Towanda set to meet Lewisburg

For the Towanda Black Knights, this is nothing new.

The Black Knights football team has had three unbeaten regular seasons in the past five years and the last two undefeated years ended in the district final.

A number of the regulars on this year's Towanda team were part of the squad that went to the district final two years ago, so they know what it takes to win games like today's district semifinals against Lewisburg.

For the Green Dragons, this is something completely new.

Lewisburg was 10-1 this year, with their only loss coming to Hughesville, and they are 19-4 the past two seasons.

Still, this is a new atmosphere for a Lewisburg team that was just 10-60 from 2001-2007 and last year won a district playoff game for the first time when they beat Hughesville in the quarterfinals, before falling to Mt. Carmel 35-0 in the semifinals.

"We know it's Friday night and when it's Friday night and the lights are still on, that's a good thing," Towanda coach Craig Dawsey said. "This is one of those matchups you want to play. I think they have played well against some other teams, Loyalsock being one of them, and that's all you can ask of kids is that they come to play."

Both Towanda and Lewisburg are similar in that they like to run the ball, but they are capable of throwing it as well.

Travis Chesla leads the Towanda rushing attack with 229 carries for 1,521 yards and 19 touchdowns. While Chesla has been dominant this year, he has not been alone, as quarterback Dakota Roof has run for 646 yards on 94 carries with 15 touchdowns and Kodi Thompson has 77 carries for 491 yards and nine touchdowns.

Lewisburg is led by sophomore Merle Moscarello with 129 carries for 900 yards and six scores, and senior Nate Brown has 89 carries for 565 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Their sophomore quarterback, Cam Cassels, who took over when starter Jay Mathias was lost for the year due to injury, has completed 34-of-56 passes for 614 yards with five scores and five interceptions playing half the year.

For Towanda, Roof is 66-for-114 for 993 yards passing with 10 scores and eight interceptions. Chesla leads Towanda with 23 catches for 332 yards and a pair of scores and Nate Bennett has 15 grabs for 290 yards and four scores, while Dean Frutchey, Cody Miller and Thompson all have reached double figures in catches this year.

Tight end Cody Raup leads Lewisburg with 17 catches for 413 yards and four touchdowns this year.

"Obviously, they are good," Dawsey said of Lewisburg. "You don't get this far without being good. They are 10-1; they lost to Hughesville and Hughesville is playing Loyalsock in the other game this year. They are a hungry bunch."

Dawsey knows that this time of year, you run into balanced teams like Lewisburg, and he believes his players will be ready.

"They are balanced. We are going to be prepared for it," he said. "I think coach (Jamie) Wecker and coach (Ryan) Larcom did a great job this week of getting game plans in place, and it comes down to executing those game plans.

"You get to this point in the season and everybody can run, and throw the ball pretty well. You have to be prepared for it."

Defensively, Miller leads the Black Knights with 10 interceptions and Dawsey knows that forcing turnovers, and not turning the ball over themselves, will be big.

"You have to take care of the little things," Dawsey said. "Mistakes are going to be key in this game. Whoever makes the mistake, if the other team capitalizes, you are going to be in trouble. You have to cover the ball and play good defense."

One advantage for Towanda is that the game is in Towanda.

"I think the kids love playing in their stadium," Dawsey said. "It's a great thing for the kids. I think it tells them what the community thinks of them. It's a special place to play, no question about it."

DISTRICT 4 SEMIFINALS

Lewisburg (10-1) at Towanda (11-0)

Towanda Black Knights

Coach: Craig Dawsey

Rushing leaders: Travis Chesla 229-1,521-19, Kodi Thompson 77-491-9, Dakota Roof 94-646-15

Passing leader: Roof 66-114-993-10-8

Receiving leaders: Chesla 23-332-2, Nate Bennett 15-290-4, Dean Frutchey 10-214-1, Cody Miller 11-168-1, Kodi Thompson 10-113-2.

Defensive leader: Cody Miller 10 interceptions

Notes: Held Troy to just 39 yards rushing last week in the opening game of district play. . . Third undefeated regular season in the past five years, each of the past two ended in the district final. . . Fell to Montoursville in the District 4 playoffs last year. . . Lost in the district final to Loyalsock in 2007 and Montoursville in 2005. . . Highest scoring team in NTL, scored 20 or more points in every game this season. . . Only Loyalsock and North Penn scored as many as 20 points against the Black Knights this year.

Lewisburg Green Dragons

Head coach: Todd Pilford, fourth year (24-19)

Leading rushers: So. Melre Moscarello 129-900-6, Sr. Nate Brown 89-565-13

Leading passer: Cam Cassels 34-56-614-5-5

Leading receiver: TE Cody Raup 17-413-4

Notes: Won their first-ever district playoff game by beating Hughesville in the quarterfinals last year. . . In the district semifinals for the second straight year. . . Lost to Mt. Carmel 35-0 in the district semifinals last year. . . Have never been to the district finals. . . Haven't won a league title since 1981. . . 19-4 in the past two seasons, 10-60 from 2001-2007. . . Had first 10-win season since 1984. . . Defense has five shutouts and has held nine teams to 10 points or fewer. . . Have won six straight since losing to Hughesville in week four.

Sign up for Text Alerts

Sign up for e-mail newsletters