It truly feels mind-blowing that we already are halfway through the regular season. With that in mind, let’s do something different this week. As we enter the second half the following will be a look at each area team’s biggest surprise this far.

1. Jersey Shore (4-1): It’s tempting to go with Jersey Shore being 4-1 simply because the team graduated so many standout players last year, but this program truly embodies its motto of “tradition never graduates.” So, we’ll go with sophomore Conner Yingling leading the team in sacks. Yingling has four and has provided a nice threat off the edge, adding six tackles for loss.

2. Montoursville (4-1): Kane Moore tying for the area lead in interceptions–Moore is a three-year starter but four interceptions in five games is mighty impressive. The senior cornerback returned one for a touchdown against Wellsboro and has an interception in four of five games, including three straight.

3. Williamsport (4-1): So many younger players making big impacts–Injuries and multiple-year starting seniors opting not to play this season left the Millionaires starting just two seniors this year. Yet, the youngsters are growing up fast, helping Williamsport match last year’s midway record. This was not necessarily how Williamsport designed it, but it should help the future a lot.

4. Warrior Run (4-1): Chase Wirnsberger leading the team in tackles–Wirnsberger is a sophomore linebacker who saw limited varsity time last fall. Still, he has made a huge impact and helped Warrior Run start strong, averaging nine tackles per game. Wirnsberger also has 20 tackles and an interception.

5. Muncy (4-1): A new-look offense progressing so fast–Muncy went to a spread look this season after more than 4,500 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns graduated last June. The Indians struggled in the opener against Warrior Run but have improved each week and now are among area leaders in points and yards per game.

6. Montgomery (4-1): A new-look offense progressing so fast–Is there an echo in here? Like Muncy, Montgomery has a new coach a new look which it is executing well. Montgomery implemented the Wing-T and has really come on strong the last three weeks, scoring 140 points. Four players also have run for at least 245 yards.

7. Loyalsock (3-2): Jalil Coates easing back in at running back–Yes, Coates played running back growing up but he was a standout wide receiver last year and worked all offseason at that position. A Cayden Sones injury, however, forced Loyalsock to move Coates back to running back. What a move it has been with Coates topping 100 yards in all three games there and helping Loyalsock win all three.

8. North Penn-Mansfield (4-1): The Panthers being the area’s last undefeated team–North Penn-Mansfield lost its first game a week ago but was the last unbeaten standing after starting 4-0. That’s impressive for a team which graduated a chunk of its starters and that won three of those first four games by 10 points or fewer.

9. South Williamsport (3-2): Levi Butler leading the area in receptions–A, South has featured a run-heavy offense the past 13 seasons and B, Butler never played high school football before this year. Still, Butler has burst onto the scene, catching 29 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore quarterback Cole Gerber also has thrown more passes than all but two area quarterbacks.

10. Wellsboro (3-2): Griffin Morral becoming such a rushing threat–Morral impressed with his arm as a freshman last fall, throwing for 1,112 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is on pace for another 1,000-yard season, but now is a dual threat as well. Morral leads the team with 318 yards and five touchdowns. The sophomore nearly bested last year’s total in one game, going for 112 yards against Towanda.

11. Lewisburg (1-4): Xavier Carter leading the area in passer rating–Carter has had little trouble adjusting in his first year starting. After quarterbacking the JV team well the last two years, Carter has put together quality performances in all five games, leading the area with 10 touchdown passes and moving to second in yards with 790. He also has thrown at least one touchdown in each start.

12. Milton (1-4): Milton getting so much production from its defensive underclassmen–Milton’s four top tacklers are underclassmen, as are five of the top six. Sophomore Brady O’Rourke and junior Gavin Whiteknight are on pace for 100-tackle seasons and Schuyler Humphrey and Jackson Wertz average more than nine tackles per game, giving Milton a strong foundation to build upon going forward.

13. Hughesville (2-3): Hughesville turning defense into offense so well–An opportunistic defense has come up huge in both Spartan wins. Hughesville has three defensive touchdowns in those games and the defense also did not allow a point either time. Carson Stackhouse has two pick 6s and he and Josiah Abernatha helped Hughesville rally past Midd-West a week ago with two fourth quarter interception touchdowns.

14. Cowanesque Valley (2-3): CV not allowing a point in either win–The Indians dropped the hammer on both Towanda and Sayre, winning those games by an 80-0 margin. CV allowed just 183 yards in those games. Cam Stahli highlighted the Towanda season opening win, capping the scoring with a long fumble return for a touchdown.

15. Canton (1-4): Canton being so ravaged by injuries–An already young team has been hit hard by the injury bug. Six players went down with injuries between its last two games against North Penn-Mansfield and Montgomery. The Warriors are doing what they can but facing teams who were a combined 7-1 when they played them proved mighty difficult.

16. Central Mountain (0-5): That halfway through the year, Kole Corman would be far past last year’s tackle pace–Corman put together a super sophomore season a year ago, collecting 105 tackles. After another good offseason, Corman has been even better this year, leading the area with 76 tackles. He is averaging 15.2 per game and made a program record 24, adding three sacks, in Week 2 against Bloomsburg.

17. Bucktail (1-4): That in only his fourth high school game Corbin Pentz would do something no other Bucktail quarterback has this century–Pentz, a freshman, went off last Friday at Smethport, throwing for 283 yards and four touchdowns. The yards are the most thrown by a Bucktail quarterback in the 2000s, revealing Pentz’s exciting potential.