Montoursville football holds off Danville to move to 3-0 | News, Sports, Jobs

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
James Williams (1) carries the ball for Montoursville during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

Winless Danville would simply not go away.

Each time Montoursville landed what looked to be a knockout blow in the fourth quarter, the Ironmen found a way to keep the game until striking distance. That is, until Hayden Harvey decided it was time to turn the lights out.

Harvey, taking on an increased role in the Montoursville offense with top running back Christian Banks limited due to injury, took a handoff 54 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to finally put away a pesky Danville squad as Montoursville improved to 3-0, 33-21.

“As running backs, we’re all prepared to jump in whenever we got we’ve got to to keep our guys fresh. Every one of us plays balls to the wall. We work hard, and we know that the time we’re going to get thrown in, we have to do our role. Our team is depending on us,” Harvey said.

Harvey plays a key role for the Warriors offense even when Banks is on the field for nearly every snap. He does plenty of lead blocking for Banks, and had 633 yards rushing as a sophomore last year. But with Banks limited to around half of Montoursville’s snaps on Friday night, Harvey spent more time than usual as the tailback. He made the most of his opportunity, carrying 15 times for 141 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Brayden Burkett (9) attempts to break through the grasp of Danville’s Ben Nye (25) during a high school football game at Montoursville on Friday.

He even made a crucial stop in the backfield on an important 3rd and short play at midfield in the third quarter.

“Anytime you’ve got two running backs, that’s good, because, some guys get nicked up, or they tire out, and you need someone to step up,,” Montoursivlle coach Joe Hanna said. “I’ve been saying this since the season started. We have two really good running backs in the room. It is definitely a benefit.We saw a play out tonight.”

Montoursville opened the scoring on the opening drive of the game. A good drive stalled in the red zone, but Adam Shearer knocked in a field goal from 26 yards out to take a 3-0. It stayed that way until the opening minute of the 2nd quarter. Carter Raup found Kole Harvey on a skinny post overtop of the Montoursville defense for a 69-yard touchdown.

Montoursville took the lead into halftime on a drive that started with great field position thanks to a punt return by Jay Houseknecht. On 3rd and 9 from the 18-yard line, a pass interference call moved it to the 9. Then, after an incomplete pass, the Warriors picked up a crucial fourth-and-1 play with a run by Hayden Harvey to the two-yard line before Elijah Eck found Brayden Burkett in the end zone for a touchdown with 34 seconds remaining in the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, and the game clock on the scoreboard being disabled in between the third and fourth quarters,Christian Banks found paydirt with a sensational run down the left sideline from 48 yards out to put Montoursville up 17-7. And considering that the Ironmen offense hadn’t been able to get much going outside of the long touchdown pass from Raup to Harvey, it seemed like the Banks run may ice the game away.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Hayden Harvey (22) picks up yardage during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

Danville had other ideas.

After driving into Warrior territory, Raup found Landon Kehoe behind the defense for a 45-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 17-14.

Montoursville had an answer. On the ensuing kickoff, Brayden Burkett caught it at the 11-yard line, made a cut upfield, found open turf, and outraced two Ironmen to the end zone to put the Warriors back up by 10, 24-14.

“On Thursdays, we come out, we rep every scenario. I got the ball, and I saw most of their team come to the left side, and I was just thinking, ‘the right side is coming open,’” Burkett said. “Our kick return team did a very good job of setting up blocks. I saw a lane and I knew it was good from there.”

Once again, Danville had an answer. On their first play of the next drive, Raup threw a jump ball to Kehoe on the left sideline. Kehoe caught the pass, ran over a defender, fumbled, picked up his fumble, and ran in for a touchdown to make it 24-21.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Christian Banks (0) runs the ball for during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

But two plays after Harvey picked up a crucial third-and-6, getting just enough for the first down, he broke off his 54-yard touchdown run, sending the Warrior crowd into a frenzy.

When Kingston Fisher sacked Raup for an 18-yard loss all the way back to the 2-yard line, Branson Fogelman followed it up with a sack of his own for a safety to put Montoursville up 33-21 and seal away the game for good.

Fisher, who had a crucial stop on a fourth-and-3 in the third quarter, stopping Raup in the backfield for a loss, caused consistent problems up front for Danville’s offensive line and pressured Raup consistently.

Montoursville will host Mifflinburg next week in a battle of unbeatens.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville quarterback Elijah Eck looks for a receiver during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville football players enter the field prior to a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville quarterback Elijah Eck talks with coaches along the sidelines of a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Danville’s Landon Kehoe (5) attempts to get past the reach of Montoursville’s Christian Banks (0) during a high school football game at Montoursville on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s Adam Shearer punts during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Montoursville’s student section don colorful wigs and clothing during a high school football game against Danville at Montoursville on Friday.