RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville's Jay Houseknecht (2) and Kane Moore (7) celebrate Moore's touchdown during the first half of a high school football game against Central Columbia at Montoursville on Friday.

1. Montoursville (6-1): The last time I witnessed a Montoursville-Southern Columbia game in person was one of the most entertaining games this offensive lover has ever watched. Southern won a video-game like 2015 District 4 Class AA championship, 56-50 with the heavyweights combining for 106 points, 905 yards and 46 first downs.

2. Jersey Shore (5-2): Totally not football-related, but with Jersey Shore hosting District 1’s Penn Wood, it’s a good time to point out that I still am not over our lazy first baseman lolly-gagging after a ball that should have been caught in shallow right field, costing John Krautzel and I a combined perfect game against Penn Wood East in junior high baseball. That probably ruined my shot at the big leagues.

3. Warrior Run (6-1): Cohen Zechman has caught 10 passes the past two weeks and five have gone for touchdowns, all coming from long distance. Checks his notes: Yup, that’s pretty impressive.

4. Montgomery (6-1): Montgomery already has secured its second straight winning season, a first in the 2000s and now can match the program’s most regular season wins during that time with a victory tonight. Obviously, this team has bigger goals but it still shines a light on how far it has come in two years.

5. Loyalsock (4-3): It’s probably not a good sign for a defense that its safety is making so many tackles, but still stands out that Ivan Baker made a career-high 18 tackles against Warrior Run. It highlights the breakout season the first-time starter is having, averaging 9.4 tackles per game.

6. Muncy (5-2): Coach Chris Persing said during the preseason that the team was moving to more of a spread offense to utilize its depth of talented receivers. It certainly has worked out well. Nate Rogers, Carter Feigles, Dominic Guardini and Gavin Barrows all have caught at least 15 passes and three are among the area’s top 10 in receptions.

7. South Williamsport (4-3): Speaking of passing, how about South’s Cole Gerber already reaching 1,000 yards. The sophomore quarterback is the quickest Mountie signal caller to reach 1,000 yards in a season this century and also is tied for third with 10 touchdown passes. All this in his first year starting.

8. Williamsport (4-3): Let’s keep riding this train. Williamsport sophomore quarterback Tevin Williams spent his offseason preparing to play wide receiver before a Zion Hughes injury put him at quarterback. Williams has flourished and also reached 1,000 yards in his first season starting as a sophomore last week. His 18 total touchdowns also are the most by an area quarterback.

9. Lewisburg (2-5): Mitchell Lorenz has enjoyed a strong season offensively, emerging as one of the area’s leaders in receptions by tight ends. He also is making quite a defensive impact and had a big game last Friday at Midd-West, collecting 2 ½ sacks.

10. Milton (2-5): Louis Williams is the area’s last perfect kicker standing this season. He has not missed on two field goal tries and 11 extra points. He also is averaging 55.6 yards per kickoff, drilling six touchbacks. All this for a soccer goalie kicking for the first time.

11. Wellsboro (3-4): The Hornets faced the NTL’s best the past two weeks but that might prepare it well for a stretch run as they have a shot at producing the program’s first winning season 2021. They already have surpassed last year’s win total and have a strong, youthful foundation in place.

12. North Penn-Mansfield (4-3): Luke Kreger now stands alone as the most prolific receiver in program history. And that is despite moving to running back this season. Kreger broke Joel Whitteker’s career receptions and yards record a week ago. Kreger enters tonight with 106 catches for 1,932 yards.

13. Cowanesque Valley (3-4): Anytime a team wins a game, 63-0 it’s impressive. CV doing so with 16 players a week ago was pretty remarkable. With only five players on the sidelines, the Indians dominated up front and overwhelmed a team which was averaging nearly 30 points per game.

14. Hughesville (2-5): Hughesville limiting Bloomsburg to 14 first-half points a week ago is nothing to sneeze at. Bloomsburg is among the district leaders in yards and points per game.

15. Canton (1-6): Ryder Route has emerged during his senior year as a threat in all facets. He proved it again last week at Wyalusing, returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. He also leads the team in receiving with 14 catches for 207 yards.

16. Central Mountain (0-7): The Wildcats have to look for positives through the tough times and them gaining a season-high in yards last week is a good place to go. Central Mountain produced 208 yards and both sophomore quarterback Kyle Everett and freshman quarterback Alex Johnson are progressing.

17. Bucktail (1-6): Teagan Stone now has games leading Bucktail in passing, rushing and receiving. He is one of several promising young players this program can build around. The Bucks are taking some lumps now, but the future could be bright.