It was a powerful tribute to a team which has shined a bright light on its community this season. And Friday night, Montgomery offered its thank you response. It was quite a powerful one, too.

Controlling the line of scrimmage, forming a Red wall on defense and leaving no doubt it was the NTL-II’s best team, Montgomery blanked Muncy, 33-0 in the District 4 Class A semifinals and earned a spot in next Friday’s championship at Line Mountain. Trace Furman (140 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Josh Knoebel (103 yards, touchdowns) both went over 1,000 yards this season, the defense allowed just 110 yards and Montgomery (10-1) completed a season sweep of the defending district champions.

“That’s just a ribbon on the season,” tight end/linebacker Ethan Tupper said after catching a third quarter touchdown. “It’s our best season since ’87 and to capitalize with a win against our rival is just a great feeling.”

Montgomery has provided its community positive feelings all year. The Raiders have won nine straight games and reached 10 wins for the first time since 1987. Furman and Knoebel are the first 1,000-yard duo since 1991 and Montgomery outscored Muncy, 60-7 in two games.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Josh Knoebel (9) runs the ball around the Muncy defense during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

All this after Muncy had won 19 of the previous 20 games in this series. Two years after going 1-9, Montgomery has an opportunity to try and win its first district championship and entered the final with a flourish, playing well in all facets against a team eager to exact revenge from the Week 6 encounter.

“My entire high school career we had been beaten up by Muncy. It feels good not just to beat them once at midseason, but to also beat them in playoffs at the end of the season,” senior lineman Caleb Parkyn said after playing his final home game. “That feels awesome. You’re not going to get (that atmosphere again. It’s unbeatable.”

The defense looked immovable at times, closing up seemingly every hole and cutting off every passing avenue. Muncy (5-6) was limited to a season-low in yards and never reached the red zone. Montgomery shut down the run as it did in the Old Shoe Game, Mason Bryson (2) and Briar Persing combined for three sacks and Furman and Logan Joy added interceptions.

It was not just that Montgomery played stellar defense either, but how it did so. On Halloween, it felt like players were disguised as 18-wheeler trucks, consistently delivering jarring tackles and rarely letting Muncy gain any yards after contact. Cornerback Austin Luckenbill literally helped Montgomery land the knockout blow with a Ronnie Lott-type hit on a short pass which forced a fumble, set up a short field and led to Furman’s 12-yard touchdown which made it, 27-0 early in the fourth quarter.

“The support we’re getting is phenomenal. The support continues to build the momentum and increase their ability and mental toughness to go out and perform. You saw that tonight,” Montgomery coach Joel Knoebel said. “The physicality we played with tonight was probably the highest level we’ve seen all season and we’ve played some tough games. In my opinion, we were at a whole new level.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Trace Furman (41) and Josh Knoebel (9) celebrate a touchdown by Knoebel during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

That physicality has been built through rigorous weight-training before and during the season. It extends to the offense where Parkyn, Layne Gingery, Connor Jarrett, Ethan Hugar and Evan Hugar imposed their will and helped pave the way for five consecutive scoring drives between the second and fourth quarters.

Montgomery chewed up both yards and the clock, the first two touchdown drives in the second quarter consuming 25 plays and 12 minutes, 2 seconds. Quarterback Parker Persing capped a 15-play, 76-yard march which started around the first quarter’s five minute-mark, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run after Montgomery converted two fourth downs.

The Raiders fumbled on their opening possession and Muncy drove to their 24-yard line but Jarrett stopped quarterback Andrew Walters for no gain on a 4th-and-2. The defense forced a quick Muncy series following the initial touchdown and Montgomery then used up most of the remaining first half time, moving 70 yards on 10 plays as Knoebel burst through a big hole up the middle on 4th-and-4 and scored on a 14-yard run, making it, 13-0 at halftime.

“We’ve been game planning since the last time we played them,” Parkyn said. “As soon as we fumbled it, we knew we had to lock in and get our stuff around and we did. It was game plan; get ready and we came out and executed.”

Muncy won at least five games for a 10th straight season and put together another quality campaign despite losing the majority of starters from last year’s state Final 4 team. Walters went over 1,500 passing yards among other team achievements, but the Indians were fighting an uphill battle against an excellent team and without two, two-way starters.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Lincoln Miller (43) runs the ball past Muncy's Dominic Guardini (8) during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

Still, the Indians put together their best drive to open the second half, going 52 yards to the Montgomery 28. A holding penalty, a Gage Furman tipped pass and an impressive pass break-up by Seth McClintock, however, blunted the momentum and a fourth down pass fell incomplete. From there, Montgomery continued efficiently moving the ball and went up, 20-0 late in the third quarter.

The Raiders have not thrown the ball a lot this season, but they certainly are capable of doing so, especially with Persing being a four-year starter. They showed it on that drive with Persing finding Tupper for 20 yards on the second play before hitting him cutting toward the right pylon for a 9-yard touchdown.

“That was just great to add on to the season,” Tupper said. “I saw the corner just bite too hard on the run and I was wide open. Parker put it right in the bread basket.”

Persing completed all four of his passes and a 20-yard strike to Briar Persing was part of the late first-half touchdown drive. Following Tupper’s touchdown, Luckenbill helped Montgomery lower the boom, forcing the fumble at the 29-yard line. Four runs later, Furman was in the end zone.

A series later, Furman joined Knoebel in the 1,000-yard club. He did so with gusto, taking an inside reverse and going 21 yards for the final touchdowns which made it, 33-0. Fittingly, all the players celebrated together in the end zone, both a victory and a super team milestone.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Dominic Guardini (8) tries to elude the Montgomery defense during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

“To see two backs in a Single A school that play both sides of the ball, offense and defense, go over 1,000 yards in Week 11 is quite an accomplishment,” Joel Knoebel said. “But they don’t begin to do that without the hard work of our offensive line and they work as hard as any offensive line in the district, the East, the state. They put in their time this summer and offseason and it’s showing in the results we’re getting.”

Montgomery struggled at times in the first half the previous week against Cowanesque Valley, being held to its lowest point total since Week 2. That might have been a good thing in hindsight because the team refocused, regrouped, played a strong second half and then put together a strong practice week.

And as gusty winds blew Montgomery players’ red jerseys, it seemed fitting. The winds of change have come in and swept Montgomery to new heights.

And to a district final. This is right where Montgomery wanted to be and exactly how it wanted to get there.

“I’m very proud of them but it started Week 1 of camp. We changed our breakdown to, ‘Champs! instead of Red Raiders. I tried to drive home to them that there is meaning behind it and it kind of came full circle tonight,” Joel Knoebel said. “Their goal was to be in that district championship game. Now they’re there and it’s up to them. They wanted to be there and they’re there, so it’s exciting to see that.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy quarterback Andrew Walters (10) runs a keeper during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Briar Persing (22) snags a pass around Muncy's Dominic Guardini (8) during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy quarterback Andrew Walters (10) looks to pass during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Trace Furman (41) celebrates during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Muncy's Jaxson Thomas (44) finds a path through the Montgomery defense during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery's Austin Luckenbill is called for pass interference while breaking up a pass intended for Muncy's Dominic Guardini (8) during a District 4 Class A football playoff game at Montgomery on Friday. Montgomery won 33-0.