When the District 4 Double-A football brackets came out, it was anyone’s guess who the best team would be.
Towanda was undefeated. Montoursville has had success on the state level in past seasons. Hughesville and Lewisburg were both respected around the district. Then, you had the upset-minded Loyalsock Lancers and Stephen Stopper.
The Lancer quarterback had five touchdowns – three through the air and two on the ground – and racked up more than 200 combined yards as Loyalsock cruised past Lewisburg, 41-6, to capture its second district title in three years.
The victory sends the Williamsport-based school to the state quarterfinals and a showdown with Lancaster Catholic. Loyalsock entered the district playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
"I think we proved this team is definitely a great team," Stopper told the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. "We just want to keep the tradition going and we knew we had to carry that on."
Loyalsock scored 20 points in the second quarter and cruised to the victory.
"This is awesome," Lancer Derek Mandresh told the newspaper. "Coming into this game Lewisburg had beaten Towanda and beaten all these good teams and I was not expecting to blow them out like this. It was just a team effort from everybody and it's amazing."
It was a close contest, 7-6, before a long – and momentum-swinging – 46-yard touchdown run by Stopper gave Loyalsock the edge. Seven minutes, and 20-plus points later, Lewisburg was handed the knockout blow.
"A lot of it is on their part but I wish things could have gone a little better," Lewisburg coach Todd Tilford told the Sun-Gazette. "It's a little frustrating how lopsided the game was, but when we look back at these guys going 11-2 we'll have a lot to be proud of and we'll tell them to keep their heads up high because they set a high standard with how far they've come." 
Kyle Smith, Lancaster Catholic
File photo by Richard Rector
Two other District 4 teams had an easy time in their state-opening games.
The state’s top-ranked team in Triple-A, Selinsgrove, made the long trek to Richland High School, but never lost a step, handing Johnstown Area a 35-3 loss. The win sends the Seals into a much-anticipated matchup with District 11 champ Allentown Central Catholic this week.
Selinsgrove never trailed in the game, taking the opening kickoff and driving 65 yards – capped off by a short TD scamper by Bryant Trautman. Johnstown’s lone points came in the second quarter on a field goal by Oskar Almgren, but the Seals ripped off 28 unanswered for the convincing victory.
"Really, the game plan was for our defensive lineman to get one yard of penetration, break down and really keep that quarterback in front of them," Selinsgrove head coach Dave Hess said to the Sunbury Daily Item. "We didn’t want to over penetrate and let him step up inside. If he (John Siciliano) got his shoulders squared and started crossing lines, we would be in trouble."
Single-A state power Southern Columbia had an easier time, ripping apart District 2 champ Northwest Area 60-7. Jake Morton rushed for four touchdowns on the night, and backfield teammate Tyler Levan had three scores as Southern had almost 400 yards of offense and held the Rangers to less than 50.
"You’ve got to take your hat off to Southern. They’re a great football team," Northwest coach Carl Majer said to the Daily-Item. "Nobody likes getting beat like that, but ... it was a great learning experience for our program and coaching staff."
Southern moves into the Single-A state quarterfinals against District 11 champ Tri-Valley. It wasn’t a good weekend in District 2 as all of its champs were eliminated. Dunmore, ranked as high as No. 1 in the state during the season, ran into a talented Philly team, West Catholic, and returned home with a 13-0 loss.
The Bucks also were eliminated last season by West Catholic. And Triple-A champ Abington Heights lost to talented Allentown Central Catholic, 28-14.
In District 6, two champs were crowned.
Bishop McCort used a strong performance in a 34-20 victory over Bellwood-Antis, and Forest Hills hit a field goal with nine seconds left for a 17-14 win over Tyrone in the Double-A game.
Tom Fox is Sports Editor at The Express and covers Central and Eastern Pennsylvania. He can be reached at tfox@lockhaven.com.
