Warrior Run at North Penn-Mansfield

Warrior Run (4-1) lost its first game last week, but remains in a strong spot, setting at second in the District 4 Class AA playoff standings. The Defenders reached the Class AAA semifinals last season and are 10-4 over their last 14 games. They also have gutsy fourth quarter comeback wins against Muncy and Bloomsburg.

Quarterback James Keifer is 10 yards from reaching 1,000 in his first season starting and Sam Hall leads the area in receiving yards. Eli Butler has made a series of big plays in the passing game and also leads the team in rushing and tackles. Colby LeBarron scored six touchdowns in the first three weeks and Isaiah Betz and Stone Allison have combined for nine sacks. Denyn Beachel has added six tackles for loss.

North Penn-Mansfield (2-3) is coming off an impressive 16-14 win last Saturday against Athens. The Panthers stifled an offense which topped 500 yards in a 48-42 win at Canton, allowing just one offensive touchdown, one that did not come until the game’s final 40 seconds. George Perry, Brayden Pequignot and Braden Route all had sacks, while Cooper Shaw intercepted a pass. Perry also made a team-high eight tackles.

Shaw is excelling in his first season at quarterback and has more than 2,000 career total yards after playing mostly wide receiver his first three seasons. Shaw has topped 100 yards rushing in both wins and threw for 431 yards and five touchdowns two weeks ago against Canton. Luke Kreger caught nine passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns in that game. He also threw a touchdown with Colton Pellett, Riley Oakes and Brayden Henson all hauling in scores.

Wellsboro at Athens

Wellsboro took a big leap forward last week, thumping Cowanesque Valley and snapping a 10-game losing streak. The Hornets have improved offensively over the past two weeks and Ryder Bowen went off against CV, rushing for 301 yards and four touchdowns. The jelling offensive line also helped freshman quarterback Griffin Moral throw his third touchdown pass in two games.

Wellsboro’s defense also put together its best performance. Jacob Dean and Lincoln Decoursey combined for four sacks and Cole Knapp set the game’s tone when he returned an interception for a score less than a minute into the contest. Kody Enck caught a touchdown and is second on the team in tackles. Bowen and Hayden Stevens each have two sacks.

Athens (2-3) showed off its explosiveness in a 48-42 win at Canton three weeks ago, totaling 462 yards. The Wildcats have scored just one offensive touchdown since then, however, although one of those games was against Troy, the state’s top-ranked Class AA team.

Sophomore quarterback Connor Davidson is a dynamic playmaker and ran for 212 yards and four touchdowns at Canton, while throwing for 183 yards and two scores. He also returned the game’s opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown in last Saturday’s 16-14 loss against North Penn-Mansfield. Sean Peters caught six passes for 94 yards in that contest.

Mifflinburg at Milton

Milton (2-3) faced a tall order last week, playing undefeated Danville while down six injured starters. The Black Panthers are hoping to have some of those players back tonight and have won three straight exciting games in this series, including two via second half comebacks. Milton has displayed its grit throughout the season’s first half, rallying for two wins after trailing in the fourth quarter, winning in overtime at Shikellamy and erasing a 15-point deficit in the final nine minutes at South Williamsport.

Quarterback Chase Lytle was settling in after a strong performance at South but was hurt against Danville. Lytle originally replaced Izayah Minium who returned against Danville. Minium ripped off a 99-yard touchdown run which forced overtime at Shikellamy. Junior Monty Fisher is having a strong season and has caught at least three passes in every game. He also has surpassed 50 career receptions. Lucas Ditty caught six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown against South.

Mifflinburg has to be one of the state’s best 0-5 teams. The Wildcats have lost four of their games by 17 combined points, including one-pointers against Loyalsock and Mount Carmel. They also gave undefeated Hollidaysburg a battle in last week’s 37-29 loss. Quarterback Chad Martin is closing in on a second straight 1,000-yard season and threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns against Hollidaysburg. Jackson Griffith opened the season with a 16-catch performance at Loyalsock and caught two touchdowns a week ago. Landen Murray also is among the district’s leaders in catches and has topped 100 yards in consecutive games.

James Donlin returned an interception for the game’s first touchdown last week and three Wildcats produced sacks. Mifflinburg held second half leads in consecutive games against Mount Carmel and Montoursville.

Shikellamy at

Central Mountain

One of these teams will earn its first win tonight and get a much-needed boost going forward. Each certainly is battle-tested, playing some of the district’s premier teams. Central Mountain was dealt a blow two weeks ago when surging quarterback Hunter Hoy was injured but showed promise in games against Williamsport and Selinsgrove.

Isaiah Maldonado found Jace Seltzer for a 97-yard touchdown at Selinsgrove and Seltzer scored in three straight games before last week. The Wildcats graduated most of their starters and start mostly underclassmen, so while they are experiencing growing pains, they also are laying the foundation for potential success in the coming years.

Shikellamy is on its second coach this season after Jim Keiser was let go a few days prior to last week’s game against Jersey Shore. The Braves ended a three-week scoring drought in that contest when Thomas Pollock turned a short Brody Rebuck pass into a 66-yard touchdown. Pollock is an explosive sophomore who went over 900 yards last year and Rebuck, a junior, topped 1,800 yards passing. Derek Turber-Ortiz helps ignite the defense and averages 9.4 tackles per game.

These two teams played a highly-entertaining game last year in Sunbury. Central Mountain was down nine with less than three minutes before storming back and winning, 39-32, in overtime.

Bucktail at

Union/AC Valley

Bucktail (0-4) is chasing its first win but a team with just 15 players is fighting hard and making things exciting. The Bucks have scored at least 20 points in three straight games and quarterback Brody Pentz is having another big season. He totaled 293 yards in last week’s game at Smethport.

Gavin Yachymiak has caught touchdowns in consecutive games and is one of five Bucks to haul in touchdown receptions this season. Freshman Teagan Stone has two touchdown catches and is part of a young group who can help Bucktail build into the future.

Union/AC Valley (3-2) won three straight games before last week and its lone losses are against perennial District 9 Class A heavyweights Redbank Valley and Port Allegany. Quarterback Owen Bish is a dual-threat who has thrown for 427 yards, run for a team-high 377 and totaled seven touchdowns. Max Gallagher is second on the team in rushing and also ignites the defense, averaging 10.6 tackles per game. The Falcons have intercepted seven passes and linebacker Colbin Elliott has three. In its three wins, Union/AC Valley has allowed just 20 points.

By CHRIS MASSE