Chase Shrawder of Hughesville tries to outrun Trace Furman of Montgomery at Hughesville High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Lewisburg PPG–21.3, PPA–34.0; YPG–237.7, YPA–391.7

Lewisburg notes: Lewisburg (0-3) has given Shikelllaamy and undefeated Bloomsburg battles the last two weeks, leading at halftime both times and losing the Shikellamy game with 17.4 seconds remaining. Those are promising signs for a team which graduated most of its starters from last year’s 10-win HAC-III champion. Linebacker Ethan Long is one of several first-time starters making big contributions, averaging 14 tackles per game and making five for loss. He had a career-high 16 tackles with a sack against Bloomsburg. Fellow linebacker David Bozella has topped 10 tackles the last two weeks and freshman Ace Bynum has sacks in both games. Quarterback Xavier Carter is having a strong season in his first year starting and leads the area with five touchdown passes. He also has thrown for 471 yards and run for two scores. Jaylen Walker is a three-year starting wide receiver and has four touchdown catches the last two weeks. Mateo Cardello saw his first carries last week and made the most of them, averaging eight yards on six attempts. Dane Shuey ran for 64 yards against Shikellamy. Lewisburg scored 13 fourth quarter points a year ago to fight off Hughesville in a hard-fought, 39-20 win.

Lewisburg Player to Watch–Nick Coleman: The senior three-way threat does a bit of everything and returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown which ignited a run of 18 straight points against Bloomsburg. He has scored in all three games, doing so as a rusher, receiver and returner. Coleman also has caught nine passes the last two weeks and set up a touchdown with a long catch in last year’s Hughesville game.

Hughesville PPG–14.7, PPA–16.0; YPG–213, YPA–213.3

Hughesville notes: A strong defense allowed just 14 points the first two weeks but struggled a week ago against Loyalsock. The Spartans are hoping to turn the page as they seek their first home win in three attempts. The defense had not allowed a point in seven straight quarters before Loyalsock broke free for 21 in the second quarter a week ago. Defensive end Jerry Barton started his breakout sophomore season against Lewisburg last year when he collected his first two varsity sacks. Since then, Barton has an area-high 13 sacks, including four this season. Linebacker Chase Fowler leads the team in tackles and is seeking his second straight 100-tackle season. Chase Shrawder had a team-high 12 tackles against Loyalsock. Maliki Emmil has burst onto the scene and had seven tackles, three for loss, and a forced fumble in a 32-0 win at Towanda. The Spartans dominated that game, holding Towanda to minus-7 yards. Connor Anstadt has given the offense a jolt, catching and throwing for scores, while averaging five yards per carry. He also is among the area’s leaders in catches with 10 for 167 yards. Chase Shrawder ran for a career-high 101 yards at Towanda and Jed Abernatha scored twice. Nick Stubbs threw touchdown passes in the first two games and is the only area starter who has not been intercepted the first three games.

Hughesville Player to Watch–Jakob Charles: The two-way linemen helps set the tone up front on both sides of the ball. He enjoyed a breakout junior season and made an immediate impact in his season debut at Towanda. There, Charles was critical to stifling the run and had six tackles, including three for loss. He added nine more tackles against Loyalsock, one for a loss.

Outlook: There will be a lot of green on the field tonight. That’s about the only thing we know because these are new-look teams. Both have shown positive signs, so it’s a matter of who puts it all together quicker tonight.