SEASON SNAPSHOT

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—at Wellsboro

Sept. 1—vs. Troy

Sept. 8—at Lewisburg

Sept. 15—vs. Central Columbia

Sept. 29—vs. Southern Columbia

Oct. 6—at Danville

Oct. 13—vs. Jersey Shore

Oct. 20—at Selinsgrove

Oct. 27—vs. Montoursville

Joe Hanna said. “It puts things in perspective with sports and life.”

Hanna became the team’s interim coach after Boughton was diagnosed with cancer and became the official coach early in the offseason. It was a season of constant changing last year and the assistant coaching staff had multiple vacancies. Now, all those have been filled and Montoursville has done everything it can since last November to hit the ground running when it opens the 2023 campaign at Wellsboro.

“It’s been really good. We had some real good turnaround in the weight room and a lot of players working on speed training. I’ve been really happy with the turnout,” Hanna said. “The kids are pretty resilient, and the things they learned on and off the field last year makes them tougher individuals.”

That provides a strong foundation for a team with five starters back on both sides of the football. The Warriors faced a similar situation last year when they were replacing the majority of their starters and still started 4-1 before injuries started taking their toll. Replenishing the line, backfield and receiving core are priorities but Montoursville has a good centerpiece in quarterback Bryce Eberhart.

The senior signal caller flourished in his first season, going over 1,100 yards and showing good command of the offense against some ferocious defenses. Eberhart threw for 1,136 yards and 11 touchdowns, finishing among the area’s top 10 in both categories. That included a 182-yard, twotouchdown performance at six-time state champion Southern Columbia.

“Bryce is back and looking for big things. He had a great offseason,” Hanna said. “His arm strength has improved and having a yearunderbelthelpsalot.He’s goingtobebigforus.Italways helpstohaveyourquarterback back.”

LeadingrusherMatthewConklinandreceiverMarcoPulizzi bothgraduated,soMontoursville likelywillbeleaningonacommitteetohelpatbothpositions.SophomoreChristianBanksplayed wellasafreshmanandcouldbe oneofthefeaturedball-carriers whileMichaelReederisoneof manyyoungplayerswhocould makeanimpactatwidereceiver.

ColeYonkinanchorswhatcould beastoutlineandiscomingofan outstandingseason.NateFisher missedtimewithinjurieslastyear butisavaluableguardwhocan alsoplayfullbackandwhohada bigsophomorecampaigntwoseasonsago.EvanBloomhadabig defensiveyearlastfallandalso couldhelpalongthelineorattight end.

ThosethreeplayersandBanks alsowillbedefensiveleadersand allplayedwelltherelastseason. Yonkinisanactivelineman,while BanksandFisherformastrong linebackingtandem.Thesecondaryisaworkinprogressbutadefensewhichshinedthroughoutthe season’sfirsthalflastfallhasthe potentialtoagainhelppavethe wayforsuccess.

“Weneedtobereallygooddefensively.I’mhappywithwhere weareatupfront,”Hannasaid. “Wejustneedtoworkontheback enddefensivelyandtheskillpositionsoffensively.Wejusthaveto playrealstrongdefenseandbe physical.”

Montoursvillefeaturesaspecial teamsweaponinkickerWyatt Fry.Theseniorhasbeenoneofthe area’stopkickersthepasttwo yearsanddrilledfivefieldgoals lastyear,includinga40-yarder.

•••••••

2022 RESULTS (4-8)

Montoursville 21, Wellsboro 14

Montoursville 7, Troy 28

Montoursville 24, Lewisburg 21

Montoursville 35, Central Columbia 21

Montoursville 29, Bald Eagle Area 21

Montoursville 16, Southern Columbia 34

Montoursville 0, Danville 42

Montoursville 0, Jersey Shore 58

Montoursville 7, Selinsgrove 21

Montoursville 14, Loyalsock 48

District 4 Class AAA Quarterfinals

Montoursville 7, Athens 37

Frywasadifference-makerina 29-21winagainstBaldEagle Area,makinganarea-bestthree fieldgoalsthatnight.

Montoursvillewonitsfinal gamethatnight,startingameat grinderofasecond-halfschedule thefollowingweek.Thatschedule isthesamethisyearwithgames againstSouthern,three-timedefendingDistrict4ClassAAA championDanville,five-timedefendingDistrict4ClassAAAA championJerseyShore,SelinsgroveandLoyalsock.

Obviously,itpresentsabigchallenge.ButMontoursvillehasbeen throughalotmorethanadauntingschedulebefore.Nobodyknows howtheseasonwillunfold,butthe Warriorsfightingonseemslikea guarantee.

“Thekidsknowthekindof teamsweareplaying,soyoujust kindoftakeitweekbyweek.You setgoals,andtheymaynotbeultimatelywhatyouwantinthewinlosscolumn,butyousetgoalsof gettingbettereachweek,”Hanna said.“Theturnouthasbeenfantastic.Wehaveasmallsenior classbutprettygoodleadersand we’rehappywiththeleadership we’regettingoutofthem.”

“OurkidsatMontoursvillehave greatattitudesandworkhard. That’sallyoucanask,”Hanna said.

2022 Leaders

•••••••

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

Bryce Eberhart1697811113611

Jimmy Mussina14 41 590

RUSHERATYDSTD

Matthew Conklin1919547

James Batkowski462111

Christian Banks421321

Marco Pulizzi201180

Nate Fisher23841

RECEIVERRECYDSTD

Marco Pulizzi265826

James Batkowski121051

Matthew Conklin11570

2023 Football Players To Watch

Christian Banks, LB/RB: As a freshman last fall, Banks immediately stepped into the starting lineup and emerged as one of the teamʼs most valuable players. Banks excelled at linebacker, finishing second on the team in tackles, averaging 5.9 per game. He added 2 1/2 sacks, including one against powerhouse Jersey Shore. Banks made at least five tackles in all but one game and 41 of his 65 tackles were solos. He provides the defense a strong foundation to build upon and was the only player who intercepted a pass against Danvilleʼs Zach Gordon during the regular season. Banks also brings some muscle to the offensive backfield. Banks also brings some physicality to the offensive backfield and ran for 132 yards, scoring against Selinsgroveʼs stingy defense in Week 9. Having a yearʼs experience under his belt now, could make Banks one of the areaʼs premier players the next three years.

Evan Bloom, DL/LB/OL: Another player who burst onto the scene last season, Bloom enjoyed a breakout year and established himself as a valuble weapon up front. The defensive lineman finished third on the team in tackles and piled up 13 tackles for loss. Equally impressive, Bloom made at least one tackle for loss in 10 of Montoursvilleʼs 11 games. He made 40 solo tackles and added two sacks. The numbers are doubly impressive, considering Montoursville played against one of the districtʼs toughest schedules. Bloom made a career-high 11 tackles against 10-win Troy, including eight solos. He also forced a fumble against Selinsgrove and broke up a pass. Bloom could help fill a void at tight end if called upon. He did not see much receiving action last season, but did haul in a 24-yard pass against Jersey Shore, the districtʼs top-ranked defense.

Nate Fisher, DL/RB/OL: He was limited to eight games, but Fisher still made his presence felt on both sides of the ball and could be one of the teamʼs top players if he is full strength again. A three-year starter, Fisher helps complement Bloom up front on defense. Over the past two seasons he has made 66 tackles, including 10 for loss, while adding 2 1/2 sacks. Fisher made multiple tackles for loss in consecutive wins against Lewisburg and Central Columbia last season and also moved to the backfield where he provided some quality power running. The senior ran for a career-high 33 yards on six carries in the Lewisburg victory and scored his first touchdown in the Central win a week later.

Cole Yonkin, OL/DL: Another player who made big strides last season and provides both experience and production, Yonkin developed into one of the teamʼs top players. Starting along both lines, Yonkin collected four sacks and made seven tackles for loss. He was a big reason Montoursville defeated Bald Eagle Area in Week 5, registering two sacks and adding two tackles for loss that night. Yonkin averaged 4.9 tackles per game and had at least five six times, an impressive number for a defensive tackle. Yonkin also started the past two seasons up front, offensively, helping Montoursville produce 1,000-yard passers and 900-yard rushers both seasons. He also played a key role in Matthew Conklin running for 150 yards against sixtime defending Class AA state champion Southern Columbia in a game Montoursville led in the third quarter.

SUN-GAZETTEFILEPHOTO

LoyalsockquarterbackTyler Geewilllooktobuildofflast yearʼs2,600-yardpassing season.

B By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E cmasse@sungazette.com

Loyalsock graduated several starters the previous June. Then multiple, decorated starters suffered seasonending injuries. And yet

Loyalsock kept winning.

The Lancers spent most of the season ranked among the state’s Top 10 Class AAA ranked teams, reached the district final and won more games in a season (11) than since 2007. Again, Loyalsock must fill some big voids this season, but it knows what whatever this journey holds, it can navigate it. Above the wins, that might have been the most important aspect of that outstanding campaign.

“After last season we really got that feeling of what it’s like when things are clicking at a high level. We’re very much fighting to get back to that place,” Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said. “Every year is different; every team is different but we’re excited to get after it.”

Loyalsock has plenty to be excited