Warrior Run at Milton

Warrior Run (8-1) needs a win in this annual rivalry game to secure District 4 Class AA’s No. 2 seed and Milton needs it to have a shot at reaching the 3A playoffs. The Defenders are second entering tonight, having won five straight games, along with a share of their first league championship since 2005. They are assured of a home game next weekend but are hoping to hold off Troy for that second spot while exacting revenge after Milton defeated it, 20-13 a year ago.

Milton (3-6) needs a win and Selinsgrove to beat Danville to win, although there is a potential it could jump Danville simply with a win but the power rankings would be too close to call at this point in that scenario.

Warrior Run has scored 42 points or more in each game during its winning streak and rallied for a thrilling 47-42 comeback win at Loyalsock. James Keifer has completed 17 of 18 passes for 352 yards and seven touchdowns the past two weeks and Cohen Zechman has gone over 100 yards receiving in four consecutive games. Denyn Beachel went over 1,000 yards rushing a week ago and has gained 90 or more yards in every game this season. Tyler Ulrich is a rushing and receiving threat, running for 147 yards and three touchdowns against Loyalsock, while catching two passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns a week ago against Central Columbia.

Max Fogelman sparked the defense against Central with two interceptions and a sack. Jackson Albright has three sacks and Ulrich and Blake Parker three each. Garrett Williams has added eight tackles for loss. Warrior Run is 7-1 in its last eight road games.

Milton has produced shutouts in its three victories and quarterback Monty Fisher leads the district in rushing with 1,376 yards. He has gone over 200 yards in three straight games and four of his last five. He also threw two touchdowns in a 47-0 win at Midd-West with freshmen Jacori Brown and Jensen Souder catching them.

Linebacker Brady O’Rourke is among area sack leaders with 7 ½ and has 92 tackles. Junior lineman Jackson Wertz has 90 tackles and Brady Wolfe 11 ½ for loss. Milton also has held two teams to fewer than 200 yards.

Wellsboro at North Penn-Mansfield

Wellsboro (5-4) is in strong position to make the District 4 Class AA playoffs for the first time since 2021 but could make it official if it snaps a three-game losing streak against rival North Penn-Mansfield. Conversely, the Panthers (4-5) could potentially reach the postseason if they can extend that streak.

Wellsboro enters tonight sixth in the standings and the top eight advance. North Penn-Mansfield is ninth but could make things interesting with a win and Cowanesque Valley loss at Montgomery. Wellsboro has won five of its last seven games and a win tonight would clinch its first winning season in four years with several starters returning next year.

The Hornets have allowed just two touchdowns the past two weeks and have scored 104 points in those games. Kody Enck returned two interceptions for touchdowns against Canton and added another pick last week. Marek Mascho has five interceptions and also has produced 100-yard receiving and rushing games offensively. Quarterback Griffin Morral went over 1,000 yards passing a week ago and leads the team in rushing. Hayden Stevens has three sacks and Wellsboro has allowed just 68 points in its five victories.

North Penn-Mansfield has lost five straight games and dealt with a rash of costly injuries. Luke Kreger has had another big year, leading the team in rushing and receiving, while adding three interceptions. Colton Pellett is a big-play threat and has two kick returns for touchdowns. Skyler Everetts and Patrick Youmans are among the team’s leading tacklers and Brody Grinnell has kicked four field goals. Charles Aumick intercepted two passes in a comeback win at Canton.

Lewisburg at Mifflinburg

Lewisburg (2-7) needs an upset and some help tonight in order to reach the District 4 Class AAA playoffs for a third straight year. The Green Dragons face a tall order against top-seeded Mifflinburg (7-2) and also likely need losses from Milton and/or Danville. Lewisburg graduated a strong core from last year but is a few plays from having a better record, losing two fourth quarter leads in three games decided by 14 combined points.

Quarterback Xavier Carter has gone over 1,000 yards in his first year starting and is second among area passers in yards per game. Jaylen Walker is closing in on 80 career catches and the junior is second among area receivers with nine touchdowns. Ethan Long and David Bozella have had big seasons at linebacker and Long has topped 10 tackles seven times.

Mifflinburg has all but locked up the top seed and will host the No. 4 seed next week, either Danville (currently at No. 4), Milton or Lewisburg. Quarterback Chad Martin went over 2,000 yards for a second straight year last week as he and Landen Murray did their best Joe Montana to Jerry Rice combination. Martin threw for 312 yards and six touchdowns with Murray hauling in six for 288 yards and five scores while going over 1,000 yards this season.

Jackson Griffith also has had a big receiving season and Landon Moser went over 100 rushing yards in an impressive 35-7 win at Montoursville. Murray also has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and has 19 total scores. Kaiden Kmett helps fuel a stingy defense and produced three sacks in last week’s win against Midd-West, giving him six this year.

Troy at Canton

Canton (2-7) snapped a seven-game losing streak last Saturday at Sayre, winning 21-14. The Warriors opened the season as a young squad with a small roster and were hit hard by injuries. Still, they have kept grinding and the progress showed last week. A lot of underclassmen have played big roles as well and that experience will be crucial the next few years.

Freshman quarterback Owen Moore had a big game at Sayre, throwing for 199 yards and three touchdowns. Monte Whitehead caught three passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while Rylan Wesneski added a 50-yard touchdown catch. Marcus Solomon had a big game defensively, making a career-high 15 tackles and both Moore and Ryder Route intercepted passes. Route returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown at Wyalusing.

Troy (8-1) has won seven straight games and the defending 2A state champions will likely either be the No. 3 or 2 seed in next week’s quarterfinals. Its lone loss the past two seasons was a one-point thriller against New York power Waverly in Week 2. With all-state running back Brendan Gilliland sidelined a week ago, quarterback Mason Smith ran for 212 yards, threw for 145 and totaled eight touchdowns in a 70-29 win against Central Mountain.

Smith has thrown 13 touchdowns in his first year starting and also has two 200-yard rushing games. Gilliland still has a good shot at a second straight 1,000-yard season despite missing two games and Spencer Martin has four interceptions.

CMVT at Bucktail

Bucktail (1-8) is hoping to end its season with its first win on the field. The Bucks were granted a forfeit in Week 2 against Renaissance Academy and showed progress in their last two games giving Cameron County and Coudersport better games than the first times earlier this year. The team is filled with exciting underclassmen playmakers, so the future could be bright.

Quarterback Corbin Pentz has flourished during his freshman season, totaling 911 yards and 10 touchdowns in three games. Sophomore Teagan Stone has emerged as one of the area’s more versatile players and freshman Logan Stevenson ran for 112 yards against Cameron County. Aiden Ditty caught three touchdowns against Smethport and added an interception against Cameron County.

CMVT (3-6) has put up some big offensive numbers this season and quarterback Myles Koser has four games with at least three touchdown passes. He has had one of the more prolific seasons in program history despite missing nearly two full games, throwing for 1,583 yards and 18 touchdowns. Axton Koser and Blake Sponenberg are among the district’s leaders in receptions and yards. Koser caught 11 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown against Renaissance Academy and Sponenberg had four catches for 137 yards and two scores against Holy Cross. Axton Koser also has intercepted three passes, returning two for touchdowns.

–by CHRIS MASSE