And it produced a game-changing play.

Alabakoff turned film study and offseason work into a crucial late third quarter interception which he returned 32 yards, setting up a touchdown which gave Lewisburg a two-score advantage. The offensive line and Jeremiah Davis took over from there and Lewisburg pulled away from determined Hughesville, winning 39-20 and continuing its perfect start.

“I’ve always dreamed about making that play,” Alabakoff said. “I’ve always visualized it, thinking about what I’d do in that situation and then once it was in my hands I just figured I have to run it as back as far as I can to help my team get the yardage we need to get the job done.”

Bryson Swisher (76) of Hughesville puts pressure on Quin Michaels (22) of Lewisburg as he tries to punt the ball away at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alabakoff and his teammates continue getting the job done, improving to 4-0 for the first time since 2010. Davis ran for a career-high 215 yards and two fourth quarter touchdowns, while also returning a punt 59 yards for a score. The line dominated the fourth quarter, Chase Wenrich and Jaylen Walker connected on a 67-yard touchdown and Lewisburg scored the final 13 points against a Hughesville team which showed how dangerous it can be in defeat.

“We’re really explosive team and we’re really showcasing it,” Davis said after topping 100 yards for a ninth straight game. “Today was a little sloppy but we got the job done. I’m really excited to see what happens when we put a full game together.”

Michael Hernandez recovered an opening squib kick, Nick Coleman made an incredible 23 yard third down catch and Tyler Downs ran in a five-yard touchdown as Lewisburg quickly went up 6-0 but the second quarter was when things grew really exciting as the Green Dragons and Hughesville (2-2) traded scores like it was a video game.

Each team scored 20 points that quarter and Hughesville threatened to take a third quarter lead when it faced a third-and-2 at the Lewisburg 7-yard line. The Dragons held on that and fourth down, lineman Andrew Smith leading a strong charge up the middle both times. Still, Hughesville regrouped and had the ball at Lewisburg’s 40 late in the third when Alabakoff changed everything.

The senior leader is having an outstanding season and continued making plays in the backfield and in pass coverage Friday. When he was not forcing hurried passes, Alabakoff stayed in coverage and this time he was n the perfect spot, intercepting a pass across the middle before making a series of impressive cuts and breaking multiple tackles.

Carson Stackhouse of Hughesville has a pass intended for him knocked away by Tyler Kitchens of Lewisburg at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Alabakoff, who produced four quarterback hurries, returned the ball to Hughesville’s 36 and the line started imposing its will with Davis’s three-yard score making it, 33-20.

“He (coach Eric Wicks) was talking about it all week. I was just reading it and staying in coverage and stay disciplined and being where I needed to be,” Alabakoff said. “I give it to the line. (Lineman) Hayes Schumacher has been making plays all year and he got in there and messed things up for the QB. I was able to jump it and grab it. I felt like Barry Sanders taking it back.”

“It was awesome. Danan has been doing an awesome job all year. He is top notch right now,” Wicks said. “I told him he was going to get an interception this week because last week Quin (Michaels) got his. It’s awesome to see.”

Hughesville quarterback Blake Davis played an outstanding game, completing 16 of 30 passes for 225 yards but was injured late in the third quarter. Yards were hard to come by from there, although Connor Anstadt led a late drive and revealed his potential, totaling 37 yards on a drive which reached the 12-yard line.

Again, though Lewisburg rose up and drove Hughesville back. The Dragons made the last of four second-half stops inside their territory, and Ethan Long clinched victory when he produced a fourth down sack for a 14-yard loss.

Carson Stackhouse (9) of Hughesville pulls in a pass against Lewisburg in the second quarter at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“They got us a little bit. They moved the ball on us but when the time counted we were able to get a stop,” Wicks said. ” To see those guys compete when it’s time is awesome.”

Davis made quite an awesome play to put Lewisburg ahead 19-7 in the second half, taking the punt 59 yards for a touchdown. The senior came roaring back from a torn ACL last year, topping 1,000 yards and showcased his explosiveness fielding the ball in the middle of the field, bursting through a hole and following a Michaels block to beat containment to the edge and go untouched down the right sideline.

It was a preview of things to come. Davis helped Lewisburg gain some breathing room in the fourth quarter when he bounced a play outside, exploded through a gaping hole on the left side and beat the defense down the left sideline for a 73-yard run, making it, 39-20.

“That was supposed to be a run up the middle. I saw the outside, so I bounced it outside,” Davis said. “Quin made a great block again, and I just used my speed to get to the outside.”

Lewisburg needed those big plays to fight off a Hughesville team which thundered back following last week’s loss at Loyalsock. Despite the rough start, the Spartans forged forward and took a 7-6 second quarter lead, putting together an outstanding 10-play, 83-yard scoring drive. Blake Davis completed 6 of 7 passes on the march and capped it with a brilliant throw on 4th-and-goal from the 25, finding Conor Knight for a touchdown. Knight made a tremendous catch as well, toe-tapping along the right sideline in the corner of the end zone.

Luke Stutzman (30) of Hughesville runs for a touchdown against Lewisburg at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That play was like so many Hughesville produced Friday. Davis repeatedly made accurate throws, zipping the ball past defenders and his receivers made super catches. Knight caught a career-high 11 passes for 96 yards and caught a second touchdown, a leaping 5-yarder from Davis which cut the deficit to 26-20 at halftime.

“They were working well together,” Hughesville coach Howard Rainey said. “Blake has always made those throws. You don’t think at first it’s going to be a completion and it ends up working out. He threads it in there.”

Carson Stackhouse played his best scholastic game, catching a career-best five passes for 109 yards. Stackhouse played a crucial role on each Hughesville scoring drive and set up Luke Stutzman’s five-yard touchdown run which cut the deficit to 19-14. That time he went up and over two defenders, making a ridiculous leaping catch while holding the ball after contact and as he hit the ground for a 43-yard gain.

“Stackhouse had a really good game. I’ve been saying since last year that Carson is a little Conor Knight,” Rainey said. “I think he’s going to be our next Conor Knight. We’re looking forward to that. Everybody fought hard the whole game. I was really proud of how hard they fought.”

Lewisburg did as well and immediately answered after Hughesville went ahead, 7-6. Walker caught his fourth touchdown pass in two weeks as he beat his man over the top and hauled in Wenrich’s perfect pass, going untouched for a 67-yard touchdown.

Conor Knight and Trent Wetzel (4) of Hughesville celebrate a touchdown by Knight against Lewisburg at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

That was part of a stretch where the teams combined for five touchdowns on six series. Following Stutzman’s touchdown, Lewisburg again responded quick as Michaels broke off a 42 yard touchdown run, adding on to his big night as the four-year starting linebacker also shined defensively and on special teams.

The line then helped Lewisburg land the knockout blow. Smith, Schumacher, Garret Glather, Mateo Casale, Elijah Carter and Nate Malusis all took over in the fourth quarter and helped Lewisburg gain 471 yards, including 288 rushing yards.

Those linemen have helped Lewisburg dominate the second half in four consecutive games, with the Dragons outscoring opponents 72-11. The brotherhood permeated throughout the line extends to the whole team. Nothing came easy last night, but Lewisburg continues relying on each other and continues winning games.

“We never get too high; never get too low. I trust the man beside me. I know they’re willing to play as hard for the team as I am,” Alabakoff said. “We all play for each other. We do what we have to do to get the job done which is awesome.”

Conor Knight of Hughesville pulls in a touchdown against Lewisburg at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Brendan Fisher (33) of Hughesville tries to stop the pass by Chase Wenrich of Lewisburg at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hayes Schumacher (70) of Lewisburg blocks the point after attempt by Hughesville in the second quarter at Milton High School Friday night. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette