DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette
Muncy and Warrior Run face off in the season-opener for each crew’s as soon as once more this yr as the Defenders head to Muncy.
Little League Baseball has dominated the headlines the final two weeks, however now it’s pushed apart tonight.
The Friday Night Lights are again and it’s all about that 100-yard discipline. It’s all about exhibiting the county what all that onerous offseason work was for. It’s about having fun with the second and doing one’s finest to personal it.
Come 7 p.m., 17 space groups and all their gamers begin writing their very own tales. The following is a take a look at the space’s 14 video games tonight as the tales begin unfolding.
Williamsport at
Wyoming Valley West
Williamsport (7-6 final yr) has gained its final two season openers and used final yr’s 33-0 win towards Valley West to assist spark a 4-0 begin. The Millionaires retain a great core from final yr’s district champion and have large targets once more for this season.
Valley West (0-11) has nowhere to go however up, and would like to set the tone for a resurgence with a win tonight. The Spartans misplaced a majority of final starters, however are hoping a youthful combine results in optimistic outcomes. This has been one in all Williamsport’s longest-standing rivalry video games, so between that and it being a brand new yr, something might occur right here.
Warrior Run at Muncy
This has been one in all the space’s finest opening evening sport the final two years with every crew profitable a seven-point thriller. The residence crew has gained every time with Warrior Run rallying in the fourth quarter to beat the eventual Class A state semifinalists, 28-21 final August.
Both groups look lots completely different this time however every additionally shouldn’t be discounted. Warrior Run (8-5) reached its first district championship a yr in the past and will have one in all the space’s finest offensive strains. Warrior Run might have a bit extra expertise than Muncy (12-3), however the Indians nonetheless could possibly be a crew which makes noise in the Class A discipline.
Like Warrior Run, Muncy has a great basis in place up entrance which might assist make every part go. Both these groups could have chips on their collective shoulders, desperate to show doubters incorrect.
Dallas at Jersey Shore
A showdown between perennial District 2 and 4 title contenders is also a rematch of the 2019 Class AAAA state semifinals. Like the sport above, this one was thrilling final yr with Jersey Shore overcoming a 14-point late third quarter deficit and profitable, 28-21. The Bulldogs are changing most of final yr’s starters however have excelled at doing so over the final 12 years and have gained no less than eight video games yearly since 2019.
Dallas began 0-3 after reaching the state championship in 2023 however caught fireplace after that. The Mountaineers gained their subsequent eight video games earlier than dropping to Valley View in districts. Dallas should substitute its main passer, dashing and receiver from final yr, so this may once more be a great take a look at for 2 new-look groups.
Montgomery at Hughesville
These rivals additionally performed an ideal opening-night contest final August. This one was all about the protection and Hughesville made a last-minute, purple zone stand to shut out a 14-7 victory. It was a optimistic for each groups as Hughesville (6-5) went on to supply its first profitable season since 2016 and Montgomery (7-4) its first since 2001.
Hughesville graduated much more starters than Montgomery did, so for the first time in a number of years, it could possibly be thought-about the underdog in the contest. Montgomery, nonetheless, has not defeated Hughesville since 2021, so it definitely is not going to be taken with no consideration. Both groups function doubtlessly sturdy defenses, every rating in the prime half final season, so don’t be shocked if factors are exhausting to come back by once more.
Wellsboro at
Montoursville
Both groups have motive to be excited coming into the season as most of their starters return. Wellsboro (2-8) was higher down the stretch than its report indicated and has a great basis in place because it appears to be like to return to the profitable methods which outlined its program final decade.
Montoursville reached the district semifinals a yr in the past and was a number of performs from having a greater report than 6-6. The Warriors might have some good offensive stability and the protection has some sturdy playmakers.. They are a giant favourite tonight however Montoursville is hoping to construct momentum that may final all through the season because it tries returning to the district championship image.
Loyalsock at
Mifflinburg
This could possibly be one in all District 4’s extra intriguing video games with each having excessive expectations. It definitely was final yr when Loyalsock held off a livid Mifflinburg rally, made a 2-point conversion stand and gained, 28-27.
Mifflinburg returns practically each starter from a crew which made huge strides as the yr progressed, beating Southern Columbia on its residence discipline and taking Montoursville to the brink the district quarterfinals. Quarterback Chad Martin led the approach and threw for two,188 yards and 26 touchdowns. Loyalsock additionally has a powerful core again, particularly up entrance, however should make up for the absence of injured Dolan Harman. Danny Dowell returned a kickoff 89 yards for a rating towards Mifflinburg and likewise threw for 161 yards and a rating.
South Williamsport at Athens
South returns practically each starter from final yr however faces an opponent in an analogous scenario after it reached the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals final yr. South defeated Athens, 26-13 final yr, utilizing a blocked discipline purpose return for a landing earlier than halftime to assist change the sport’s complexion and this one has the makings of a sport which could possibly be swung by one or two large performs.
South’s backfield could possibly be potent with sophomores Cade Lusk and Eli White each going over 500 yards final season. The linebacking unit appears to be like sturdy as properly and a extra skilled offensive line might once more show a giant difference-maker. South’s protection will likely be examined early and sometimes by quarterback Connor Davidson who topped 1,400 yards passing and 1,100 yards dashing as a sophomore final yr.
Lewisburg at
Line Mountain
Lewisburg loved one in all the finest seasons in program historical past a yr in the past, ending 10-2, profitable its first league title since 2010 and coming inside a couple of minutes of capturing the District 4 Class AAA championship. Most of the starters from that crew are gone, however Lewisburg has executed a great job overcoming related conditions earlier than and has a gaggle keen to indicate it could possibly construct on the success.
Still, this can be a powerful opening act towards Class A state-ranked Line Mountain, a crew which appears to be like like the crew to beat in District 4. Lewisburg gained a hard-fought 26-23 sport at residence final season. This will likely be a take a look at for a new-look protection, dealing with a crew which had a 2,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher a yr in the past.
Northwest at Canton
Canton has gained its final seven openers and can attempt extending that streak towards a crew it could possibly be competing with for one in all the 4 District 4 Class A berths. Canton gained at Northwest a yr in the past, placing collectively one in all its strongest performances of the yr. Bailey Gardner ran for 79 yards and three touchdowns in that sport and the protection didn’t enable a first-half level in a 42-6 victory.
Northwest (1-9) was a younger crew final yr which improved as the season progressed. It featured a harmful passing sport and three receivers have been amongst the district’s prime 20 in catches at completely different factors of the season.
Wyalusing at
North Penn-Mansfield
North Penn-Mansfield has excessive hopes after attacking its offseason exhausting and ending final yr with a dramatic one-point win towards rival Wellsboro. The Panthers (3-7) additionally try to precise a measure of revenge after Wyalusing defeated them, 37-12 dashing for 243 yards.
Luke Kreger earned all-state honors final season after catching 60 passes for 1,188 yards and 10 touchdowns. North Penn-Mansfield will likely be younger in spots however Wyalusing is in an analogous place after taking a giant commencement hit. The Rams historically are large up entrance and ran the ball at will towards a number of opponents final season, averaging 230 yards per sport.
Central Mountain at Mifflin County
Central Mountain is in search of its first win since 2023 and is worked up with the quantity of gamers who return with both vital beginning expertise and/or taking part in time. Plenty of that have comes up entrance on each side of the ball and it’s at all times good to have high quality line play as a basis. The residence crew has gained this sport the previous three seasons and a win right here could possibly be a pleasant springboard for Central Mountain going ahead.
Mifflin County (4-6) is able that Central Mountain was final yr, changing most of its starters, together with its main rusher and receiver. Quarterback Chase Hartung is again, nonetheless, after throwing for 944 yards and 7 touchdowns in 9 video games.
Towanda at
Cowanesque Valley
Cowanesque Valley quietly has been producing high quality seasons in three of the final 4 years and rallied from an 0-3 begin to go 4-6 a yr in the past. Playmakers like Dave Hess, Kegan Lane and Luke Sottolano are again and kind a powerful nucleus. Lane was amongst the NTL’s leaders in tackles final season and Sottolano was a primary crew NTL-II lineman.
Towanda is coming off an excellent season, going 9-3 and reaching the District 4 Class AA semifinals. The Knights, although, should substitute dynamic quarterback Rylee Vanderpool after he totaled 2,741 yards and 31 touchdowns final fall. Look for gamers like Rylee Sluyter and Curtis Maynard to play large roles.
Shikellamy at Milton
Milton (4-7) set the tone for its season at Shikellamy in final yr’s opener when it went 99 yards for a game-tying rating late in regulation earlier than profitable, 20-17 in time beyond regulation. It was one in all three thrilling fourth quarter street comeback wins for Milton which reached districts for a 3rd straight season. Monty Fisher is one in all the space’s most versatile gamers and the Black Panthers have a pleasant mixture of expertise and thrilling first-time varsity gamers.
Shikellamy has extra stability than a yr in the past when it had two coaches. The Braves additionally function a doubtlessly explosive offense with quarterback Brody Rebuck coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Junior huge receiver Thomas Pollock could possibly be one in all the district’s finest there and has greater than 1,500 yards in his first two seasons.
Bucktail at
Cameron County
Bucktail has a bigger roster dimension than final season and is raring to try to win its first sport since 2023. Although all-state athlete Brody Pentz graduated, Bucktail returns a bulk of its starters and could possibly be notably sturdy up entrance. Bucktail additionally was in a position to get 10 common season video games for the first time this decade, giving its gamers extra alternatives to progress all through the season.
Cameron County loved a great season final yr, going 6-4. Malakai Zucal sparks the offense and had a giant yr, dashing for 1,254 yards and 9 touchdowns.