Breaking News
Local Sports

Montoursville’s defense stifles Lewisburg in 14-0 District 4 Class AAA quarterfinal win

By Chris Masse 8 min read

Early-week Montoursville defensive practices ran anything but smooth. And preparing to face an explosive Lewisburg team, that could have created some anxiety.

But the Warriors ironed out the wrinkles, while gaining confidence. And come game time Friday, that defense pressed Lewisburg into submission.

All three levels dominated; James Williams and Elijah Eck intercepted passes and Montoursville blanked Lewisburg, 14-0 in Friday’s District 4 Class AAA quarterfinals at Memorial Stadium. Branson Fogleman and Riggs McGraw each collected 1 ½ sacks and Montoursville (7-4) held Lewisburg to 124 yards, while earning a spot in next weekend’s semifinals against Mount Carmel.

"At practice this week, there was a lot of confusion," Williams said after also recovering a fumble and breaking up a deep first-half pass. "I felt like as the week went on we got it down pretty good."

That’s an understatement.

Montoursville surrendered just 2.9 yards per play against a unit averaging 29.5 points per game. Quarterback Xavier Carter had thrown 23 touchdowns the last six weeks and receivers Jaylen Walker and Drake Osunde both topped 700 yards. Friday, Carter completed just one pass and Walker and Osunde each caught one each. The Warriors created four turnovers and forced seven punts as well.

Kaden Kleinman ripped off a 25-yard first quarter touchdown run and Elijah Eck added a nine-yard third quarter run while going over 2,000 yards passing this season. And with Montoursville’s defense looking like the 1985 Bears, that 14-point deficit started looking like a Mount Everest-like climb to a Lewisburg team which had scored at will from Weeks 5-9.

"We made adjustments and linebacker, Jacob Schon, is a captain on the field and makes adjustments on the field for us," Montoursville coach Reese Holmes said. "Credit to the defensive coaches. They had a great game plan going in. We have a lot of coaching experience on the defensive side of the ball and they knew what to expect and they did exactly what we thought they were going to do.

"As always, our kids flew to the football. That’s what we always ask is fly to the ball; play physical and make tackles and they did."

That was especially impressive since standout safety Brayden Burkett and his six interceptions were unavailable. It didn’t matter as Montoursville never let Lewisburg inside its 40-yard line until the fourth quarter.

By that point, Carter had been knocked from the game and Walker was pressed into quarterback duty. The dynamic senior did his best willing Lewisburg back and made two fabulous fourth-down runs to extend a fourth quarter drive which reached the 7-yard line. Still, Eck’s interception and ensuing 52-yard return snuffed out Lewisburg’s last shot.

Eck officially sealed victory when he found Jay Houseknecht for a 21-yard catch on third-and-19, allowing Montoursville to kneel out the clock. Next up was the celebratory singing of the alma mater and savoring the thrill of winning at Memorial Stadium for the final time this season.

"I’m going to play it like any other game. I know what’s at stake, but at the end of the day, I’m not going to put that pressure on me and my other teammates," Williams said. "It’s just another football game. "We’re just leaving it all on the field."

Montoursville rarely let Lewisburg get upfield. The Dragons’ best plays all come on improvisational runs by Carter and Walker when they were flushed from the pocket and either found a crease, or beat containment. Even Walker’s 30-yard catch was more a thing of beauty on his part than anything incorrect Montoursville did, as he leaped and made a spectacular catch despite two defenders draped upon him.

So, even though Lewisburg played some stingy defense of its own and made three stops inside its 25-yard line during the first half, Montoursville guarding the field like a dog does his favorite toy had the Warriors in control all night.

Williams ended two second-half Lewisburg possessions with his fumble recovery on the third quarter’s first play and an interception later that quarter. He and Houseknecht blanketed receivers all night and Williams intercepted a pass for a second straight week; no other Lewisburg completion went for more than six yards.

"I knew they were athletes. I didn’t let it discourage me at all," Williams said. "I just went out and played football."

So did his teammates. Fogleman and Zane Butler were menaces off the edge, while McGraw, Gavin Bower and Joseph Schemery stifled the inside run. Schon and Kleinman anchored the linebacking unit and players at all three levels often set up shop in the backfield.

Ultimately, Montoursville’s front seven’s ability to both stuff the run and constantly harass the passer made the game’s ultimate difference. Without blitzing, Montoursville had Carter and Walker on the run all night. Neither never had time to set up and scan the field and/or really get their legs into throws.

Even on Lewisburg’s best drive, it was Montoursville’s push up front which helped the Warriors drop the hammer. McGraw and Fogleman combined on a sack for an eight-yard loss back to the 15 and a heavy pass rush against an attempted end-around pass forced a desperation heave from Todd Dershem as he was hit which Eck easily intercepted.

"It was the pressure and making him move. Our coaches told us he’s good at running and throwing but he can’t do both," McGraw said. "We got a lot of pressure on him, so it made him get out of his comfort zone and pass on the run."

Fogleman looked like a prime Reggie White at times, constantly blowing into the backfield. Nearly every time, Carter or Walker passed, Fogleman was bringing pressure, producing eight hurries.

Still, it was not about one player, but all 11 working as one which allowed Montoursville’s defense to surge. The secondary covered well; the front seven pressured and, on the rare occasions Lewisburg quarterbacks had more than a couple seconds to throw, options were limited because receivers were being locked down.

"It makes it easier for them (defensive backs) because if we have good pressure on him, he’s not going to be getting a good ball which leads to things like James’s and Eli’s picks," McGraw said. "I was feeling good and we were all feeling good out there."

Kleinman was a key part of the defensive success and carried that momentum to offense, gaining 92 yards. He capped a quick four-play, 66-yard drive midway through the first quarter with an outstanding 25-yard touchdown run. Kleinman took a toss right, burst through a good hole and trucked a defender before outrunning the secondary and giving Montoursville a 7-0 lead.

Kleinman topped 90 yards for a second straight week and McGraw, Butler, Schemery, Rocky Kinsey and Colin Sweeley helped the Warriors gain 310 yards.

"Kaden is taking advantage of his opportunities. He’s a good running back," Holmes said. "His vision has gotten better as the year has gone on. He sees the cutback well; he’s patient getting into the hole and when he gets into it he explodes. He accelerates at the point of contact and does a good job bouncing off guys."

Swarming defense helped create points late in the third quarter. Three penalties and two run stuffs forced Lewisburg to punt from the back of the end zone, setting up Montoursville at Lewisburg’s 28-yard line. Kleinman and Mason Lapinski ran for 17 yards, setting up a fourth-and-two from the 11.

There, Eck took a bootleg left, sprinted to the edge and picked up the first down. Unsatisfied, Eck kept going hard and broke two tackles inside the five-yard line before diving in for the touchdown which made it, 14-0.

Eck threw for 138 yards and became the program’s fourth 2,000-yard passer during the first half when he produced 108 of those yards.

Walker reached several impressive milestones this year at Lewisburg and is the progam’s all-time leader in catches, yards and touchdowns. The four-year starter did all he could in his final game, making like Houdini after replacing Carter and keeping that long fourth quarter drive alive with dazzling runs. Take away three sacks on that series and Walker ran for 61 yards and was in on every yard during a drive which reached the 7.

The defense did all it could as well. Owen Fellon completed a fabulous year at linebacker, topping 10 tackles again and freshman Mason Bolden ended a second-quarter threat with an interception at the 10-yard line. Lineman Elijah Carter was all over the field and delivered both a sack and multiple tackles for loss.

Lewisburg overcame a rash of early-season injuries and made a three-win improvement this season. They turned a struggling season into a good one, but this night belonged to Montoursville.

A year after graduating the majority of their starters from a district finalist, the Warriors are back in the district semifinals. The work continues and Montoursville still wants more. So, what a good time for the Warriors to be putting their pieces together.

"The goal is to do well in playoffs and we’re in a tough league and a tough district," Holmes said. "But we’re s tarting to hit at a good time."

Starting at /week.