RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Christian Banks (0) steps into the end zone to score during a high school football game against Lewisburg at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

After a hot start to his first full season as a starter, Montoursville sophomore quarterback Elijah Eck faced some adversity in the middle of the season when things weren’t quite going right in the passing game. But after an excellent performance Friday night at Christy Mathewson Stadium, it’s safe to say those mid-season woes were over.

Eck and his Montoursville teammates played a fantastic first half to take control en route to a 38-14 win over Lewisburg.

“(The passing game) has been in spurts. We got some younger guys learning. There’s been some games where we didn’t need to pass the game as much.. It’s one of those things that it’s nice to have when you need it. I’m happy with the progress we’ve made,” Montoursville coach Joe Hanna said.

Make no mistake, the offensive focus for the Warriors was still on the ground. But when they went to the air, it almost always was a big play. Six total passing attempts turned into 136 yards on five completions with two touchdowns.

“We all felt pretty comfortable (with the passing game) tonight. It was good. We’ve put a little bit more focus on it and have been trying to work on it a little bit harder at practice,” Eck said.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Kingston Fisher is brought down by a pair Lewisburg defenders during a high school football game at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

Montoursville took control of the game from the opening kick with a fantastic drive. A 13-play drive with ten runs and three passes that took over six-and-a-half minutes culminated in a Christian Banks touchdown run from just a yard out. And after Lewisburg started the next drive in good field position and failed to convert on fourth down on its first set of downs, they went back to work on offense. On the third play of the drive, Eck found fellow sophomore Jay Houseknecht on the right hashmarks inside the 10. Houseknecht cut to the inside past a defender, and found paydirt to make it 13-0 after a failed extra point.

“Eli and I both saw the linebacker rolled up a little bit. The safety was on the other side of the field. We knew that was going to come all week in practice, so we just saw it and connected in the game,” Houseknecht said.

The connection between Eck and Houseknecht is really starting to show at the varsity level. But, it’s one that’s been years in the making.

“We’ve known each other since kindergarten. Growing up,we’ve been best friends, playing sports together all the way. Working out together on the weekends and during practice just builds that connection really well,” Eck said.

The Montoursville defense, led by Kingston Fisher, frequently found itself in the backfield pressuring Lewisburg quarterback Xavier Carter, which led to plenty of three-and-outs as the game went on. And, after they forced a quick on the ensuing Lewisburg possession, the Warriors cashed in again. A ten-play drive, highlighted by a 41-yard run by Christian Banks on the drive’s first play and a 22-yard completion on 3rd and 7 ended with a five-yard Christian Banks touchdown run to go up 20-0.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Christian Banks finds his way through the Lewisburg defense during a high school football game at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

Montoursville would score once more before halftime. One play after stopping Lewisburg on 4th and 1 at the Warrior 36-yard line, Eck found Fisher up the seam at midfield. Kingston unleashed a vicious stiff arm, cut to the outside, and outraced the Green Dragons to the end zone for a 64-yard touchdown to essentially put the game away at 27-0 2:30 before halftime.

By the time Montoursville put the game into the mercy rule just under five minutes into the second half on a Hayden Harvey five-yard touchdown run and a Christian Banks two-point conversion, it had become clear that this is a Montoursville team turning towards peaking at the right time.

“I think we’re getting there. You start to find your identities as the season progresses. At the end, you want to be playing your best football. I think we’re starting to get there. We’re not a finished product, but I’m happy with how our guys have bought in, and really done the things we’re asking them to do. We’re becoming a much better football team,” Hanna said.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Jay Houseknecht and Hayden Harvey celebrates a touchdown during a high school football game at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s James Williams and Christian Banks celebrates a touchdown be Banks during a high school football game at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey finds a hole in the Lewisburg defensive line during a high school football game at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg’s Xavier Carter drops back to pass during a high school football game against Montoursvile at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montoursville’s Christian Banks runs the ball during a high school football game against Lewisburg at Christy Mathewson in Lewisburg on Friday.