Towanda at Montgomery preview
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Towanda PPG--25.7, PPA--20.3; YPG--350.1, YPA--244.9
Towanda notes: Towanda (3-4) opened the season 2-0 and features a potent offense sparked by running backs Jazick Brown and Gage Evans. Both average more than nine yards per carry and Brown is at 12.0 while rushing for 709 yards despite missing a game. Both also are quality receivers for a team which is trying to move up from No. 6 in the current District 4 Class AA standings. Both players topped 100 yards two weeks ago against Cowanesque Valley. Curtis Manyard nearly had 100 yards in that game and is another versatile weapon who also leads the team in receiving. Towanda did not allow an offensive point after the first quarter in last week's loss against Wellsboro. Maynard, Reese Sluyter and Gabe Wolf also intercepted passes. The defense has been opportunistic all season and forced six turnovers against NTL-I champion Troy. Eight players have interceptions, including Wolf who has three. Shane Magahmez leads the team in tackles and has five for loss.
Towanda player to watch--Kolton McPeak: The senior linebacker does an excellent job finding the football and has recovered four fumbles. He also returned a blocked punt for a touchdown. McPeak has a team-high 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Montgomery PPG--35.7, PPA--8.7; YPG--317.7, YPA--163.7
Montgomery notes: Montgomery (6-1) is battling Line Mountain for District 4 Class A's top seed and likely needs to win out and get some help from Line Mountain's opponents to get the top seed. The Red Raiders have won three straight games and the defense has not allowed a point in 10 consecutive quarters. Montgomery is third among District 4 teams in points allowed and seniors Cameron Woltz and Trace Furman both have 71 tackles. Furman also has topped 100 yards rushing in consecutive games as has Lincoln Miller. Miller has been equally impressive defensively, collecting five sacks and 11 1/2 tackles for loss, while forcing three fumbles. Furman and Hayden Denton each have four interceptions and Gage Furman has 60 tackles. Four-year starting lineman Connor Jarrett recovered a fumble for a touchdown two weeks ago and is part of an offensive line which includes Woltz, Evan Hugar, Ethan Hugar and Lyle Huggler which has surged the last few weeks. Trace Furman, Miller and Josh Knoebel all have topped 470 yards this season and Gage Furman threw for 109 yards and a touchdown a week ago at Sayre. He also has passed, run and caught touchdowns this year.
Montgomery player to watch--Briar Persing: The senior moved from quarterback to wing back in a hard-fought Week 5 win against Muncy and has thrived as a runner and receiver there. Persing ran for 92 yards and two touchdowns two weeks ago against Wyalusing before catching three passes for 73 yards at Sayre.
Outlook: Montgomery has put its last two games away in the first quarter, scoring 91 combined points. This likely will be a four-quarter battle and a challenge which the Raiders welcome at this time of year.