Moon runs downhill, speeds past Montour

By: Antonio Rossetti
Friday, August 29, 2025 | 11:55 PM

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Moon scored 27 unanswered points to charge past Montour, 41-13, picking up a solid road win Friday night.

The Tigers were powered by Antoine Arnett, who tallied 161 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns.

“It’s all about hard work at practice,” Arnett said. “We go 100% in practice, and it pays off in the game.”

Arnett displayed textbook north-south runnning, not having one negative run play.

“I run straight downhill,” Arnett said. “My goal is at least 4 yards each carry.”

He accomplished his goal.

“We’ve been giving him a chance, and he’s taking over that lead back role,” Moon coach Ryan Linn said. “Tonight was his coming-out party. He ran for over 100 yards. He goes north and south, gets one foot on the ground and there he goes.”

Despite the 41-13 final score, the Spartans kept it close in the first half.

Montour’s Brandon Bennett hit Archie Collins for a 41-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-13 late in the second quarter.

Just when the momentum swung to Montour’s side, Braeden Stuart had a 65-yard return that put the Tigers inside the Montour red zone.

After two stops at the 1-yard line, Moon quarterback Andrew Cross powered one in to go up 21-13 to go into halftime.

The Tigers went on a 27-0 run to end the game, including three touchdown passes in that stretch.

Cross completed 4 of 7 passes for 72 yards, tallying three touchdowns to Stuart, Myles Turner and Jacob Warnagiris.

Cross also ran for 37 yards on nine carries with one touchdown.

“I’d say I’m pretty talented to be able to throw and run,” Cross said. “It’s incredible. God gave me this gift, and I use it to my ability.”

Cross credited the O-line and the complete team effort for the success in the ground game.

“Our offensive line did an awesome job,” Cross said. “Shoutout to Antoine. He did an incredible job.”

The Tigers were forced to punt out of their own end zone to start the second half. Nonetheless, a running into the punter penalty led to a first down.

This led to a 85-yard drive that ended with a Cross 31-yard touchdown pass to Turner.

With all the momentum on their side, the Tigers knocked the ball loose on a Bennett carry and Daevion Taylor recovered it.

The Tigers piled on with a Cross 10-yard touchdown pass to Warnagiris, making it 35-13.

Arnett tallied one last running touchdown in the fourth.

Moon held Montour scoreless in the second half and was led by Daiveon Taylor, who had two sacks and a forced fumble that led to his own fumble recovery.

“The defense has been carrying us all year,” Linn said. “You need them to make a play, they made a play and force a turnover. If they have a chance to get the quarterback, they get to the quarterback.”

The Tigers took the first punch in the game.

Halajcio ran in a 43-yard touchdown run to go up 6-0 and the Tigers were on the heels early.

Nonetheless, Moon settled in and responded to Montour’s strong first quarter ground game.

Caden Halajcio finished with 90 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown. The Tigers held him to 14 rushing yards in the second half.

#HSSN Highlights: Moon Area traveled to Robinson Friday night to take the Montour Spartans. The Tigers locked in a 41-13 Week 1 victory on the strength of 3 Andrew Cross touchdown passes. pic.twitter.com/SKFDx1H4Iq

— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) August 30, 2025

The Tigers defeated the Spartans for the first time in five contests.

“It’s huge to get your first two,” Linn said, “Last week, we stole one at the end of the game. We had a great week at practice and did what we thought we could do. We have to build off this one. We can’t be satisfied. We have to keep building and building. Penn-Trafford will be a huge game for us. We got to get through and stay healthy going into conference play. Our conference is just brutal.”

Tags: Montour, Moon