RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Milton’s Montgomery Fisher is introduced down by a pack of Montoursville defenders throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
MILTON–Montoursville didn’t produce any quarterback sacks Friday evening, though it certain got here shut many occasions.
That fixed strain did one thing far more highly effective. It created factors. Quite a lot of them.
A swarming defense compelled turnovers on three consecutive Milton sequence, changing all of them into touchdowns as Montoursville turned an in depth recreation right into a rout. Two scores got here in a 39.4 second span late within the first half and Hayden Harvey’s third-quarter 47-yard interception return for a landing helped Montoursville drop the hammer because it defeated Milton, 35-7 at Alumni Stadium.
The beginning defense didn’t permit a degree for a second straight recreation, whereas Christian Banks totaled 157 yards with three touchdowns and Elijah Eck threw for 228 yards. Bank’s remaining rating, an 11-yard run almost 9 minutes into the third quarter imposed the mercy rule as Montoursville opened 2-0 for a second consecutive season.
“That’s our goal on defense. We like to punish them up on the line and do what we can on the back end,” Harvey mentioned after additionally working for 54 yards and a landing. “That’s one of the most important parts of our defense. As long as we keep that pressure going, that makes it really hard for the QB and running back to get through the line.”
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Christian Banks steps into the tip zone to attain initially of the third quarter of a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
That was evident all evening and shined by means of at an important time. After Eck discovered Banks for an 80-yard landing on the sport’s first play, Milton and its personal stingy defense dug in. It slowed the run and compelled a turnover when Jackson Wertz compelled a fumble on a sack which Brady O’Rourke recovered.
The Warriors (2-0) led simply 7-0 inside two minutes within the first half and it seemed like Milton may get to halftime down one rating, whereas receiving the second half kickoff. Then Kingston Fisher began fanning the flames which grew to become an inferno and blew away Milton.
The junior defensive finish, who had 4 hurries, charged by means of off the left edge and was on prime of quarterback Chase Lytle when he tried threading a cross down the best sideline. Chase Jones intercepted the errant throw on the Black Panther 35-yard line and 4 performs later, aided by a Eck to Fisher 15-yard connection, Harvey was ultimately zone, scoring on a five-yard landing run.
Montoursville stored the warmth on Milton and compelled one other turnover a play later when Brayden Burkett recovered a fumble on the Panther 24. Eck discovered KJ Moore (4 catches, 50 yards) for 11 yards on a third-and-10 and two performs later, Banks scored his second landing, bursting up the center on a draw, bouncing off a tackler and making it, 21-0 together with his 13-yard rating.
In lower than 40 seconds the sport’s complexion drastically modified.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s quarterback Eli Eck is pressured by Milton’s Kamryn Wilson throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
“That helps a lot. If we’re down after we punt the ball, they go out and do that, and it just restores everything and gets us going again,” Eck mentioned after finishing 12 of 17 passes. “Those plays were really big. Those points helped us a lot. It felt good going into halftime.”
“Anytime you can put more points on the board going into halftime that gives the team a little more confidence,” Montoursville coach Joe Hanna mentioned. “That helps you springboard into the second half.”
Turns out the prepare was simply gaining momentum and stayed on observe through the third quarter when Harvey gave Montoursville its second defensive landing in two weeks. Harvey was planning on blitzing however when he noticed Monty Fisher, who normally lined up because the quarterback within the Wildcat Formation, not below heart he dropped into protection.
That adjustment coupled with two defenders once more forcing Lytle into throwing off his again foot, created what primarily was the game-sealing landing. The cross didn’t have a lot zip on it due to the strain and Harvey was sitting on the route when he stepped in entrance of the receiver on the 47-yard line. Harvey went untouched down the left sideline and Montoursville led, 28-0. It was a play much like per week in the past when Moore picked off a hurried throw and went 70 yards for a Pick 6.
“I went out in pass coverage and I was in the right spot at the right time and got my pick. That hyped the team up,” Harvey mentioned. “We’re like brothers out there. We’re like a family. As long as your guys are together, you know you have each other’s backs and that’s the most important part.”
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Jay Houseknecht avoids Milton’s defense to select up yardage throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
Montoursville brilliantly performed that crew defensive recreation with the starters permitting simply 82 yards on 33 performs. Fisher threw a reasonably deep ball late within the fourth quarter and Cole Rhodes turned on the jets, catching it in stride for an 80-yard landing which have been the primary factors scored towards Montoursville this season however the starters have been on the sidelines at that time.
The Warriors excelled in any respect three ranges and stifled the working recreation, whereas hardly ever giving the quarterback time to arrange. So dominant was Montoursville that it didn’t let Milton throughout the 50-yard line till the fourth quarter. Even then, Milton ran simply 5 performs in Montoursville territory and didn’t get previous the 40 with Noah Rakestraw’s hurry almost forcing one other interception on a fourth down cease.
“It was just like last week with that pressure creating turnovers. Any time you get pressure on the quarterback and make him throw off-balance, or the timing is off that really plays into interceptions,” Hanna mentioned. “With some youth on both sides of the ball, the defense usually is ahead of the offense and that’s the case with us right now.”
It seems that method with Milton, too, however the defense’s efficiency actually gives the crew encouragement. Following Banks’s 80-yard landing, Milton restricted Montoursville to 246 yards. Most spectacular, it contained an excellent working recreation which incorporates Banks and Harvey, gamers who topped 2,000 yards a yr in the past. The Panthers allowed simply 98 yards on 34 carries.
O’Rourke continued his wonderful begin and was one of many recreation’s main tacklers, whereas including a sack, fumble restoration and two quarterback hurries. Wertz had a sack, in addition to a sort out for loss, and Gavin Whiteknight made six tackles.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Eli Eck quarterbacks
throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
The defense stored Milton within the recreation all through a lot of the first half. The Panthers proved resilient, combating again after Montoursville surprised it on the sport’s first play.
Eck rolled proper and located Banks in the best flat, 5 yards down subject. Banks then shed a tackler earlier than beating containment to the sideline. Once there, Banks went into turbo mode and burst downfield untouched, giving Montoursville a 7-0 lead simply 20 seconds into the competition.
“I saw a big gap down the sideline, and I know he’s really fast and I thought he could take it,” Eck mentioned. “That’s a really good first play. It’s a great way to start the game. It felt good getting that.”
Eck helped maintain the Milton defense trustworthy and accomplished passes to 6 totally different receivers. He helped Montoursville land the knockout blow within the third quarter, zipping a 36-yard cross to Brody Alexander. Banks accomplished his landing hat trick a play later, making it, 35-0.
It was simply the response Montoursville hoped for after assembly little resistance final week. Milton pushed it arduous all through the primary half and Montoursville got here storming again.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey (22) breaks by means of the Milton defense throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
“It gives us a challenge,” Harvey mentioned. “That’s what need to compete and see what level we’re at.”
Montoursville is 2-0 and likewise is aware of it has a excessive ceiling. The Warriors imagine they’ll get lots higher in all sides and know the challenges will likely be ramping up beginning subsequent week after they host five-time defending District 4 Class AAA champion Danville.
The work continues.
“Our energy is great. I love the energy and the kids are willing to work, we just have to clean up some things,” Hanna mentioned. “I’m excited the place we’re headed. We’re not wherever we have to be but, however we’ll get there.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Hayden Harvey picks up yardage throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Kingston Fisher brings down Milton’s Jensen Souder throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.
RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Christian Banks (0) and Jay Houseknecht (2) have a good time after Banks runs the opening kickoff into the tip zone to place Montoursville on the board throughout a highschool soccer recreation between Montoursville and Milton at Milton on Friday.