Lewisburg at Montoursville playoff preview
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Last meeting: Montoursville 38, Lewisburg 14, Week 9, 2026
Lewisburg PPG―29.5, PPA―29.3; YPG―332.6, YPA―375.2
Lewisburg notes: Tonight will be the seventh time Lewisburg and Montoursville have met in the playoffs since 2012. Lewisburg (5-5) snapped a five-game playoff losing streak against the Warriors when it won a 2023 quarterfinals, 29-14. Three of the six games since 2012 have been decided by four points or fewer. Lewisburg made a big turnaround after starting 1-3, coinciding with the return of quarterback Xavier Carter who had missed all but one play of the the previous three contests. Carter has thrown 23 touchdowns since his return and finished second among area passers in touchdowns. Jaylen Walker is the program's all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns and his 14 touchdowns this season are a district-best. Drake Osunde is equally explosive and is close behind Walker in yards at 795 and has nine touchdowns. Todd Dershem caught touchdowns in four straight games at one point as well. Still, this is a not a one-dimensional offense. Freshman running back Ethan Coleman has taken off the last six weeks and averaged more than 100 yards per game during that stretch. Lewisburg has struggled defensively at times but led undefeated Bloomsburg in the fourth quarter and had a chance to tie defending district champion Mifflinburg late last week. Linebacker Owen Fellon is having a big season and went over 100 tackles a week ago. Dershem, a safety, has three interceptions and averages 7.5 tackles per game.
Lewisburg player to watch―Jaylen Walker: His receiving already was mentioned, but Walker is a playmaker in all facets. He leads District 4 with eight interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. The four-year starter also has returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns, scoring five ways this season.
Montoursville PPG―26.9, PPA―17.9; YPG―333, YPA―256.3
Montoursville notes: Montoursville (6-4) reached last year's championship and earned a home playoff game despite losing the majority of starters from that squad. The Warriors played one of their most complete games last week against Loyalsock, topping 200 yards passing and rushing, while the defense made five stops after Loyalsock crossed its 40-yard line. Quarterback Elijah Eck is second among area passers in yards and threw for 220 last week. He connected with Cole Snyder on a 50-yard touchdown, making it seven receivers who have caught Eck scores this season. Snyder had a big night, totaling 104 yards on two receptions, while intercepting a pass which ended a Loyalsock threat. Brayden Burkett picked off his sixth pass and returned his second for a touchdown this year. James Williams also intercepted a pass which he returned 86 yards for a touchdown, although a holding call on his run negated the score. Montoursville's defense is the only one to hold Mifflinburg's Landon Moser to fewer than 100 yards over the last seven weeks and linebacker Jacob Schon has had a big year, totaling 100 tackles. Defensive end Zane Butler gave Loyalsock fits and made a career-high 15 tackles. Linebacker Kaden Kleinman has surged down the stretch and made 11 tackles, while running for 91 yards and a touchdown. Safety Maxton Williamson was all over the field and set the tone with a big early hit. Converted lineman Branson Fogleman scored twice on his first three carries, gaining 58 yards.
Montoursville player to watch―Riggs McGraw: A strong presence on both sides of the ball, McGraw's play was critical to Montoursville bottling up Loyalsock's running game a week ago. He helped Montoursville control the line on both sides and his ability to take on linemen frees up the linebackers to flow and make plays.
Winner plays: Either Mount Carmel or Wellsboro
Outlook: These teams are about as evenly matched as two can be, mirroring each other in so many ways. How even are they? Both have the same amount of passing yards and only four rushing yards separate them. Montoursville and Lewisburg have produced some playoff classics in the past and it would not be surprising at all if this game is the district's most exciting tonight.