Around the area: Week 4
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Mifflinburg at Hughesville
Hughesville (0-3) came alive offensively last week, scoring its first points and taking its first lead. Now, the offense and defense just have to get going at the same time, but the progress was encouraging. Quarterback Nick Stubbs totaled 180 yards; Aviel Harry caught a long touchdown and Chase Shrawder ran for a score. The defense also limited Lewisburg to just 60 rushing yards on 30 carries.
The problem defensively has been slowing the pass and stopping big plays. Milton and Lewisburg threw nine touchdowns the past two weeks with five coming from more than 30 yards. Conversely, those teams struggled to get the run game going. Shrawder averages 14 tackles per game at linebacker and Jerry Barton has continued enhancing his status as one of the area's premier linemen, making eight tackles for loss in his first two games. Connor Anstadt kicked a 31-yard field goal last week and is an all-state punter.
Mifflinburg (1-2) captured last year's District 4 Class AAA championship and held a seven-point lead after a quarter last week at Bloomsburg before losing, 38-14. The Wildcats also lost a nine-point fourth quarter advantage in their opener against Shikellamy.
Quarterback Brennen Snyder is playing well in his first year starting, not throwing an interception in 72 attempts. He also spreads the ball around, hitting eight receivers last week, and leads the team in rushing with 98 yards. Brady Threet helps spark the defense and has two sacks, along with a fumble return for a touchdown.
Wellsboro at Canton
Canton is playing its fourth straight home game tomorrow afternoon after the originally scheduled opener at Cowanesque Valley was moved because of stadium construction delays. The Warriors erased a nine-point fourth quarter deficit to win that first game and blanked Wyalusing, 41-0 last Friday, avenging two prior defeats against it. Wellsboro (1-2) is seeking its second straight win in this series, but its first win at Canton since 2016.
Canton is fourth in the District 4 Class A standings and all seven teams are eligible for the postseason, so it is hoping to host a quarterfinal. The Warriors already have matched last year's win total and sophomore quarterback Owen Moore is second in the area with six touchdown passes. Bailey Gardner is among the top 10 in both rushing yards and receptions. Four receivers have caught touchdowns as well.
Marcus Solomon collected three sacks the first two weeks and Gardner has two sacks. Jack Whitehead has two interceptions and Canton forced three turnovers against Wyalusing.
Wellsboro made a four-win improvement last year, finishing 6-5 and reaching districts for the first time since 2021. The Hornets have moved from 2A to 3A and are seventh in the standings. Eight teams qualify for districts. Quarterback Griffin Morral is closing in on 3,000 career passing yards as a junior and totaled three touchdowns in last year's win against Canton.
Freshman Grady Morral returned a kickoff 84 yards to seal a Week 2 win against CV and Christian Main caught six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown there. Max Mascho intercepted a pass at Loyalsock a week ago and linebacker Kody Enck picked off six passes last fall.
Southern at Lewisburg
Lewisburg (1-2) will be playing its second straight Saturday night game after winning its first game a week ago, 38-17 against Hughesville. Quarterback Jett Jamieson threw for 266 yards and five touchdowns, while Jaylen Walker dazzled, catching five passes for 219 yards and four scores. Walker also returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown.
Eight teams reach the District 4 Class AAA playoffs this season and Lewisburg enters the weekend in eighth. The Dragons have dealt with some costly injuries, but have received a lift from players like junior linebacker Owen Fellon who averages 11 tackles per game. He, Walker and Todd Dershem also have interceptions. Freshman Mason Bolden averages 6.7 tackles per game and junior receiver Drake Osunde caught three passes for 95 yards in the opener at Danville.
Southern (3-0) is seeking its second straight 2A state championship and ninth in 10 years. The Tigers appear as strong as ever, piling up impressive wins against Wyomissing, Williams Valley and Montoursville. Southern imposed the mercy rule a week ago, building a 41-0 lead as Grady Garcia topped 100 yards rushing for a second straight game, finishing with 189 yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch played a super game against Montoursville, throwing for 176 yards and three touchdowns. Blaise Kissinger caught five passes for 115 yards and two scores. Chase Williams has at least one sack in each game, totaling 3 ½. Southern has won 18 straight games going back to last season.
Sayre at N.P.-Mansfield
North Penn-Mansfield (0-3) broke out in a big way offensively against undefeated Northwest a week ago, scoring 27 points. Sophomore quarterback Peyton Greene led the way and played his best high school game, totaling 300 yards and four touchdowns. Greene topped both 100 yards passing and rushing and threw touchdowns to three receivers.
Colton Pellett, Keaton Manikowski and Conner Lewis all caught touchdowns. Lewis caught five passes for 80 yards and Pellett has reeled in scores in consecutive weeks, including a 76-yarder at Towanda. Bentley Chilson returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown in that game. Junior linebacker Bohdi Nickerson has collected 12 tackles in all three games and freshman Bridger Lehman had 11 tackles at Northwest.
Sayre (0-3) is trying for its first win since 2024 and its first offensive points this season. Hudson Malanoski is a hard-nosed running back who ran for a career-high 113 yards against a stingy South Williamsport defense two weeks ago before going for 52 yards against a Muncy unit which has not allowed a point since Week 1. Receivers Quin Chandler and Tyrese Hayes have big-play ability as well.
Cowanesque at Wyalusing
Like the game above, someone will be celebrating their first win tonight. Injuries have taken a big toll on CV which is coming off a five-win season. Kegan Lane, one of the area's top linebackers and a 1,000-yard running back a year ago, has yet to play and three starting linemen have gone down. On top of that, CV has been forced to play all its games on the road due to the building of its new stadium taking longer than expected.
All things considered, its impressive that CV held a nine-point fourth quarter lead in its opener at Canton and was within a touchdown at Wellsboro late in the game a week later. Senior Dave Hess ran for 82 yards at Athens last week, becoming just the second CV player in the 2000s to top 2,000 career yards rushing. He also has totaled 3,718 yards with 41 touchdowns the past four seasons.
Justin Schaar had a big game at Wellsboro, collecting three sacks. Stevie Olson made seven tackles last week and Cam Stahli and Logan Huntington have interceptions.
Wyalusing has one of its smallest rosters ever and opened the season against teams and has yet to score this season. Quarterback Wiley Trombaugh has thrown for 151 yards the past two weeks and Landry Tinna has caught nine passes during that time. The defense played its best game against Canton a week ago, forcing three turnovers and allowing just 54 rushing yards.
CM at Selinsgrove
Central Mountain (0-3) had undefeated Williamsport on the ropes at times during the first half last week and was within striking distance in the fourth quarter of its first two games, so while the record may not reflect it, this team has made some nice strides thus far. The defense held Williamsport to its fewest yards in three games and Kole Corman made 20 tackles, becoming the program's all-time leading tackler.
Corman averages a whopping 17 tackles per game and linebacker Jacob Rembold is having a breakout season, averaging 8.7. Tanner McCall has two sacks and four tackles for loss, while Cade Watkins added a sack last week.
Quarterback Kyle Everett is a dual-threat player who leads the team in both passing and rushing. He went over 100 yards rushing in the opener and over 100 passing the next week at Warrior Run. Gavin Heverly has been making big plays the past two weeks, hauling in an 80-yard touchdown at Warrior Run before ripping off two long kick returns and a long punt return last week.
Selinsgrove (1-2) has lost two straight after opening with an impressive 23-0 win against three-time defending District 6 Class AAAA champion Juniata. The Seals were within seven points of Jersey Shore late in the first half a week ago before the Bulldogs exploded over the next 14 minutes and put the game away.
Owen Hoffman fuels the defense and is averaging 11 tackles per game. Max Sheltman averages eight per game and also has five tackles for loss. Nash Fordyce and Gabe Paradis intercepted passes at Jersey Shore. Fordyce also has caught at least three passes in each game.
Moniteau at Bucktail
Bucktail returns after having last week off and is trying to win its first on-field game since 2023. The Bucks have shown much improvement thus far and have been competitive in both contests, including a one-score game two weeks ago against Otto-Eldred.
Quarterback Corbin Pentz topped 1,000 yards passing as a freshman last season and threw two touchdowns in the opener to Teagan Stone. A junior, Stone produced 100-yard receiving and rushing games last year. Stephen Heiser ran for 148 yards against Cameron County and Patrick Tarantella has 75 yards. He also leads the defense with 14 tackles. Nickolas Dennis and Levi Stevenson have interceptions.
Moniteau (0-3) was shutout in its first two games before losing, 28-20 to Lakeview last week. The Warriors went 3-7 last year, blanking Bucktail, 35-0 in Week 3 when they forced four turnovers.
Danville at Milton
Milton (1-2) has played two undefeated teams among its first three games and returns home for the first time since the season opener against Bloomsburg. The Black Panthers thumped Hughesville, 35-0 in Week 2 and their past four wins the last two seasons have all been shutouts.
Milton has an exciting foundation developing offensively where quarterback Kamryn Wilson is thriving throwing to exciting underclassmen Jhemzuel Feliciano and Ja'Cori Brown. Those two have combined for 302 yards and have caught all five of Wilson's touchdowns. Sophomore Brody Locke is running well also, going for 107 yards at Hughesville.
Linebackers Schuyler Humphrey, Brady O'Rourke and Jackson Wertz all are building off strong seasons a year ago and each is averaging more than six tackles per game. Humphrey averages 11 tackles per game and O'Rourke and Wertz both have 5 ½ tackles for loss. Milton has moved from 3 to 4A this season and is fourth in the standings with the top four reaching districts.
Danville (2-1) is second in the 3A standings and its lone loss is against 4A state title contender Shamokin. The Ironmen rebounded from that loss and routed Central Columbia, 52-3 last Friday. Danville has topped 300 yards rushing in both victories, totaling 725 yards. Ben Nye has 200 yards and four touchdowns in those games.
Myles Koser played quarterback at CMVT the past two seasons but is now a big-play receiver at Danville, averaging 33.8 yards on his five catches and scoring twice. Kayvion Seabrook returned a punt 71 yards for a touchdown at Central and Jagger Simpson returned an interception for a score.