BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Connor Watkins escapes a Hughesville tackler to complete a pass. Watkins threw for three touchdowns in Loyalsock’s 35-14 win over the Spartans.
By BRETT R. CROSSLEY
WILLIAMSPORT–With the spotlight focused on Loyalsock’s dominant running game, featuring two of the area’s best backs, it’s easy to forget about the quarterback.
Connor Watkins made sure he would not be forgotten as the Lancers welcomed in Hughesville Friday night.
Watkins threw for more than 150 yards to go with three touchdowns and the Lancers’ defense took care of the rest as they defeated the Spartans, 35-14.
The win moved Loyalsock to 4-1 through the first half of the season. For the Spartans, who dropped to 2-3 with the loss, its time to start searching for answers.
“Defensively we were in position we just didn’t make tackles,” Hughesville coach Dan Tucker said. “We were where we needed to be, but Marcus Williams is just a special kid, Cavanaugh is a tough runners, but the difference tonight was their quarterback.”
Watkins hit Williams for a 24-yard pickup to help setup a 25-yard passing touchdown to Brock Hepler for the Lancers first points of the game.
Loyalsock’s second possession was highlighted by a 33-yard toss and catch from Watkins to Williams, who finished with 114 yards on three catches. Cole Cavanaugh put the Lancers in front by 14 points when he capped the drive with a seven-yard run. Watkins found Williams in the third quarter for a 57-yard touchdown to give the Lancers a 21-7 lead.
Watkins, who hit Alec Little for his final touchdown pass of the night, finished with 167 yards on eight completions.
Watkins’ counterpart was Hughesville’s Landon Henry, who struggled throughout the night against the Lancers defense.
“Their quarterback is an unbelievable athlete,” Loyalsock coach Justin Van Fleet said of Henry. “I’m certainly proud of our kids for making the defensive adjustments.”
Williams intercepted Henry, who only completed three passes for 63 yards. Henry scored a rushing touchdown, but only managed 21 yards on the ground.
“With such a balanced attack like Hughesville has you have to take chances,” Van Fleet said. “Getting them out of sync allowed us to really dictate the tempo.”
Jase Wright scored Hughesville’s first points with a seven-yard run in the second quarter.
Jase Wright carried the ball five consecutive times to open the second half for Hughesville. He moved the Spartans passed midfield, but an illegal substitution stalled the drive. Wright finished with 76 yards on 13 carries to lead the Spartans.
“This is another defensive effort similar to the one we has last year against Hughesville,” Van Fleet said. “Our coverage was able to take care of their route combinations.”
Henry completed a 57-yard pass to Malachi Savage. The long pass helped setup a one-yard touchdown run by Henry, but it would be all the closer Hughesville would get to Loyalsock.
Loyalsock 35, Hughesville 14
HUGHESVILLE 0 7 0 7-14
LOYALSOCK 0 14 14 7-35
SECOND QUARTER
LOY-Connor Watkins 25 pass Brock Helper (Andrew Czap kick) 11:40
HUGH-Ryan McClain 7 run (Rylan Hicks kick) 6:21
LOY-Cole Cavanaugh 7 run (Czap kick) 3:44
THIRD QUARTER
LOY-Watkins 57 pass to Marcus Williams (Czap kick) 8:45
LOY-Watkins 27 run (Czap kick) 5:53
FOURTH QUARTER
HUGH-Landon Henry 1 run (Hicks kick) 10:58
LOY-Watkins 10 pass Aiden Gair (Czap kick) 6:46
HUGH SW
First Downs 9 14
Total Yards 212 451
Rushes-yards 37-149 39-284
Passing 63 167
Comp.-Att.-Int. 3-12-1 8-13-1
Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING-HUGHESVILLE: Ryan McClain 9-50 TD, Landon Henry 11-21 TD, Jase Wright 13-76, Gavin Steele 4-2. LOYALSOCK: Cole Cavanaugh 18-150 TD, Marcus Williams 6-63, Connor Watkins 8-41, Alden Mileto 1-4, Eric Holz 6-26.
RECEIVING-HUGHESVILLE: Brenden Gardner 1-2, Malachi Savage 2-61. LOYALSOCK: Marcus Williams 3-114 TD, Brock Hepler 2-35 TD, Alec Little 1-10 TD, Gage Moon 1-2, Gerald Ross 1-6.
PASSING-HUGHESVILLE: Landon Henry 3-11-1 63. LOYALSOCK: Connor Watkins 8-13-1 167 3 TD.
INTERCEPTIONS-HUGHESVILLE: Ryan McClain. LOYALSOCK: Marcus Williams.
RECORDS: Hughesville 2-3. Loyalsock 4-1.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Loyalsock’s Connor Cavanaugh breaks away for a big gain against Hughesville Friday night. Cavanaugh carried the ball 18 times for 150 yards as Loyalsock defeated Hughesville, 35-14.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Hughesville quarterback Landon Henry looks for running room against Loyalsock’s defense. The Lancers held Henry to 63 passing yards and 21 rushing yard in their 35-14 victory.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Jase Wright tries to pull away from a tackle during a game against Loyalsock. Wright scored a touchdown for the Spartans, who fell 35-14.
BRETT R. CROSSLEY/Talk Williamsport
Loyalsock’s Andrew Czap kicks a ball off against Hughesville.
