Chris Masse on football: Hughes handled injury with grace, now back leading Millionaires
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Different sports; same responses.
Ask Williamsport football coach Kevin Brown or former coach Mike Pearson about Zion Hughes and their answers mirror those Millionaire basketball coach Allen Taylor provides.
Yes, Zion Hughes is an excellent athlete. But, first, they describe how good a person Hughes is. Ironically; painfully, Hughes showed exactly the type of young man he is when he could not play either sport last year.
Hughes missed both his junior football and basketball seasons after tearing his ACL during a summer basketball game. His knee hurt; his heart hurt more, but Hughes remained a constant presence and helped his teams however he could.
Now Hughes the player and person are one again and it making Williamsport a better team. Hughes ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns in Friday’s 34-10 win at Central Mountain, continuing his impressive comeback season.
"The No. 1 thing he brings is leadership. He’s a great kid; great person to be around," Brown said. "I hope the younger kids are absorbing as much from him as possible. He’s a great leader."
A point proven a year ago when Hughes was selected as a tri-captain before entering his junior year. That season ended before it began, but Hughes continued studying film and became a pseudo-assistant coach. It was a similar story in basketball.
Now, Hughes has the opportunity to showcase everything he learned about the game and himself. How grateful he is, too.
"It was definitely hard. I’d say more mental than physical," Hughes said. "There were long nights; there were lonely nights and early mornings where I couldn’t sleep because I was in so much pain. My family, especially my mom, my dad, my grandfather, they all helped me. That was one of the hardest years of my life and I might not have made it through without them.
I’m just thankful for God to push me through this journey and to be doing what I’m doing now.
Hughes is doing quite a lot.
Despite never playing running back prior to this season, Hughes has gained 200 yards and scored four touchdowns the past two weeks. Previously a quarterback, Hughes went back to those roots in Week 2, throwing a 54-yard touchdown to Tevin Williams.
Still, it is the production Hughes is providing at his new position which has given a dangerous offense another weapon. Against a determined Central Mountain defense, Hughes ran hard up the middle, consistently produced positive yards and carried five straight times at one point during a long second-quarter drive.
Hughes adapting so well at running back has kept defenses from loading up to stop Williams as a runner. The bonus for Williamsport is that Hughes is still learning; still growing. He has started well, but seemingly an only get better as he gains more experience.
"My mentality is I don’t want to be stopped. I’ve always played with that chip on my shoulder, especially coming off my injury," Hughes said. "I’m just going to carry that ball however many times they give it to me and just do my best every time."
That is the only way Hughes knows how to play. Really, it’s the only way he knows how to live.
Because it goes to character when looking at why Hughes is playing this season and how he never flinched when approached about playing running back. Originally, Hughes was not going to play football this season and gear up for the basketball campaign.
The more he thought about it, though, Hughes focused on his teammates more than himself. They wanted him on that field and Hughes heeded the call.
"I’ve been playing with these guys since I was 4-years-old. I couldn’t let him down," Hughes said. "It’s their last year; it’s my last year. I have to keep doing it for them."
A year ago, Hughes was in line to be the team’s starting quarterback. He shined throughout the offseason there and developed excellent chemistry with Williams who was at wide receiver. When Hughes was injured, Williams moved to quarterback and flourished, totaling 2,401 yards and 29 touchdowns.
So, when Brown asked Hughes about moving to running back, he did not hesitate. His response was simple and direct.
"Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it."
So, whether carrying the ball, throwing a block or setting an example off the field, Hughes continues doing a bit of everything. He suffered a big setback a year ago, but Hughes is making quite a comeback.
How he is doing it is what stands out the most. Because the stats are nice but what Hughes does goes beyond that. Simply put, he makes his teammates better.
Hughes the person and athlete merging together creates one terrific football player.
"When your leaders are that unselfish, that helps a lot," Brown said. "He’s just a great kid. I can’t ask any more of him."
RECORD BREAKER: Kole Corman previously owned nearly every significant Central Mountain tackling record there was. Now, he owns them all. Already having the single-game and single-season records, Corman added career record with a spectacular performance against Williamsport.
Corman made 22 tackles, including, 14 solos, doing everything possible to help Central Mountain pull an upset. It was the fifth time in three seasons that Corman made at least 22 tackles and several were near the line of scrimmage. He enters Week 4 with 326 career tackles.
LOCKING DOWN: Loyalsock’s defense made massive improvement against the run and starters allowed just 61 yards in Friday’s 35-7 win against Wellsboro. They also did not allow a point as Loyalsock imposed the mercy rule late in the third quarter. CJ Taylor intercepted a pass and the Lancers clicked in all facets. John Day had a big game up front, producing 9 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks. Standout safety Ivan Baker is becoming quite an offensive weapon, too, topping 100 yards for a second time with 137 yards and two touchdowns. Cayden Sones and Matthew Rickard added scores and Dyson Dupont threw for 109 yards. Carter Brown caught a 22-yard scoring strike from Dupont and he, Taylor and Zion Cobb all have more than 100 yards receiving this season. Loyalsock hits the road Friday, heading to Midd-West and is seeking its second 3-1 start in three years.
EXTRA POINTS: Going back to Week 1, Muncy has scored 108 straight points after blanking Sayre, 56-0. The Indians (2-1) have produced consecutive shutouts and allowed just 14 points this season. The offense produced 488 yards with quarterbacks Noah Weikle and Noah Walters throwing for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Layken Harris ran for 74 yards and three touchdowns; Jermain Morgan ripped off a 42-yard score and five ball-carriers totaled at least 41 yards. Nate Rogers topped 100 yards for a third straight game, going for 103 with a touchdown, and Cullen Reed caught a score for a second consecutive game ... Lewisburg earned its first win Saturday night, defeating Hughesville, 38-17, as Jett Jamieson threw for 266 yards and five touchdowns. Jaylen Walker put on a dazzling show for the Green Dragons, while Owen Fellon caught a touchdown and the defense forced two turnovers. Hughesville broke out offensively, scoring its first points this season and gaining 312 yards. Nick Stubbs found Aviel Harry for a 60-yard touchdown on the game’s first play; Chase Shrawder rushed for a score and Connor Anstadt kicked a 31-yard field goal ... Colton Conklin totaled 86 yards and two touchdowns in Montoursville’s 48-13 loss at Southern Columbia. Elijah Eck threw for 160 yards and Riggs McGraw intercepted a pass ... Canton (2-1) is making nice strides this season and routed Wyalusing, 41-0. Bailey Gardner set the immediate tone, returning the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. He also totaled 99 yards and caught a touchdown, while producing seven tackles and a sack. Owen Moore threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score. Rylan Wesneski caught two touchdowns and the defense allowed just 103 yards ... A week after catching three touchdowns at Hughesville, Milton sophomore Ja’Cori Brown generated four catches for 100 yards in a 48-14 loss at Mount Carmel.
Dr. Masse's top 5 rankings
1. Jersey Shore (3-0): As was the case in its home debut against North Schuylkill, Jersey Shore started slow against Selinsgrove last Friday but soon went into Indy 500-mode. The Bulldogs scored 28 points in 13 minutes, 51 seconds, turning a close game into a 49-7 rout against Selinsgrove. Jersey Shore is 3-0 for a seventh straight season and ended the first half in emphatic fashion, following up a Zeke Sechrist touchdown with a brilliantly executed Nolen Pauling to Carter Rhinehart to Connor Winters 62-yard hook-and-lateral touchdown as time expired. Pauling threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns; added a rushing score and has totaled 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns through three games. Rhinehart topped 100 yards for a third straight game, going for eight catches, 152 yards and a touchdown. Hayden Kelley put an exclamation point on the victory with a 25-yard interception return touchdown as Jersey Shore scored the game's final 35 points.
2. Williamsport (3-0): Judging from the post game discussion, one might have thought Williamsport lost Friday's game at Central Mountain. The Millionaires pulled away in the second half, but they have set high standards this season and did not believe they were met. Better to learn and win, though, than the other way around. Williamsport hosts a Shikellamy team which defeated it a year ago in Week 4, so what transpired at Central Mountain might have been a blessing in the big picture.
"The positive in all that is maybe they learned they aren't as great as they thought they were the last couple weeks," Brown said. "Sometimes you need to get knocked down a little bit to get re-established."
3. Montgomery (3-0): Josh Knoebel rarely leaves the field but also never tires either. The junior running back/linebacker displayed it again during Saturday's hard-fought 12-6 win against South Williamsport. Knoebel ran for 148 yards and two touchdowns, and was a big part of a defense which made two huge late-game stands. Knoebel topped 140 yards with two touchdowns for a second straight game and also returned an interception for a touchdown the previous week at Canton.
"Any chance I have to make a play, I love to be there to try and make that play," Knoebel said. "I really just love contributing in any way I can."
Montgomery had a lot players contribute to the South win, the defense making a dramatic goal-line stand and Hayden Denton a late end zone interception. The Raiders head to Troy Friday for another test against a tough team.
4. Warrior Run (3-0): The Beachel brothers apparently like to keep program records in the family. Denyn tied older brother Denver for the Warrior Run single-game touchdown record, rushing for 96 yards and five scores in a 42-7 win against Midd-West. While Beachel did the most scoring, it was the passing game setting up those touchdowns. Logan Stevenson threw for a career-high 242 yards and Bryson Weigel hauled in six catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. The Defenders have displayed excellent balance this season and have more than 500 yards rushing and 600 yards passing. The defense continues excelling as well. The starters did not allow a point and have surrendered just one touchdown the past two games. Warrior Run put the game away with a 22-point third quarter against Midd-West; is 3-0 for a second straight year and heads to Bloomsburg this Friday. Bloomsburg is the last team to defeat Warrior Run in the regular season, doing so in Week 4 last year.
5. South Williamsport (2-1): South never flinched against a team which had blown it out in consecutive seasons. The Mounties were a play here; an inch or two there, from getting the win and that bodes for the direction it is going. South had blown out consecutive opponents, but how it performed against its most challenging foe so far said probably even more. The defense held Montgomery to 202 yards; the offensive line helped spark two long second-half drives and Cole Gerber made a series of big third down throws. The Mounties just missed getting a revenge win Saturday but have another opportunity Friday when they host an Athens team which beat it in last year's season opener.
Players of the Week
Cordoza Minor, Williamsport and Jaylen Walker, Lewisburg: Minor was a game wrecker, especially in the first half, during Williamsport's win. The senior, playing both inside and outside, overwhelmed Central Mountain by producing three sacks, four tackles for loss and 10 tackles. He also was part of an offensive line which paved the way for 411 yards as Williamsport scored on three straight second-half possessions.
Walker played one of the best games any Lewisburg receiver ever has while helping the Dragons defeat Hughesville. The senior leader caught five passes for 219 yards, four of them going for touchdowns. Oh yeah, Walker also returned a punt 61 yards for a score. A four-year starter, Walker is second in program history in receiving yards and his four touchdown catches covered 43, 79, 13 and 73 yards. He also topped 100 yards for the second time in three games.
Game of the Week
Jersey Shore at Shamokin
In District 4 Class AAAA, this has been THE game the past two seasons. Jersey Shore and Shamokin have played four times, including in the past two district championships. Shamokin has won all four, but the first three were decided by four combined points; twice going to overtime. Shamokin is the state's No. 2-ranked team and has overpowered three straight opponents. It also has won 23 straight regular-season games. Still, Jersey Shore, ranked sixth, has long embraced tough opponents and big opportunities. This should be quite a battle between teams who have won seven of the last eight district titles.–
Chris Masse covers high school football for the Sun-Gazette. He can be reached by email at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter/X at @docmasse.