Michael Hillebrand continues scoring streak for Franklin Regional in playoff win over Montour

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 4:52 PM

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Michael Hillebrand has been on an offensive tear since he returned from an ankle injury that cost him four games around midseason.

He hadn’t scored before he was sidelined Sept. 11 against Allderdice and sat for two weeks but returned to net a pair of goals Sept. 25 at Latrobe.

Since the sophomore forward came back and took off, his presence in the attack has been enormous.

Hillebrand got Franklin Regional going early in the team’s playoff opener, scoring the first goal — his eighth in as many games — as the third-seeded Panthers blanked No. 14 Montour, 2-0, on a warm, sun-splashed Saturday at Panther Stadium.

The first-round win puts Franklin Regional (16-3) in the WPIAL Class 3A quarterfinals, where it will host No. 6 Chartiers Valley (11-4-1) on Wednesday.

“The first goal gave us momentum,” Hillebrand said. “We had a desire to win. Seeing the team play when I was out made me miss the sport.”

A throw-in by the Panthers led to the opening goal in the eighth minute. The ball came to the front of the net, and Hillebrand quick-touched it home for a 1-0 lead.

“He is such a talented player, a big, physical kid,” Franklin Regional coach Nick White said of Hillebrand. “His confidence is through the roof.”

Montour (9-9) played a physical style, looking to create turnovers off of Panthers’ miscues. But there weren’t many.

“We played our game,” Hillebrand said.

White was pleased with his team’s defensive awareness and ability to deflect Spartans’ build-ups. Montour had limited set pieces and few shots.

Franklin Regional beat Montour, 6-1, earlier in the season. The Spartans, though, were missing several starters in that game.

In 2022, Montour upset Franklin Regional, 2-1, in the first round when the Spartans were the No. 13 seed and the Panthers No. 4.

No such upset watch commenced this time.

“There is a lot of anxiety with the first round,” White said. “Gavin (Stabbe) is such a great coach, so good tactically. This was an ugly game. Getting the goal early was big for us. I am really happy with our back line.”

The second goal gave Franklin Regional breathing room and forced Montour to press.

In the 64th minute, junior midfielder Daniel Todd alertly corralled a rebound and connected on a laser shot for a 2-0 advantage. The ball caromed his way off a corner, and he fired from 26 yards away.

“That was a great goal,” White said. “He took it down with his chest and then hit a scorching volley.

“I am really happy for our guys. It was a great effort.”

The Panthers outshot the Spartans, 10-4, with Montour sophomore goalkeeper Liam Hovanic making eight saves.

Senior Emerson Bush made three saves for the Panthers. Senior forward Fabrizzio Costa assisted both goals for the Panthers.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Franklin Regional, Montour