Chris Masse on football: Montoursville’s Fogleman made immediate impact in new role
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Branson Fogleman took a fourth quarter hand-off, watched a large hole open and burst through like a rocket. A few yards downfield, he pancaked a defender, made a cut and 52 yards later, completed a highlight-reel touchdown run which helped Montoursville secure a 49-14 Bridge Trophy win against Loyalsock.
By itself the play was impressive. Considering that it was Fogleman’s third carry it was quite remarkable. And we’re not talking third carry at the high school level. We’re talking third carry ... ever.
Fogleman played along the offensive line at the youth, junior high and high school levels until Friday’s Bridge Game. First-year coach Reese Holmes had wanted to to move Fogleman into the backfield when he first took over as coach but needed his experience first up front.
Needing a spark following two frustrating offensive weeks, Holmes unleashed Fogleman and the rookie looked like a veteran, running for 58 yards and two scores on three carries. Montoursville played a fabulous all-around game and everyone who took the field made a positive impact.
Still, Fogleman doing what he did especially stood out. He was not informed until last Monday that he would be switching positions, but Fogleman was ready.
In fact, the junior had been waiting for this moment his whole football life. Literally.
"Monday at our walkthrough, they were like we’re putting you at running back and tight end and I smiled all week. It was the greatest thing I ever heard," Fogleman said. "Coach said it might happen at some point this year or next year but I never really thought it would happen. I just got blessed that it happened."
Montoursville may be equally blessed as well, because Fogleman is quite a potential weapon. Look at what he did with just four days to prepare for a position he never before played. Fogleman worked his way for a 4-yard touchdown run on his second run and then put the cherry on top with a touchdown run which would make Bo Jackson smile.
What Fogleman showed Friday validated Holmes’s belief. Not only is Fogleman a physical player who stands 6-foot-3 and weights 230 pounds, but he also runs a 4.7-second 40-yard dash.
Still, Montoursville also was replacing four members of its offensive line from last year. Fogleman was the lone returning starter, so he stayed there as the new unit settled in. Believing the younger linemen were ready to go, Holmes made the switch and the plan perfectly came together.
Riggs McGraw, Zane Butler, Joseph Schemery, Rocky Kinsey and Colin Sweeley dominated up front against Loyalsock, helping Montoursville top both 200 yards rushing and passing. Fogleman returned the favor with his running and lead blocking. Suddenly, the Warriors look more explosive entering Friday’s District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal against Lewisburg.
"He stepped up perfectly," tight end Cole Snyder said after producing 104 receiving yards, a touchdown and an interception. "He’s pretty fast for how big he is and when he gets downhill it’s pretty hard to stop him."
Fogleman always had been one of the players who created scoring opportunities all these years. Like a scene from Freaky Friday, he reversed roles this time.
That is what made Friday so much fun. This where Fogleman wanted to be all along, but he never complained when he was placed elsewhere.
Fogleman always has been a selfless player and his main concern has been putting his team in the best position to win. If that was up front, then so be it. That positive attitude has made him an excellent leader, as well as a team captain as a junior. No wonder his teammates were as happy as Fogleman that he made such a quick; successful transition from the shadows to the spotlight.
"He’s got goals just like every other kid does. He wants to play college football but he’s a team-oriented guy; he’s a captain on our football team and he’s going to do what it takes to win the football game," Holmes said. "He finally got his opportunity and I thought it was time with the other kids developing and he did a heck of a job."
His experience up front helps, too, because Fogleman knows as well as anyone where the holes will be when he gets the ball. He’s sound of mind and body, maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average, but the hardest part was getting used to the actual running.
Fogleman was pretty gassed following his 52-yard touchdown run. That, however, is a price he will gladly pay. And, the bonus for both he and Montoursville is that Fogleman is as driven as he is talented, so Friday’s performance was likely not just impressive.
It also may be a launching pad.
Wherever his new position takes him, Fogleman will long remember his first time playing running back. And that 52-yard touchdown run will be a replay he joyfully plays over in his mind time after time, no matter what he does and where he goes.
Talk about a super opening act.
"It was probably my favorite football memory ever," Fogleman said. "I’ll never stop smiling about that one."
HEATING UP
Muncy played its best game this season, thumping rival Hughesville on the road, 31-13. The Indians (6-4) dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides, leading by 25 until the game’s final play and limiting an offense which had been piling up rushing yards to just 57 on 31 carries.
Muncy collected 18 tackles for loss as well as three sacks. Defensive linemen Nasir Miller (4), Nixon Lamper (3) and linebacker Finn Thomas (3) combined for 10 tackles for loss, while linebacker Jaxson thomas made a team-high 11 tackles.
Muncy defeated Hughesville for the first time since 2023 as Noah Weikle threw for three touchdowns and ran for another. Nate Rogers caught three scores and Layken Harris ran hard behind a surging line, producing a career-high 115 yards.
Muncy receives a bye into the District 4 Class A semifinals and will head to Line Mountain next week to play the defending champions. Hughesville plays at Troy in the 2A quarterfinals after Nick Stubbs threw for 111 yards and a touchdown, while intercepting his second pass in three games.
NO SURRENDER
A team ravaged by injuries this season has continued fighting through everything and that shined through at the most critical time last Friday as Warrior Run improbably edged rival Milton, 13-12 on the game’s final play. Milton had taken a 12-7 lead with :29 seconds remaining, but Bryson Weigel’s kick return to the Black Panther 45 gave Warrior Run hope and Logan Stevenson hit Devante Mitchell for 35 yards and Chase Wirnsberger 10 before a timeout with just a tenth of a second remaining.
That was all Warrior Run needed to win one of the most exciting games in this rivalry’s history as Stevenson rolled right and found Weigel for the game-winning touchdown. The Defenders (4-6) earned a 3A quarterfinal at South Williamsport as Stevenson threw for 156 yards and Weigel ran for a score.
Milton quarterback Paxton Humphrey channeled his inner-Tom Brady minutes earlier, throwing for 105 yards (penalties pushed the ball back) on a 16-play, 98-yard touchdown drive which ended when he found Jhemzuel Feliciano for a 10-yard touchdown. Humphrey went over 1,000 yards this year despite not becoming the starter until Week 6 and Ja’Cori brown caught eight passes for 87 yards.
EXTRA POINTS
Wellsboro defeated North Penn-Mansfield for a third straight time, 41-0 and earned the final berth in the District 4 Class AAA playoff field. Quarterback Griffin Morral totaled 163 yards with three touchdowns and Christian Main returned a punt 74 yards for a score. Wellsboro (4-6) has won three of its last four games and plays at Mount Carmel Friday ... The Wesneski family long has made an athletic mark at Canton and Rylan Wesneski continued doing so Friday at Troy, catching five passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns in a 74-13 loss. Brooks Wesneski threw for 205 yards in his second start. Canton (4-6) hosts Northwest in Friday’s District 4 Class A quarterfinals ... Central Mountain quarterback Alex Johnson put together his second straight big performance in his second start, throwing for 244 yards and four touchdowns at Jersey Shore. Gavin Heverly caught two touchdowns and Mason Masorti and Caleb Stitzer the others. Haverly also totaled 141 yards.
–Masse may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse