Chris Masse on football: The future is bright for Hughesville
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over; Chase Shrawder ran for 191 yards and Hughesville showed both the skill and will which has turned its season around while pointing to a promising future.
Because, while those younger players were learning the system and situations earlier this year, they know have learned something even more important. They have learned how to win.
"They’re starting to see that they can push and that they can play with the other teams," Hughesville coach Howard Rainey said. "We had a pretty tough schedule at the start but they’re starting to see. It’s coming around."
"You have to have that mindset. You have to have the mindset of going full speed ahead and not stopping," Shrawder said. "If you think you can win, then it can happen. You just have to keep that mindset."
Embracing that mindset has helped Hughesville outscore opponents 54-12 in the second half of its three victories. The Spartans came roaring back after halftime against Warrior Run and how they won was as important as the win itself.
Nothing came easy, but Hughesville kept fighting; kept believing. Seniors Mason Karl combined with underclassmen Dominic Dimoff, Cael Bowman, Colton Woolever and Devin Stackhouse to help Hughesville run for 284 yards. Senior tight end Jerry Barton and sophomore fullback Carson Shoemaker were critical to that blocking success as well, highlighting the fusion of present and future success.
"We knew that they knew where we were going," Stubbs said. "But with the line, if they push, it doesn’t matter if they know where you’re going. You can run right through them."
Hughesville did that well and several young players also came up big defensively. Bowman, a freshman, had a sack and forced a third-down incompletion to end a last-minute Warrior Run drive. Junior Levi Green broke up multiple passes; freshman linebacker Gage Moyer made an impact and Shoemaker, a sophomore, made his presence felt on both sides.
As more experience has come their way, those first-time starters have grown along with the seniors. Suddenly, what felt like a lost season has become an exciting one. The Spartans have moved to fifth in the District 4 Class AA standings and are gaining confidence by the week. However this season ends, that is providing motivation going into the coming years.
"Most of our team are juniors and sophomores now. I feel like when we come back next year we’ll be pretty good," Stubbs said. "We have a lot of guys getting experience, so we’ll be ahead of a lot of teams in that area."
Still, neither Stubbs, nor his teammates are yet looking toward 2027 or beyond. The future is now. That goes double for the seniors who will not be along for the ride next fall.
Hughesville has come a long way the last four weeks, but it wants to keep going strong. The Spartans have rivals Loyalsock and Muncy coming up in the regular season’s final two weeks and then will compete in the playoffs.
Motivation certainly will not be a problem. Considering the team’s relative youth; considering the 0-4 start, Hughesville faced two choices, fight or flight. It chose to fight and now hopes to make believers out of those who did not think they could surge down the stretch.
The season is a marathon, not a sprint, and Hughesville hopes present and future keep jelling to provide a powerful finishing kick.
"I think now they know that they can come back and win a game. That’s big," Rainey said. "They’re going to feel confident going into the next two games because they have seen what they can do."
BREAKING THROUGH
Bucktail won its first game since Oct. 6, 2023, avenging a defeat from two weeks earlier and downing Coudersport, 20-13. Corbin Pentz’s last-second interception sealed victory for a team which had made big strides throughout the season and now has the win to validate all that work.
The victory came two weeks after Coudersport had won, 41-14, highlighting the progress Bucktail has made. Levi Stevenson ran for 187 yards and a touchdown behind a strong offensive line and Patrick Tarantella and Aidan Ditty fueled a swarming defense which allowed just six points over the game’s final three quarters.
Pentz ran for two touchdowns and is one of many underclassmen playing big roles again this season. With some momentum going forward, Bucktail looks like a program on the rise.
EXTRA POINTS
Warrior Run quarterback Logan Stevenson threw for 383 yards and four touchdowns at Hughesville in his first game since Week 4. Despite playing only 4 ½ games this season, Stevenson also went over 1,000 yards and has 1,067 in his first year starting ... Muncy (5-3) won its second straight game and produced its third shutout, blanking North Penn-Mansfield, 41-0. Nate Rogers caught a 40-yard Noah Walters 40-yard touchdown and returned a punt 40 yards for another score. Layken Harris ran for two touchdowns and Noah Weikle and Drew Ryder one each. The Indians have allowed just 15 points in five wins ... Wellsboro (3-5) won its second straight game, defeating Wyalusing, 41-13. Max Mascho and Reed Richardson combined to run for 181 yards. Mascho went over 80 yards for a second straight game and Richardson generated a hat trick ... Wide receiver Carter Rhinehart caught seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown, topping 100 yards for the fifth time in six games as Jersey Shore lost, 50-18 at Hollidaysburg. Nolen Pauling threw for 164 yards, also finding Connor Winters for a touchdown, and also ran for a score, giving him 30 touchdowns this season ... Loyalsock quarterback Dyson Dupont threw for 81 yards and a touchdown in a 42-10 loss against Shikellamy, breaking Connor Watkins’ program record for freshman passing yards. Dupont has thrown for 1,207 yards as well as a record 18 touchdowns. Cayden Sones topped 90 yards for a third straight game, rushing for 98 ... Milton freshman quarterback Paxton Humphrey continued his strong run, throwing for 149 yards and a touchdown in a 42-14 loss at Southern Columbia. Kamryn Wilson caught eight passes for 87 yards and a score, while Brody Locke ran for 105 yards and a touchdown ... Canton sophomore quarterback Owen Moore threw for 100 yards in a 42-0 loss against Canton, going over both 1,000 yards this season and 2,000 less than halfway through his high school career.
Dr. Masse's top 5 rankings
1. Williamsport (6-2): Welcome back, Tevin Williams. Following a four-game absence, Williams picked up where he had left, topping 100 yards passing and rushing with four touchdowns in a 28-0 win at Berwick. Williams threw for 158 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 102 with another score. Still, the defense took center stage and played its best game, allowing just 175 yards and making a game-changing goal line stand late in the first half. The Millionaires followed with a 99-yard touchdown drive in the half's final 90 seconds and dominated from there. It was the third time the defense allowed 10 or fewer points this season and Williamsport defeated Berwick for the first time since 2020. The Millionaires also clinched their first winning season since that year and District 2-4 Class AAAAAA's top seed. Zion Hughes totaled 156 yards and a touchdown and Trey Damschroder and Kason Ulmer caught touchdowns. The Millionaires head to Hollidaysburg for a test Friday.
2. Montgomery (7-1): Montgomery made Senior Night a good one, dominating the line of scrimmage and defeating Towanda, 35-14. The Red Raiders built a 28-0 fourth quarter lead and the offensive line surged, helping them rush for 277 yards. Trace Furman had a big night, and he, Briar Persing, Lincoln Miller and Josh Knoebel all topped 50 yards. Knoebel also produced a sack in his first game since Week 5, while Miller intercepted a pass. All four backs have gone over 300 yards this season. Montgomery will get another home game in the District 4 Class A semifinals, but it was a fitting Senior Night for a group which has helped transform the program. After being part of a 1-9 team as freshmen, those seniors have helped Montgomery go 24-7 and win two league championships since.
3. South Williamsport (6-2): South continues forming a painted blue brick wall, collecting its fifth shutout and defeating Cowanesque Valley, 58-0. The Mounties have allowed just six points during a four-game winning streak; blanked consecutive opponents and surrendered just 30 points all year. Garrett Lorson, Levi Butler and Tysheed Wright all intercepted passes against CV, while Camden Hannan and Dominik Goode produced sacks. Samir Moy continues doing his best Devin Hester impersonation, taking a kickoff back for his third return touchdown in two weeks. Cole Gerber threw four touchdowns, including three to Butler for a second straight week. Lorson also threw a touchdown to Case Lusk and Eli White ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns on just six carries. South is all but assured of hosting a first-round home playoff game and has secured its seventh straight winning season.
4. Montoursville (5-3): On a night its offense struggled and lost four turnovers, Montoursville leaned on its defense to defeat Central Mountain, 28-7. The Warriors allowed just 38 yards and Central Mountain's lone touchdown came following a turnover at their 12-yard line. Brayden Burkett intercepted two passes, giving him five this year, and forced a fumble. Linemen Zane Butler, Riggs McGraw and Branson Fogleman all had sacks and combined for six tackles for loss. It was the fifth time Montoursville allowed one or no touchdowns. Kaden Kleinman made seven tackles and also totaled 92 yards, becoming the sixth player this year to catch a touchdown from Elijah Eck (127 yards, 2 rushing scores). Montoursville gets another crack at defending District 4 Class AAA champion Mifflinburg Friday after the Wildcats defeated it twice last season. The winner of that game could potentially earn the No. 3 seed for the District 4 Class AAA playoffs.
5. Lewisburg (4-4): Lewisburg nearly handed state-ranked Bloomsburg its first loss, leading four times in a 36-32 defeat. The Green Dragons continued showcasing their explosiveness and, despite missing three games earlier this year, quarterback Xavier Carter went over 1,000 yards, throwing for 206 and four touchdowns. Carter has thrown 17 touchdowns since returning four weeks ago and Jaylen Walker caught eight for 80 and two scores, tying Dylan Farronato for the program career catches record (116). Walker also returned an interception for a touchdown, his seventh pick this year, and piled up 254 all-purpose yards. Drake Osunde and Todd Dershem caught touchdowns and Osunde went over 600 yards this season. Lewisburg is starting to look like a dangerous team in the 3A field and still has a shot at a first-round home playoff game if it can win its final two games, although both are tough ones against rivals Milton and Mifflinburg.
Players of the Week
Chase Shrawder, Hughesville and Trace Furman, Montgomery: Shrawder played, arguably, his best high school game, shining offensively and defensively. The senior workhorse ran for a career-high 191 yards and two touchdowns, scoring the game-winner in overtime. The team's leading tackler this season, Shrawder again was all over the field at linebacker and returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown. Furman continued flourishing on both sides of the ball as well, making seven tackles, rushing for 135 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Furman went over 100 yards for a third straight game and also caught three passes. The senior has scored eight touchdowns on 19 carries these last three games.
Game of the Week
Hughesville at Loyalsock: Montoursville-Mifflinburg is a big one, but we'll go with the local flavor here and pick a good rivalry game. This one looks especially intriguing now with Hughesville coming off a gutsy victory. Loyalsock has won nine straight in this series but the teams appear more evenly-matched this season and both have exciting, young cores. Both have had heavyweight battle fights against Warrior Run the past two weeks and now they may make their encounter a 15-round thriller.
–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse