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Eck throws 3 TDs as Montoursville rolls past Central Columbia 48-0

By Chris Masse 7 min read

Horizontally, Elijah Eck’s smoke screen pass traveled approximately five yards.

One punishing Jacob Schon block and one Brayden Burkett dazzling run later, that duo turned in into a 31-yard gain. More importantly, the sequence set an explosive tone and the Warriors quickly went into domination-mode Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

Eck and Jay Houseknecht combined on a highlight-reel 29-yard touchdown connection three plays later and Montoursville scored 42 points during a 15 1/2 minute stretch, burying Central Columbia under an avalanche of big plays while romping to a 48-0 win.

Eck threw three touchdowns; Burkett caught one and returned an interception for a touchdown as did defensive end Cole Snyder. Schon ignited a ferocious defense and everything came together as Montoursville (2-2, 1-1 HAC-II) snapped a two-game losing streak and showed how dangerous it could be going forward.

From a little pass, started something potentially mighty big.

"I felt like that (31-yard play) was a real momentum shift," Schon said. "That block and that catch and run just really paved the way. It really got things going for us."

"It only takes one big play," Burkett said. "Then we really start to get rolling and just go."

Montoursville never stopped following that screen play. Burkett caught the ball near the right sideline; Schon freed him with a text-blook block and Burkett gained yards after contact. Following a failed fourth-down conversion on the first series, it was just the boost Montoursville needed and the offense took a trampoline-like jump forward from there.

Three plays later, Eck and Houseknecht formed a lethal combination. The coverage was there, but Eck made a perfect throw and Houseknecht a brilliant catch in the right corner with the defender draped on him. Montoursville went ahead, 7-0 and was off and running.

"Jay had a great catch for that first touchdown in the corner of the end zone," Montoursville coach Reese Holmes said. "Elijah put it on the money and Jay made a tough catch."

Burkett made one just as impressive two plays later. This one just happened to come on defense.

Central completed a 24-yard pass on the game’s first play and tried something similar on second-and-eight following the first touchdown. The receiver was open for a split second over the middle, but Burkett closed fast; made a leaping interception from behind and then turned a big play into a special one, challening is inner-Ed Reed.

Following his blockers, Burkett turned upfield, and his teammates formed a convey. They let him go nearly untouched as the junior defensive back went 53 yards and gave Montoursville a 14-0 advantage. It was a play which fanned Montoursville’s flames and poured cold water all over the upset hopes Central held.

"Their running back motioned out, so I knew something was coming. I give all the credit to our d-line because without them, that interception doesn’t happen," Burkett said after intercepting his third pass this season. "They got so much pressure there. When I see the ball go up, I just think the ball is mine, so I went up and took it. Kaden (Kleinman) made a really good block on the quarterback and pancaked him and then Cole Snyder had a really good block and that set up the return and I just ran it into the end zone from there."

The two touchdowns came in a one-minute blur. That first-quarter blitzkrieg was a preview of things to come during a 28-point second quarter which settled the outcome and imposed the mercy rule.

Montoursville scored touchdowns on its final four first-half possessions, but the defense matched its production through the first 1 ½ quarters. Following a Colby Ulmer six-yard touchdown catch set up by Burkett’s 19-yard fourth down catch in which he bullied defenders for 10 extra yards, Snyder lived a defensive lineman’s dream.

Central attempted a screen, but Snyder perfectly read the play from the start. He was immediately in the quarterback’s lap; jumped, caught the pass high in the air and easily went 17 yards for the touchdown which made it, 28-0.

"Cole does it on the screen and makes a great play. At one point, I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to have to pick up my play calling because the defense is going to outscore our offense," Holmes said with a laugh. "Our defense was swarming and making plays."

Schon led the way. The junior middle linebacker is quickly becoming a team leader and he was all over the field against Central, making nine first-half tackles, including two for loss. Schon and Burkett, who had three tackles for loss, made a huge stop early, combining to stop R.J. Kressler on a fourth-and-2 from Montoursville’s 37-yard line.

Central made its own fourth down stop moments later and took over at Montoursvilles’ 41-yard line but gained just one yard on three plays before punting. It was the last time Central would cross midfield against Montoursville’s starters as Schon and his teammates allowed just 19 yards on the half’s final 23 plays.

Schon made a jarring special teams tackle on the opening kickoff and took off from there. It was not just that he made tackles, but where Schon did so. Nearly every one was behind, at or near the line of scrimmage. He also forced an apparent fumble on a kickoff but the returner was ruled down.

"I studied film this week and was able to read and react and make some tackles," Schon said. "I knew there (on the opening kickoff), it was going to be a good night."

"Jacob Schon is all over the the defensive side of the field. He loves playing defense. He’s the leader of that defense for sure," Holmes said. "You can rely on him to make the right plays and be in the right spots. He’s a good tone setter. His energy is always there."

Burkett provided some high voltage as well, setting up Montoursville’s next touchdown by charging through the line and recovering a muffed punt snap at the Central 24. Four plays later, Eck noticed Central’s cornerback crowding Burkett near the line of scrimmage.

Two juniors who have played together since they first put on football cleats, immediately knew how they would respond. Burkett sprinted by the defender; Eck made a perfect throw which hit Burkett in stride in the end zone and Montoursville went up, 35-0.

"Whenever he sees somebody up on me like that, me and him just have that connection. We’ve played together since Pee Wee football and have always had that connection," Burkett said. "He knows and I know just from the snap right there, there’s no question about it."

From there, the running game did damage as linemen Rocky Kinsey, Joseph Schemery, Branson Fogleman, Zane Butler and Riggs McGraw took over. Kleinman ripped off a 41-yard run late in the half and scored from a yard out in the half’s final seconds, putting Montoursville ahead, 42-0.

Mason Lapinski made a fourth quarter run which would make Walter Payton smile, bulldozing a defender downfield and gaining 20 yards. Colton Conklin then went 20 yards on the next play and 26 after that, capping the scoring. Those two and Kleinman all gained more than 50 yards on fewer than 10 carries as Montoursville averaged 8.2 yards per play on its final 37 plays.

Conversely, starters and reserves alike limited Central to 2.4 yards following the game’s opening play. Montoursville survived an opening three-game gauntlet and the benefits started revealing themselves Friday.

Now, the Warriors hope that a performance fueled by Schon’s block and Burkett’s run serves as a turning point as all its goals lay ahead this season.

"We needed a game like that," Holmes said. "It was big to come out and handle the game from first whistle to last whistle. We got the offense going; got our defense flying around. It lets the kids know what they’re capable of."

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