Chris Masse on football: Quality, not quantity has helped Mounties overcome small roster
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South Williamsport still can run an offense vs defense at daily practices.
Barely.
Nearly every player must be on the field then because South features just 23 this season. But quality far outweighs quantity there and South continues enhancing its program's stellar tradition. Against the odds, the Mounties are 7-2.
The record is impressive enough, but the Mounties have stearmolled most of their opponents and have won five straight after routing Wellsboro, 49-6 last Friday on Senior Night. South has outscored opponents, 252-12 during the winning streak; has topped last year's win total and will return home next week to host a District 4 Class AA quarterfinal, possibly against Hughesville.
South might not have a lot of players, but one can look back at a 1992 movie classic to put a label on them: They are a few good men.
"Throughout the season we know that we don't have the numbers that some of these bigger 2A schools have," two-way lineman Kamdyn Bubb said after helping South gain 420 yards. "But we know if we have 11 guys on the field who work as hard as we do and fly to the football, we're going to be A-OK."
South has been downright fabulous the past five games. And, honestly, it has been quite good all season. The Mounties have collected a district-best five shutouts; held six teams to single digits and their two losses are close ones against Montgomery and Athens teams who are a combined 16-2.
South players could have looked at their low numbers and thrown in the towel. The coaches could have looked toward the future. Instead, the Mounties relentlessly attacked the offseason and the coaches convinced them they could achieve greatness.
Work and belief; strength and speed training have all come together and produced impressive results. Those 23 players continue making a statement that it's not the size of the team, but the character it possesses which makes the biggest difference.
"We all love each other. We all just want to be the best we can be," two-way starter Garrett Lorson said after running for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while adding an interception. "Everyone does a job. Everyone on the team has a role to play."
They all play them quite well. So well, in fact, that the coaches have not cut down on the playbook but added to it. The offense is running various formations; lining up players at different positions and maximizing each one's ability. The defense has formed a blue wall and the 4.6 points per game allowed thus far is the lowest by any 21st century area team.
The roster size is small but the talent size is big and the commitment even larger. Football is the ultimate team game and South definitely needs strong contributions from every player. That is exactly what has happened, nearly every offseason lifting session receiving perfect attendance.
A foundation was formed there and South has continued adding more layers each week.
"We have just enough guys to practice and to have a defense, offense and a scout team. But they love the game and they work hard and they keep learning and growing," long-time South coach Chris Eiswerth said. "That's what makes it fun. We're just kind of enjoying it and doing our thing."
South's thing has been winning these past 15 seasons. The Mounties are playoff-bound for a 15th straight year and have won at least five games for a 15th consecutive time.
It has won multiple league and district championships during that span, but this season ranks up there with some of South's best achievements.
"Coach E does a great job in the weight room of building everyone up, so I'm very confident in the 23 guys that we have," Bubb said.
Despite past success, South felt overlooked entering the season. The Mounties were hit hard by graduation following a 2023 District 4 Class A championship and state semifinal run. Still, they won six games in each of the next two seasons while moving up to 2A.
The large voids left after 2023 were filled in by several current seniors and juniors. They grew together the past two years and enjoyed some success, but now these Mounties have gone to the next level.
"Even through this season, I don't think there was much respect being given to us. I think a lot of people we're thinking South is done, and that's not the case," Eiswerth said. "I think we've worked hard and done some great things. I tell the kids no one is going to give you anything. You have to keep working hard and keep earning it and they do that, and that's what makes it so gratifying."
South celebrated senior players, cheerleaders and band members before Friday's game. The football part was short because have only five. That makes this season even more rewarding because not only has it been highly successful, but also a potential launching pad.
The Mounties will return all but four starters next season, but they also understand that the work continues this season and that nothing moving forward is guaranteed. South will continue working and grinding, this season and shortly after whenever it ends.
That's really all this program knows. And the 2026 squad has highlighted it as well as any of the previous decorated squads. This group is every bit 23-strong.
"We lost all those guys from that 2023 team and we took some lumps but everyone worked hard and we had some success the last two years," Eiswerth said. "But I told those guys that were freshmen (in 2024) that you're juniors now and let's take the next step and I think they really did that.
"There are a lot of really good teams in Double A, but I think we are a really good team, too."
No arguments there.
STREAK BUSTERS
Hughesville erased 11 years of frustration with a dramatic defensive stand Friday at Kenneth Robbins Stadium, defeating Loyalsock, 10-7. The Spartans stopped Loyalsock cold on both third and fourth-and-1 from the 4-yard line in the final minute, preserving a thrilling win. Hughesville (4-5) beat Loyalsock for the first time since 2015 and continued its fantastic second-half push, winning four of its last five games.
Connor Anstadt scored a touchdown and kicked a 29-yard field goal to break a 7-7 tie. The defense held Loyalsock scoreless in the second half and limited the Lancers to 202 yards. The offensive line continued playing well and Chase Shrawder running strong, gaining a game-high 130 yards. The senior has topped 100 yards in four straight games and the Spartans have excelled in close games, allowing just 12 second half points in those victories. Hughesville also has won each of those games after being behind or tied in the second half.
2K CLUB
Jersey Shore quarterback Nolen Pauling threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-20 loss against Southern Columbia, becoming the program's seventh 2,000-yard passer of the 2000s. The junior signal caller also went over 4,000 career yards and has thrown for a district-high 2,185 this season, along with 22 touchdowns.
Pauling topped 300 total yards for the eighth time in nine games Friday and leads District 4 with 2,986 yards and 33 touchdowns. Carter Rhinehart also is having a big season and caught seven passes for 144 yards and two scores against Southern. Despite missing 2 ½ games, Rhinehart leads the area with 48 catches for 850 yards and nine touchdowns.
EXTRA POINTS
Muncy (5-4) played sensational defense at Athens in a 9-0 loss, becoming the first team in 24 regular-season games to hold the Wildcats (8-1) to single digits. Muncy did not allow a second-half point against a team which was averaging more than 40 and Finn Thomas and Chase Boozer intercepted passes. Nate Rogers caught six passes for 80 yards and Noah Weikle threw for 114 yards ... Despite not starting until Week 5, Milton quarterback Paxton Humphrey has moved within two yards of reaching 1,000 after throwing for 232 yards and two scores in a 35-14 loss against Lewisburg. Former quarterback Kamryn Wilson has excelled at wide receiver and caught three passes for 118 yards and a touchdown. Ja'Cori Brown added six catches for 82 yards and a score ... Carter Little ran for 105 yards and Logan Stevenson threw for 185 with two touchdowns in Warrior Run's 48-13 loss at Shikellamy. Chase Wirsnberger caught an 82-yard touchdown and Bryson Weigel a 38-yarder ... Central Mountain produced 364 yards in a 49-21 loss at undefeated Mount Carmel. Alex Johnson threw for 178 yards and a touchdown, while Kyle Everett ran for 83 yards and a score in his first start at that position. Gavin Heverly ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run.
Dr. Masse's top 5 rankings
1. Williamsport (6-3): Williamsport pushed perennial state title contender Hollidaysburg hard, leading by at halftime and in the fourth quarter before the Tigers rallied for a 41-34 victory. Still, it was a positive sign, especially after Hollidaysburg routed the Millionaires by 63 last season. The Millionaires rolled up 417 yards against a stingy defense and Trey Damschroder caught two touchdowns, giving him 10 this season. Zion Hughes totaled 121 yards and caught a score as did Jaylen Lilly. The Millionaires hurt themselves at times with 13 penalties and coach Kevin Brown is hoping for a more concerted effort on focusing on the play at hand more than anything else going forward. There is a strong foundation in place and Williamsport will be the top seed for the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA playoffs. The Millionaires host Wilkes-Barre Friday in a rematch of the last two district championships.
2. Montgomery (8-1): Montgomery broke multiple 21st century area records Friday, romping to an 84-14 win at North Penn-Mansfield. The 84 points are the most by an area team in the 2000s as are the 612 rushing yards Montgomery produced. The Raiders, winners of five straight, averaged a whopping 21.1 yards per carry and scored on 10 of 29 attempts, a testament to how fantastic the offensive line played. Josh Knoebel, Briar Persing and Trace Furman all went over 100 yards and Hayden Denton caught and rushed for touchdowns. Lincoln Miller added 79 yards and a kick return score. Montgomery is the first area team in the 2000s with four players who have gone over 500 yards in a season, Knoebel, Furman, Miller and Persing all doing so. Kicker Dylan Sherman is flourishing in his debut season and set a 2000s record, going 12 of 12 on extra point tries.
3. South Williamsport (7-2): Lorson, Eli White and Cade Lusk all have gone over 400 yards rushing for a second straight year; each also scoring at least eight touchdowns. Cole Gerber has thrown 10 touchdowns the last three weeks, including seven to Levi Butler who had 94 yards against Wellsboro. Neeko Bowen added a 25-yard touchdown catch. The Mounties also made six stops after the Hornets were inside the 45-yard line, including two red zone stops. Lorson, Caleb Johnson and Taylor Naugle all intercepted passes.
4. Lewisburg (5-4): Quarterback Xavier Carter has been on an absolute rampage since returning from injury, throwing for 243 yards and five touchdowns in Friday's 35-14 win at Milton. Since coming back, Carter has thrown for 1,207 yards and 22 touchdowns, producing at least three touchdown passes in all five games. Lewisburg also is making teams pay for double teaming Jaylen Walker (3 catches, 42 yards, touchdown) as Drake Osunde continues his big breakout season. Osunde caught five passes for 112 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-changing, last-second 40-yarder to close the first half and ignite a 21-point flurry as Lewisburg pulled away. Osunde and Walker are both over 700 yards and Owen Fellon caught three passes for 71 yards and a score. The Dragons have surged throughout the season's second half, winning four of five games, and have a big one with rival Mifflinburg Friday.
5. Montoursville (5-4): Mifflinburg continues giving Montoursville fits and defeated it for a third time in two years last Friday, winning, 21-7. The Warriors did hold Mifflinburg to its lowest point total since Week 3 and Maxton Williamson (12), Jacob Schon (11) and Kaden Kleinman (10) all had double-digit tackle games. Kleinman made three tackles for loss and Williamson and Schon nine solo stops. Elijah Eck threw for 210 yards, but Montoursville struggled to finish drives. Brayden Burkett caught a career-high six passes for 82 yards and also blocked a punt. It looks like Montoursville and Lewisburg will meet in the District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals. If Lewisburg defeats Mifflinburg and/or Montoursville loses to Loyalsock, it will host. If Montoursville wins and Lewisburg loses, it hosts.
Players of the Week
Tevin Williams, Williamsport and Josh Knoebel, Montgomery: Williams continues to dazzle and totaled 349 yards and five touchdowns at Hollidaysburg. Despite missing four games, the junior quarterback moved within 13 of 1,000 yards, throwing for 252 and four scores. Williams has totaled at least three touchdowns in all five games, while totaling 1,663 yards.
Knoebel took a page from the old Dominick Bragalone playbook and scored nearly every time he carried the football. The junior fullback needed just six carries to run for 185 yards and five first-half touchdowns. He averaged 30.8 yards per carry and went over 700 yards this season despite missing 2 ½ games. He leads Montgomery's balanced attack with 760 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Game of the Week
Loyalsock at Montoursville: The Battle of the Bridge has gone back and forth and been a bit streaky over the past decade. Montoursville controlled things early this decade before Loyalsock won two straight and Montoursville prevailed last year. That's to highlight unpredictable this series can be with Montoursville holding a slight lead since the rivalry was resumed in 2002. Both teams desperately are hoping to win here, not just for bragging rights, but to build momentum entering the playoffs. These players have competed against each other since they first put on football cleats, so expect an intense game which could go either way.
–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse