But it was the special teams that got the ball rolling for them early Friday night.

On the opening kick of the game the Red Raiders piled on to an onside kick giving the team’s offense a golden opportunity to strike early, starting the game in Mountie territory.

From there, the Raider run game pushed the ball effortlessly down the field and plunged in for the score behind a sturdy offensive line that stayed strong all game en route to a 42-14 win.

“They block hard for us,” Montgomery coach Cory Tice said, “Everything we get (on the ground) is because of them.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Eli White (28) pulls down Montgomery's Coy Bryson (5) during a high school football game at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Montgomery won 42-14.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Mounties’ first drive was quickly extinguished by a Raider defense that looked like they had been shot out of a cannon. Big hit after big hit set the tone for the night, letting the Mounties of South Williamsport know whose house they were in.

After the three-and-out, the unstoppable running by Coy Bryson began. He rattled off a thundering 45-yard score that saw him shed a few Mounties, then outpace the rest on his way to the endzone. Bryson’s score propelled the Raiders to a 13-0 lead that would hold for the rest of the first quarter.

The Mounties began to show some life with Tadd Lusk connecting with Dylan Scheller to move South Wilpo down the field. Scheller, a senior wide receiver, emerged as Lusk’s favorite target this season as the pair has topped 90 yards in five games so far.

However, it was the other Lusk brother, Cade, who got the Mounties on the board with a 10-yard carry to open the second quarter.

Montgomery got back to work on the offensive side of things, highlighted by a pivotal 39-yard completion between quarterback Parker Persing and receiver Lincoln Miller to convert on third-and-long. From there, Bryson’s legs carried the Raiders to the goal line, where Persing rolled out to the right and lunged in for another Montgomery touchdown.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Eli White (28) breaks through Montgomery's defense during a high school football game at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Montgomery won 42-14.

After a series of Raider penalties pushed the extra point try back beyond the twenty five yard line, the special teams once again got the opportunity to showcase their skills. Abe Childs snuck the deep kick over the crossbar as the Raiders jumped out to a 20-7 lead.

“They do their job,” Tice said. “Good things happen when you play hard and do your job.”

The second quarter continued to provide excitement for the home crowd. Sophomore Cam Woltz went deep with a Mountie receiver and soared up for a jump ball and wrestled it down for a monumental interception. The highlights didn’t stop there though. On what can only be described as one of the wackiest plays this season,

Coy Bryson ran the ball towards the sideline and had it knocked out from behind. It somehow bounced perfectly forward 15-yards and was scooped up on the run by Byrson who didn’t break stride, and took it 70 more yards down the field for his second touchdown of the half. Bryson would end the half with over 200 yards on the ground.

But the excitement still was not over.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Dylan Scheller (88) grabs Montgomery's Coy Bryson (5) as he crosses the goal line during a high school football game at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Montgomery won 42-14.

The Raider special teams once again made a tremendous play as they blazed past the Mounties on their way to recover their own kick just eight yards away from the goal line. Quarterback Persing would take matters into his own hands, diving in for another score sending the Raiders to the locker room up 35-7.

Out of the break, Persing’s legs displayed his athleticism again on a scoring drive that saw him run for 22 yards and the touchdown. That would be the last Raider score for the night, as the Mountie defense took advantage of a limited running attack seeing as Montgomery opted to rest their star back.

Freshman running back Eli White of South Williamsport would provide the last score of the night. A drive that was set up by one of many Montgomery penalties only took a two-yard run for the up and comer to put the final tallies on the board.

South Williamsport slid back down below .500 on the year, now sitting at 4-5, and string together their second loss in a row after a midseason surge. On the other side, Montgomery continues to build an impressive resume of victories as playoffs draw nearer on the horizon improving to 6-3 on the year.

Coming just one season removed from a 1-9 finish in 2023, the Red Raiders are proving that they are one of the most improved teams in District 4 Class A.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Evan Ogden (87) kicks for South Williamsport during a high school football game at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Montgomery won 42-14.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport's Cade Lusk (26) is brought down by Montgomery's Cam Woltz (4) and Brady O'Rourke (9) during a high school football game at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024. Montgomery won 42-14.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery’s marching band preforms prior to a high school football game against South Williamsport at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport quarterback Tadd Lusk (5) hands off to Eli White (28) during a high school football game against Montgomery at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent South Williamsport’s Eli White (28) picks up yardage during a high school football game against Montgomery at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery quarterback Parker Persing (7) runs a keeper during a high school football game against South Williamsport at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Montgomery’s Seth McClintock lifts the ball to show possession after recovering the kick-off to start a high school football game against South Williamsport at Montgomery on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024.