Line Mountain Clinches District 4 Title in Thrilling 20-14 Win

UPDATE: Line Mountain has just claimed the District 4 1A football title with a nail-biting 20-14 victory over Montgomery at Glenn Ressler Field on November 10, 2023. The Eagles, now 11-0 and the tournament’s top seed, secured their win with a crucial touchdown pass from Kaiden Maurer to Bryce Smeltz with just 8:03 remaining in the game.

In a fierce battle, Line Mountain initially surged ahead late in the third quarter when Maurer connected with Hank Malfara on a stunning 54-yard pass, giving the Eagles a brief 14-7 lead. However, Montgomery quickly retaliated with a spectacular 60-yard kickoff return by Briar Persing, tying the game and keeping the pressure on the Eagles.

Maurer demonstrated impressive poise, completing 7 of 16 passes for 125 yards. Despite facing a tough Montgomery defense that held Line Mountain to 94 rushing yards, the Eagles remained resilient. Malfara was a key player, making three receptions for 87 yards.

Montgomery’s Josh Knoebel opened the scoring for the Red Raiders with a touchdown in the second quarter, while Trace Furman led their rushing efforts with 68 yards on the ground. Montgomery entered this title game following an impressive 33-0 victory over Muncy last week, but ultimately fell short against the determined Eagles.

Looking ahead, Line Mountain will face District 2 champion Lackawanna Trail in the PIAA opening round next week. Lackawanna Trail secured their spot with an emphatic 41-14 win over Tri-Valley.

The Eagles’ victory marks a significant achievement, especially as they played without injured stars Max Johnson and Kaden Dunkelberger. Fans are now eagerly anticipating their upcoming challenge against a strong Lackawanna Trail team.

Stay tuned for more updates as the playoff action intensifies! Follow Eric Epler on X/Twitter — @threejacker.