Chris Masse on football: Leaders like Rogers help young players at Muncy succeed
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The game's fourth play revealed quite a lot.
Sophomore quarterback Noah Weikle rolled left and found senior Nate Rogers streaking downfield for a 47-yard completion on 4th-and-16. A play later, Layken Harris was in the end zone, his two-yard touchdown starting a 39-point first-half blitz as Muncy routed Wyalusing, 45-0 last Thursday.
Weikle is a first-time sophomore starter; Rogers a four-year senior starter. It's that combination of experienced leaders and exciting first-time contributors which has both the present and future looking bright these days.
That certainly was the case against Wyalusing as past, present and future controlled all aspects. Weikle and freshman quarterback Noah Walters combined for 290 yards; Rogers totaled 105 receiving yards and sophomore Cullen Reed added 74, along with a touchdown, sack and interception.
"It's like I said before the season, we're going to be young, but we like the young guys we have," Muncy coach Chris Persing said. "They're pretty athletic. A lot of them love football, so it's nice to see it come together and let them realize what they can do if they keep putting in that time."
That is where leaders like Rogers help so much. He and two-way lineman Nixon Lamper both are four-year starters who helped Muncy capture the District 4 Class A championship and reach the state semifinals two years ago. Seniors Jaxson Thomas and Drew Ryder are coming off strong seasons and have embraced leadership roles while helping fuel the defense.
Having loads of young talent is nice, but without guidance it might only go so far. Surrounding those youthful players with strong mentors appears to be speeding the growing process. It's early, but Muncy nearly took down defending HAC-III tri-champion Warrior Run (2-0) in the opener and overpowered Wyalusing from the start, so a quality foundation is being put in place.
"They have great work ethics. Nate is a great player but also a great leader. He's not a vocal guy, but he doesn't have to be," Persing said. "It's his work ethic and the way he carries himself and keeps the guys motivated that is so big for us. Nixon is the same way. Kids gravitate toward him, and JT and Drew and all our captains are doing a great job setting that tone."
Just look at how much that already has impacted the quarterbacks. Weikle and Walters are splitting time as Muncy seeks to maximize the strengths each provides. It has paid off thus far with each topping 200 yards passing and throwing four touchdowns.
They are competitors, so naturally Weikle and Walters want to play. But they also are rallying around each other; helping the other improve and, in turn, making the team better. It's not just what they are doing early in their high school careers, but how they are doing it which is sending an important message.
"They're very supportive of each other. There's no animosity. We're trying to be as up front as we can with them, and they cheer each other on," Persing said. "That quarterback room, although it's small with the two of them, they're very supportive of each other. It's a testament to their character, not just as football players but as human beings, that they're willing to do that for each other."
That team-first mentality is contagious and is fostering a balanced team. Seven players caught passes against Wyalusing, including four who produced multiple catches. Rogers, Reed and Kynton Fish hauled in touchdowns, but nobody was demanding the ball or pouting if it did not come his way.
It's not about the individual stats, but about winning. Experienced and young players embracing that selfless mentality is making Muncy look dangerous as it moves forward.
Challenges remain and the work continues, but Muncy is putting the pieces together quite well thus far.
"Our first week, the connection wasn't all there. It was there, but not like (Thursday)," Walters said. "(Thursday) was amazing with the connection we have with each other. The things we can do together are amazing."
"We have a lot of younger kids, same as me, that are stepping up to the plate and doing what they need to be doing," Reed said. "We can only get better from here."
GOOD TESTS: Jersey Shore traditionally plays one of the area's most demanding schedules and this season is no different. The Bulldogs opened with perennial District 11 and District 4 title contenders, so being 2-0 right now is especially impressive.
Jersey Shore has overcome a lot these first two weeks, too. Against North Schuylkill, the Bulldogs turned a 13-point late second quarter deficit into a 49-34 victory. Last Friday, the defense made four huge stops, including at the 1-yard line; and the offense put together two clutch fourth quarter touchdown drives as it held off Montoursville, 27-13.
"We just had to keep going and not let them get in our heads," wide receiver Carter Rhinehart said after catching eight passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns. "These are two good teams and wins but we're just shooting for 1-0 next week."
Zeke Sechrist recovered a fumble on a Montoursville 2nd-and-goal in the first quarter and Isaac Shirey ended another promising drive with a strip sack. Quarterback Nolen Pauling produced 298 yards and four touchdowns and Jersey Shore dug deep for a second straight game against a quality opponent.
The Bulldogs have played in 12 of the last 13 District 4 Class AAAA championships. Each week is a new week; a new challenge (this week it's rival Selinsgrove), but Jersey Shore often designs its schedule so that it will best prepare it come November.
Jersey Shore has won playoff games every season but one since 2013. The players and coaches deserve most of the credit. But consistently being tested during the regular season sure helps, too.
"You're more used to playing adversity when you face these tough teams," Shirey said. "Down the stretch and in the playoffs, when adversity comes, we've already seen it and we're ready to go."
GROWING QUICK: Loyalsock (1-1) graduated many starters and is among the area's younger teams. That is highlighted by quarterback Dyson Dupont being a freshman. But the Lancers are looking exciting and nearly improved to 2-0 before dropping a 28-21 heartbreaker against Bloomsburg.
The Lancers erased three seven-point deficits, tying it each time, and a last-second drive fell just short. The result was not what Loyalsock wanted, but the effort and growth were. Dupont played a fabulous game; Zion Cobb caught six passes for 108 yards with a touchdown and CJ Taylor and Ivan Baker both caught scores.
Who a team is during Week 2 is rarely who it is come Week 10. It's a step-by-step process, but Loyalsock already has taken some big ones through two games.
"The positive of learning and growing is that you continue to get better. We have a very good senior class; love the kids. We have a very good junior class; love the kids. We have a very good sophomore class; love the kids. We have a very good freshman class; absolutely love the kids," Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said. "When you have young kids out there playing, what you want is a clean football game. I think what we're providing is a clean football game. They understand what they're doing; they're executing at a high level and, again, across the board, they're getting the job done at a level no one necessarily thought they could."
EXTRA POINTS: South Williamsport has yet to surrender a point this season, blanking Sayre, 55-0 while improving to 2-0. The Mounties have outscored their first two opponents, 103-0. Linebacker Dominik Goode has ignited the stellar defense, collecting three sacks and intercepting a pass. Eli White ran for 119 yards against Sayre as he, Case Lusk and Garrett Lorson all scored twice. Cole Gerber found Samir Moy for a 31-yard touchdown; Taylor Naugle ripped for a 38-yard score and Sotuh built a 35-0 halftime lead ... Milton's defense put on a clinic at Hughesville, limiting the Spartans to 27 yards and two first downs while winning, 35-0. Jackson Wertz produced two sacks and four tackles for loss. Brady O'Rourke added 1 1/2 sacks as Milton (1-1) finished with six. Kamryn Wilson threw four touchdown passes; three to Jacori Brown covering 39 yards. Jhemzuel Feliciano caught a 57-yard touchdown and has averaged 44 yards on his two touchdowns this season ... Freshman Grady Morral returned a kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown, helping Wellsboro put away pesky Cowanesque Valley, 26-13 for its first win. Morral's older brother Griffin threw for 175 yards and a score, while Christian Main caught six passes for 117 yards and a touchdown. Reed Richardson ran for 58 yards and a touchdown. Dave Hess led the way for CV, throwing for 124 yards, running for 80 and scoring twice.
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.