96 yards. Skyler Everetts sparked the defense and made 11 tackles … Xavier Carter threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another score in Lewisburg’s heartbreaking 29-27 loss against Shikellamy. Jaylen Walker caught three passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns and Nick Coleman totaled 95 yards with a score in a back and forth contest which Shikellamy won with 17.4 seconds remaining … Trace Furman made 16 tackles and Lincoln Miller added 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in Montgomery’s 24-7 loss at Warrior Run … Loyalsock quarterback Danny Dowell threw for 114 yards in a 41-0 loss against Southern Columbia … Levi Stahli threw two touchdowns to Christian Perdomo and Cam Stahli, while Dave Hess ran for 96 yards and intercepted a pass in Cowanesque Valley’s 28-14 loss at Wyalusing.

Chris Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse.

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Jersey Shore (2-0): Neither a 3 ½ bus ride, nor a tough opponent slowed Jersey Shore last Friday as offensive linemen Mason Larson, Talyn Lope, Nate Thompson, Isaac Shirey and Brayden Swales dominated, paving the way for 579 yards in a 49-42 win at Delaware Valley. The Bulldogs moved the ball at will, running for 369 yards, with Nolen Pauling throwing for 210 more. Running backs Bo Sechrist (156) and Kash Herritt (142) combined for 298 yards and Carson Watkins (5 catches, 105 yards) topped 100 yards while scoring for a second straight game. Jersey Shore averaged 7.2 yards per carry and led by as many as 28 points. Defensive end Luke Thompson was a menace, making 13 tackles, including four for loss, and adding a sack. Conner Yingling also produced a sack, while Pauling and Watkins intercepted passes. Jersey Shore stays on the road this Friday, heading to rival Selinsgrove.

2. Montoursville (2-0): The starting defense outscored the opposing offense for a second straight week. Those starters have not allowed a point this season and, a week after KJ Moore did so, linebacker Hayden Harvey returned an interception for a touchdown at Milton. The Warriors now turn their attention toward five-time defending District 4 Class AAA champion Danville. The Ironmen ended Montoursville’s season in the semifinals a year ago, so it should be little challenge for the coaching staff firing up Montoursville this week.

3. Williamsport (2-0): Williamsport’s offensive line was locked in and took over up front, helping the Millionaires run for 330 yards in a 28-7 win against rival Hazleton. Giovanni White gashed the Cougars for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries, while Lucas Naughton added 76 yards. The line made massive strides from the previous week and enabled Williamsport to average 8.9 yards per carry with white ripping a 74-yard touchdown on the game’s first play. Former soccer player Brayden Ungard continues making a smooth transition and caught a 27-yard touchdown from Tevin Williams. He and Naughton intercepted passes, making it six interceptions by six different Millionaires in two games. Logan Parrish added a sack for Williamsport, which has shown a knack for making big stops at crucial times and will try to keep doing so Friday when it hosts Central Mountain.

4. Warrior Run (2-0): Cohen Zechman helped Warrior Run strike quick again, reeling in a James Keifer 45-yard touchdown less than three minutes into last Friday’s 24-7 win against Montgomery. This, after he returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a score against Muncy the previous week. Zechman also returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown and has scored three different ways, in all phases, these first two weeks. The defense forced four turnovers against Montgomery and has not allowed a first-half point this season. Warrior Run built a 24-0 fourth quarter lead and Denyn Beachel ran for 89 yards, while Tyler Ulrich ran for a touchdown. Warrior Run will try to improve to 3-0 for a second straight season Friday when it heads to Midd-West to face a surprising Mustangs team that is two points from being 2-0 itself.

5. South Williamsport (1-1): South controlled the trenches and scored 31 straight points, erasing a seven-point second quarter deficit and defeating Canton, 31-14. The offensive line took over and sophomore Cade Lusk (155 yards, touchdown) and freshman Garrett Lorson (113 yards, 2 touchdowns) went over 100 yards. Sophomore quarterback Cole Gerber threw for 139 yards and Levi Butler caught five passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Johnson became the third Mountie to intercept a pass this season and South limited the Warriors to 120 yards. Gerber has gone over 100 yards in his first two starts and Butler has caught 11 passes in his first two games. This team is loaded with underclassmen performing well, so the present and future both look bright, although South faces a huge challenge Friday when it hosts defending 2A state champion Troy.

Players of the Week

Kasim Davenport, South Williamsport and Kole Corman, Central Mountain: Davenport was a wrecking machine up front, changing the game’s complexion when he tackled Bailey Gardner in the end zone for a safety. That ignited a 31-point South flurry but was just the start. The sophomore defensive end collected three sacks and helped South limit Canton to three yards rushing on 26 attempts. Davenport also helped the offense surge up front as the Mounties rolled up 412 yards. Corman is doing everything he can to help Central Mountain turn things around and put on a show against Bloomsburg, breaking his own program record with 24 tackles. That included 13 solos and three for loss. Corman was as strong against the pass as he was the rush and generated three sacks.

Game of the Week

Loyalsock at Hughesville: The Spartans are seeking their first win against Loyalsock since 2015 and a nasty defense has allowed just 14 points. Equally impressive, only seven have come on a sustained drive with the other seven coming off a turnover. Conversely, it’s hard to be much more battle-tested than Loyalsock is through two weeks, so it is eager to break out. This could be one of the more competitive games in recent years in this annual rivalry. Either way, someone is taking a nice step forward.