Trace Furman of Montgomery looks for running room against Muncy at Muncy High School Friday night. Montgomery won, 27-7. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

When former Southern Columbia assistant coach Joel Knoebel arrived at Montgomery last winter, he brought something other than experience winning at the highest levels.

The new head coach also brought the Wing-T offense along. And Montgomery embracing that offense, while growing stronger each week has enabled both the winning and the new look to co-exist quite well. The Red Raiders proved it again last Friday, going into what had long been a house of horrors and defeating Muncy, 27-7 at Scott McLean Field while capturing the Old Shoe Trophy for the first time since 2018.

Montgomery (5-1) ran for 290 yards and defeated Muncy for the first time on the road this century. The Raiders have a new look this year but after winning four its final five games a year ago, the winning continues as both go hand-and-hand.

“That’s the football we like to play, that Wing-T smash and pound,” two-way starting lineman Connor Jarrett said. “That’s what we’ve built on ever since last December, that ground and pound football. It’s starting to click.”

It certainly is. Montgomery has won four straight games and has averaged a whopping 344.5 rushing yards during that time. After scoring 21 points the first two weeks, the Raiders have scored at least 27 in each of the last four, running for 261 or more yards each time.

Montgomery built a 14-point second quarter lead and used the Wing-T to help put the game away in the fourth quarter, running for 161 of its 290 yards in the second half. And if there was a drive which symbolizes everything the Wing-T offense represents, it was the game-clincher.

Starting at its own 9-yard line, Montgomery swiftly moved 91 yards on eight runs and quarterback Parker Persing made it, 27-7 with his 10-yard keeper. He, Trace Furman, Josh Knoebel and Lincoln Miller all had carries of at least eight yards on the scoring march, while linemen Jarrett, Layne Gingery, Caleb Parkyn, Ethan Hugar and Evan Hugar opened big holes.

The Wing-T is based largely on multiple ball-carriers receiving touches throughout the game. It’s a little power; a little misdirection rolled into one. On that 91-yard drive, Montgomery played Wing-T football at its best.

“We start picking it up more every game,” Jarrett said. “As we’ve played more, we’ve really been able to get the ball moving.”

“Every week we’re adding in more layers,” coach Knoebel said. “We’re probably 40 % of the way of where we’re going to be by the end of the season.”

That is especially exciting for Montgomery, considering the rapid progress it has shown running this offense for the first time. It also seems to suit a physical line and a bevy of backs who have different running styles especially well.

Persing ran for 97 yards, Knoebel 90 and Furman 78 against Muncy. Knobel, Furman and Lincoln Miller all have at least one 100-yard rushing game this season and Persing has gone over 90 yards three times.

“Our line is going to push you around no matter where we’re at on the field we have kids that are going to be able to burn you. That’s big,” Furman said after totaling 190 all-purpose yards. “We’re not relying on one player. We’re able to spread the ball around and have people that are going to gash you.”

That shines through when looking at the yearly stats. All four main ball-carriers have run for 322 or more yards and all average 6.3 or more yards per carry. What makes the Wing-T offense particularly hard to stop when executed well was on display throughout the second half at Muncy.

The Indians contained the inside run fairly well throughout the first half, but Montgomery started having success attacking the edges. That opened up the inside and started throwing Muncy off-balance. Knoebel and Miller have proven a strong inside tandem, while Furman and Persing each ripped off multiple long runs against Muncy.

It certainly provides defenses a lot to think about. Muncy entered the game ranked second among area defenses in both yards and points allowed but Montgomery eventually wore it down and became the first team to go over 200 rushing yards against it.

“They do a really nice job. They really didn’t do anything we didn’t see; they just do it well,” Muncy coach Chris Persing said. “Credit coach Knoebel and his staff and the kids for understanding what they’re trying to do and doing it well. We thought we had chances to get some stops and they converted some big third downs and we had a hard time getting them off the field.”

Montgomery has come a long way since last December when Knoebel started working with the players and implementing the new offense. Knowing they can still perform at a higher level continues pushing Montgomery as well.

If the Raiders can make the same kind of strides over the next four weeks as they have during the first six, they like where they could be headed.

“We had some struggles at the beginning of the season, but it’s a new system and I think we’re really breaking it in,” Furman said. “We’re rushing well and doing some good things.”

SURGING SOUTH: South Williamsport is heating up and mercy-ruled an opponent by halftime for a second straight week, defeating Cowanesque Valley, 54-6. The Mounties (3-3) gained 502 yards and have scored 109 points, while totaling 942 yards. The offense is as balanced as it is explosive well with Cade Lusk and Garrett Lorson both topping 100 rushing yards and Cole Gerber throwing for 190 yards.

Gerber completed 15 of 20 passes and three touchdowns, twice hitting Levi Butler (8 catches, 80 yards) for scores and also Neeko Bowen for a 25-yard score.

South’s defense has been as stingy as the offense has been high-powered the last two games, allowing just six points. The Mounties wreaked havoc against CV, forcing six turnovers and allowing 159 yards. Taylor Naugle intercepted two passes, Lorson another.

South is tied for first with Montgomery in the NTL-II and has big games coming against Muncy and the Red Raiders after it plays Sayre Friday.

EXTRA POINTS: Williamsport has featured several all-state players during the 2000s, including legendary running back Darrell Blackman. But none have ever totaled more yards in a game than sophomore quarterback Tevin Williams did in Friday’s 67-40 loss against Jersey Shore … Williams threw for 330 yards and five touchdowns, ran for 115 and totaled 445 yards with six touchdowns. Williams tied a Williamsport 2000s record with five touchdown passes and Trey Damschroder caught five passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, while Ashton Thomas scored on an 86-yard touchdown catch. Kason Ulmer scored as well, while Williams and Damschroder also intercepted passes … Wellsboro (3-3) gave 4A Athens a big scare, leading late in the third quarter before losing, 35-22. Griffin Morral threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, while Marek Mascho threw a 49-yard touchdown pass and caught four passes for 140 yards. Dylan Copp added 75 receiving yards and a touchdown … Central Mountain showed massive improvement in a 14-7 loss at Shikellamy. The Wildcats slowed down a potent offense and Mario Serafini intercepted a pass, two fumbles and recovered another. Linebackers Kole Corman and Dalton McDermott each made 20 tackles … Canton freshman quarterback Owen Moore threw for 215 yards and a touchdown in a 41-14 loss against Towanda. Sophomore Leland Tubach caught six passes for 108 yards and a score, while freshman Aaden Dowling ran for a touchdown … Kegan Lane went over 100 yards for a second straight week and third time this year, finishing with 117 yards and a touchdown in Cowanesque Valley’s loss at South Williamsport … Connor Anstadt ran for a 55-yard touchdown and Nick Stubbs a 52-yard score in Hughesville’s 41-13 loss against Mount Carmel.

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