Sep 6, 2024 4 min read

By Dave Whipkey

For the Observer-Reporter

newsroom@observer-reporter.com

In 2023, Trinity grabbed the attention of local football fans when the Hillers routed perennial power Thomas Jefferson, 23-6.

Fast forward to 2024 and coach Dan Knause’s Hillers sought another spotlight moment as they went toe to toe with another Class 4A power in Montour Friday night at Hiller Field.

Trinity fought tooth-and-nail with the highly regarded Spartans before falling 14-7 in a game that saw heavy rain fall through much of the third and fourth quarter. Montour improves their record to 3-0 while the Hillers fall to 1-2.

“We liked our game plan against them,” Knause said. “We felt we moved the ball OK enough on offense, we just didn’t finish drives. We played well enough on defense to win.”

After forcing a Trinity punt on the game’s first possession, the Spartans gained possession on the Hiller 43 and marched to the contest’s first score, a Trey Hopper 12 yard strike to AJ Alston. The point after was good and Montour led 7-0 less than five minutes into the contest.

“I mean they are scary on the perimeter, they go four, five, six deep,” Knause said of the Spartans explosiveness on offense. “So many weapons.”

The Hillers nearly tied the score early in the second quarter when Jonah Williamson found Chase Kostelnik running free behind the Montour secondary for what would have been a 40 yard touchdown pass, however the pass was overthrown and the Hillers would be forced to punt two plays later.

Trinity’s defense stood strong on the next possession when Semaj Fuse and David Gill combined for a sack on Hopper on the Spartans 20 on third down to end a Montour drive midway through the second.

A short Montour punt gave the Hillers the ball on the Spartans 40. From there, the Hillers ground their way downfield and found paydirt when Williamson plowed in from the one. Andy Palm knocked home the extra point, knotting the score at 7. With 1:19 left in the half.

Montour threatened to take the lead right before halftime when they drove to the Trinity 13, but a fierce pass rush by Fuse forced Hopper into an intentional grounding penalty that effectively ended the half with the squads tied at 7.

“Our defense plays with motors. I love our kids, lot of new faces out there, but we are not stepping back,” Knause added.

Trinity looked to take control on their first possession of the third quarter when they drove to the Spartans 45. Facing fourth-and-five, Caden Vogel’s pass on a fake punt play was intercepted, giving Montour the ball on their own 30.

The Hillers defense again stood tall on the Spartans ensuing drive when Mekhi Bowman intercepted a Hopper pass on the Hiller 35.

Montour went on a march that took them to a first and goal on the Hiller 1. There the Hiller defense stood tall again, stuffing Caden Halajcio three times in a row, the third time was a jarring tackle by Gill to force a fourth and goal from the 6. Brock Spiker then spiked a Hopper pass to end the threat and give the ball back to Trinity with nine minutes remaining.

But the Spartans defense then struck back three plays later when Williamson was flushed out and forced to throw a wobbly pass that was intercepted by Daniel Batch on the Hiller 34, setting the Spartans up in prime real estate.

Montour cashed in the turnover by marching those 34 yards and finding the end zone when Batch swept in from the seven to give the Spartans a 14-7 lead with 2:40 left in the contest.

Trinity began the ensuing drive from their own 30 and marched towards a would be score. The Hillers reached the Spartans 29 and faced a fourth down with less than 30 seconds remaining. Williamson’s fourth down pass was intercepted by Kaleb Platz, ending the Hillers’ hopes.

Halajcio led the Spartans with 139 yards rushing on 27 carries. Williamson finished with 72 yards in 18 carries for the Hillers.