Montour Finally Golden After Knocking Out Knoch for AAA Gold

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, November 26, 2011 | 5:16 PM

The Montour Spartans won their first WPIAL title since 1964 as the Spartans handled the Knoch Knights 42-14 at Heinz Field in the McDonald’s Class AAA Championship Game. Julian Durden ran for 159 yards and four touchdowns as Montour goes to 10-3 and advances into the state playoffs to meet Grove City, a 33-0 winner over Erie Cathedral Prep last night.

Both teams traded possessions to start the game, Knoch had a great scoring opportunity with a fourth down at the Montour 29 as Ky Kenyon had Alexander Strezeski open in the back of the end zone but Sherrod Naylor made a great play to tip the ball away, preventing the touchdown.

The second quarter belonged to Durden, the senior running back for the Spartans, he was on fire with three touchdowns in the quarter. Montour went up 14-0 on a Durden one yard run, the big play in the drive was a 61 yard pass to Sherrod Naylor after a Darren Massey interception. Durden added a 23 yard touchdown run midway thru the quarter and a 13 yard run just before the half to put Montour up 28-0 at the half. The Spartans racked up 254 yards of offense in the first half, the Spartans held the Knights to 44 yards.

Montour took advantage of the great defensive play as Dillon Buechel hit Devin Wilson for a 12 yard touchdown, which was set up by a big completion from Buechel to Wilson at midfield and a personal foul against the Knights to go up 7-0 and set up the big quarter from Durden in the second stanza.

Knoch was able to get on the board early in the third quarter after the Knights deflected a Wilson punt out at the 19 yard line, two plays later they were in the end zone as Kenyon hit Strezeski for a six yard touchdown. That score fueled thoughts of a Knoch comeback from the huge following across the way from Saxonburg, that lasted just a few seconds as Durden broke free for a 73 yard touchdown and Aaron Reed intercepted a Kenyon pass and took it back to the one yard line, Reed scored on the next play to set the mercy rule in place with 8:56 to play in the third quarter. Knoch scored late in the game, Kenyon scored on a four yard run to close the scoring.

Buechel threw for 184 yards on 10 of 17, Wilson had six catches for 96 yards and a score. The Montour defense held Andrew Runberg-Goodlin to just 26 yards rushing on ten carries.

Kenyon was 11 of 21 for 119 yards, he was picked twice. Benjamin Tackett had five catches for 54 yards, the Knights end the season at 12-1.

Score by Quarters:
Montour Spartans  7     21     14     0   – 42
Knoch Knights   0       0       7     7   –   7

Scoring Summary: 
Montour:  Devin Wilson 12 pass from Dillon Buechel (Nathaniel Dearth kick)  2:17 1st Qtr
Montour:  Julian Durden 1 run (Dearth kick)  9:47 2nd
Montour:  Durden 23 run (Dearth kick) 5:55 2nd
Montour:  Durden 13 run (Dearth kick) 1:09 2nd
Knoch:  Alexander Strzeski 6 pass from Ky Kenyon (Kory Wood kick)  9:56 3rd
Montour:  Aaron Reed 1 run (Dearth kick)  8:56 3rd
Knoch:  Kenyon 4 run (Wood kick) :24 4th
 

Tags: Knoch