Muncy at Athens preview
Trending
Muncy PPG--27.6, PPA--10.9; YPG--297.4, YPA--212.6
Muncy notes: Muncy (5-3) has won consecutive games, allowing just six points in those contests. It also has held those last two opponents scoreless for seven straight quarters. The defense has held six opponents to 14 or fewer points this season and Nate Rogers (5), Cullen Reed (3) and Chase Boozer (3) have combined for 11 interceptions. Rogers also returned a punt for a score a week ago, while catching a Noah Walters touchdown. Drew Ryder added a touchdown reception from Noah Weikle and the quarterback duo has produced 1,240 yards in their first significant varsity action this year. Layken Harris has run for eight touchdowns despite missing three games and Jaxson Thomas ran for a career-high 100 yards against North Penn-Mansfield a week ago. Thomas also is third on the team in tackles and his brother Finn, a freshman, averages a team-high 10.4 per game. Four-year starting lineman Nixon Lamper is one of the area's top players up front and averages eight tackles per game, making 11 stops for loss. Safety Kynton Fish has put together a strong year and Reed has collected eight tackles for loss in his first year starting. Muncy is looking like it will be the No. 3 seed in the District 4 Class A playoffs and likely would face rival Montgomery in the semifinals if that holds.
Muncy player to watch--Nasir Miller: The senior defensive end played an outstanding game last week, producing a sack and four tackles for loss. Miller burst onto the scene as a sophomore with a super postseason when Muncy reached the state's Final 4. He is having his best season at Muncy, generating three sacks and eight tackles for loss.
Athens PPG--40.4, PPA--8.3; YPG--382.9, YPA--165.6
Athens notes: Athens (7-1) has won six straight games since dropping a 31-21 contest to Troy. The Trojans are the only team to beat Athens during the last two regular seasons and the Wildcats likely will be the No. 2 or 3 seed in the District 4 Class AAA playoffs. Quarterback Connor Davidson is one of the district's top players and has totaled more than 8,000 yards during his decorated career. Davidson is closing in on a second 1,000-yard passing/rushing season and leads the district with 22 touchdowns. He also is fifth among district rushers; has intercepted five passes and returned two punts for scores, totaling 37 touchdowns. Gage Marmor and Kade Rude form a terrific receiving tandem, each catching nine touchdowns. A week ago, Davidson found four different receivers for touchdowns. He was ejected in last year's Muncy game, but Shea Davidson took over and played well, throwing for 157 yards and a touchdown. Brendan Cooke is second on the team in rushing and also sparks a stingy defense, collecting six sacks. Devin Maxfield has three and returned a fumble for a touchdown.
Athens player to watch--Brady Flynn: A dependable linebacker, Flynn leads the team in tackles, averaging 8.5 per game. He also has 12 tackles for loss this year and 22 over the past two seasons. Flynn had 10 tackles, for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery in last week's 42-0 win at Canton.
Outlook: Slow Davidson and one can slow the entire Athens offense. It sounds so easy but reality is much different and few teams have figured out how to do that. Look for Muncy to hang with Athens for a while but for the Wildcats fire power to win out.