RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Trace Furman (1) runs into the endzone early in the first quarter of a game against Holy Redeemer at Montgomery last Friday.

Implications: Tonight’s game is basically an NTL-II championship showdown. Both teams are undefeated in league play and if Montgomery wins, it secures a share of the crown with the opportunity to win it outright next week against Cowanesque Valley. South does the same if it wins and then also would have the chance to win it outright with a victory against Northwest next Friday.

Montgomery PPG–38.4, PPA–6.1; YPG–375.5, YPA–141.4

Montgomery notes: Montgomery (7-1) can seal its best regular season of the 2000s if it wins tonight. The Red Raiders have won six straight games and defeated South, 42-13 last year, snapping a 14-game losing streak against it. Montgomery is now trying to win at Rodney K. Morgans Stadium for the first time since 2001. Montgomery is 14-3 over its last 17 games and leads the district in both points and yards allowed per game. It has held the opposition to seven points or fewer in all seven wins. Austin Luckenbill has three interceptions, two coming a week ago against Holy Redeemer. Safety Trace Furman has made 75 tackles and 16 players have been in on sacks. Linebacker Cameron Woltz averages 8.3 tackles per game and the defensive line has slowed opposing running games throughout the season. The offensive line has fueled a strong running game on the other side of the ball with Josh Knoebel and Furman both going over 600 yards. Knoebel has scored 13 touchdowns and Furman also is a strong receiver. Luckenbill and Lincoln Miller also have had 100-yard games and quarterback Parker Persing has been a dual-threat, going over 90 yards three times. He also has thrown touchdowns to his cousin Briar in consecutive games. Montgomery is playoff-bound for a second straight season and likely will play Muncy in the District 4 Class A semifinals.

Montgomery Player to watch–Seth McClintock: The senior defensive back played a strong game against Muncy three weeks ago when the Indians were forced to go to frequently air it out. Going against a balanced South offense, McClintock could play a major role again. He intercepted a pass in last year’s South game and averages 5.9 tackles per game.

South PPG–32.0, PPA–20.0; YPG–350.4, YPA–243.9

South notes: South (5-3) has won four straight games and is coming off an exciting 28-20 comeback win at Muncy. The Mounties rallied from two second-half deficits and outscored Muncy, 14-0 down the stretch with Samir Moy making an end zone interception which sealed victory. Moy, safety Taylor Naugle and linebacker Garrett Lorson are all freshmen who have combined to intercept 10 passes. Defensive end Kasim Davenport nearly had a sack on that final play at Muncy and is having a strong year, while Blake Marquardt, Camden Hannan and Kamdyn Bubb were among the linemen who helped slow Muncy’s running game over the final three quarters. South has scored 28 or more points in all four games during its winning streak and Lorson, Cade Lusk and Eli White all have 100-yard games. White missed time with injury early in the season but his return has given the team a strong three-back rotation and all three gained at least 60 yards against Muncy. Lusk is seventh among area rushers and Lorson ripped off a 30-yard touchdown run against Muncy. Quarterback Cole Gerber is fourth in passing yards (1,107) and Levi Butler has caught an area-high 47 passes in his debut season. Lorson, Caleb Johnson and Neeko Bowen have combined for more than 500 receiving yards and each has caught a touchdown. South is sixth in the District 4 Class AA standings and is closing in on a 14th straight playoff berth.

South Player to watch–Cade Lusk: What he has done in the offensive backfield was mentioned above, but Lusk also is an excellent linebacker who made one of the game’s critical plays last week, intercepting a pass at the goal line to deny Muncy an early touchdown which then ignited a South touchdown drive. Lusk is second on the team in tackles as well.

Outlook: Teams often dream of playing in championship games and each squad gets their chance tonight. Between those implications, the caliber of teams and Homecoming festivities, this is high school sports at its best and should be one of the area’s most exciting games tonight.