BAKER'S SPORTS PEN: CAREER NIGHTS FOR WYALUSING'S CAMERON, ATHENS' REID; MORE FROM NTL, DISTRICT 4 (2020-10-08)

The local football schedule may have been small in numbers with just two games played this past weekend, but there were plenty of big-time highlights.

Wyalusing’s Kashawn Cameron put together his own highlight reel Friday night against the Sayre Redskins to lead the Rams in a three-point victory. Cameron, en route to a 260 total-yard night, scampered 54 yards for a score. He followed that with touchdown receptions of 31 and 96 yards from Mitchell Burke.

Cameron now totals 24 catches for 478 yards to lead NTL receivers. Battling with Jersey Shore’s Cayden Hess (28-366-7), the two are the top receivers in District Four.

Athens running back Shayne Reid also had a career night with three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ Monday night win over Towanda. Reid topped 100 yards as Athens remained unbeaten in three games.

It was also another big game for the Wildcats’ Karter Rude (5-98) as the wide receiver upped his season totals to 17 receptions for 278 yards.

Athens — playing opportunistic football – took advantage of good field position, thanks to plenty of solid defensive plays. The Wildcats started scoring drives at the Black Knights’ 39, 31, 37, 22 and 5-yard lines.

Caleb Nichols and Jaden Wright, each with interceptions against Towanda, both have a pair of defensive thefts this season.

A handful of leading rushers in the NTL include: Caleb Binford, Troy, (359 yards); Kaide Drick, Montgomery (290); Burke, Wyalusing (273); Damien Landon, Troy (266); David Northrup, Sayre (244); and Alex Mosier, Wyalusing, (225).

Lewisburg’s Max Moyers recently became the school’s all-time leading ground-gainer and totals 4,193 yards. He scored his 50th career touchdown in a win over Midd-West.

Southern Columbia defeated Loyalsock 50-20, after leading 44-0 at halftime. The victory was the team’s 84th straight regular-season win (a state record) and 51st consecutive win including the postseason. The Tigers’ average margin of victory in three games is 53-7.

Jersey Shore allowed Selinsgrove just four first downs in its shutout win.

Danville out-gained Montoursville in total yardage during its loss to the Warriors, but gave up touchdowns on a kickoff return, an interception, and a fumble recovery.

District 4 leading rushers: Rocco Pulizzi, Montoursville (853 yards); Cam Allison, Jersey Shore (432); Moyers, Lewisburg (379); Ty Nixon, Muncy (360); Binford, Troy (359); Colton Yocum, Hughesville (321); and Ryan Pentz, Central Mountain (317).

District Four is hoping to put together a condensed version of its playoffs this year. The number of qualifiers has been cut in half. Class A and Class AAA will both have just two teams advance to the post-season. Class AA and Class AAAA with see four teams qualify. Teams hoping to take part in the post-season must play a minimum of three games as squads are ranked on a complicated power points formula.

Despite playing just one game, Canton (1-0) leads 4-0 Muncy in the Class A power-point rankings.

Any guesses on who leads Class AA (only one allowed)? You may do a double-take on this one, but it’s South Williamsport (2-0) with the slimmest of margins over Southern Columbia (3-0). Can you imagine Southern Columbia having to travel in the D-4 Tournament?

Central Columbia (3-1) and Bloomsburg (3-1) round out the current top four qualifiers. Wyalusing (3-1), Mt. Carmel (2-1) and Troy (2-1) are close by.

Montoursville (4-0) and Athens (3-0) lead the Class AAA pack. Danville (3-1), North Penn-Mansfield (1-1) and Loyalsock (1-1) are looking to move into the top two.

Jersey Shore (4-0) tops the Class AAAA field, followed by Shamokin (3-1) with a number of teams battling to complete the field of four.

District Four scores: Central Mountain 49, Milton 6; Jersey Shore 33, Selinsgrove 0; Muncy 37, Montgomery 17; Montoursville 42, Danville 28; Mount Carmel 54, Hughesville 7; South Williamsport 21, Northwest 14; Bucktail 50, Columbia Montour Vo-Tech 8; Southern Columbia 50, Loyalsock 20; Brockway 32, Cowanesque Valley 14; Athens 44, Towanda 14; Wyalusing 18, Sayre 15; Central Columbia 17, Mifflinburg 0; Shamokin 41, Shikellamy 20; Lewisburg 35, Midd-West 28; Williamsport 26, Wilkes-Barre 0; Line Mountain 46, Upper Dauphin 22.

Northern Tier League schedule: Towanda (0-3) at Wellsboro (1-1); North Penn-Mansfield (1-1) at Cowanesque Valley (0-4); Montgomery (1-3) at Columbia Montour Vo-Tech (0-3); South Williamsport (2-0) at Bucktail (1-3); Muncy (4-0) at Northwest (3-1); Canton (1-0) at Athens (3-0) (Monday).

NTL Large School Standings: Athens (3-0), Canton (1-0), Wyalusing (3-1), Troy (2-1), North Penn-Mansfield (1-1), Wellsboro (1-1), Towanda (0-3).

NTL Small School Standings: Muncy (3-0), South Williamsport (2-0), Northwest (3-1), Sayre (1-2), Montgomery (1-3), Bucktail (1-3), Columbia Montour Vo-Tech (0-3), Cowanesque Valley (0-3).