Quarterback Trey Hopper threw a pair of touchdown passes and Daniel Batch ran for a third score to power Montour to a 24-14 victory over visiting Central Valley Friday night in the season opener for both schools at Thomas J. Birko Memorial Stadium.
The win gives the Spartans a 6-5 lead in the series, and it marked the first time the home team had won in 11 meetings.
Hopper, taking over for the graduated Jake Wolfe – who threw for more than 2,600 yards and 31 touchdowns last season – had an impressive debut.
But it came as no surprise to Batch, who said Hopper could have started on most teams a year ago but was stuck behind the standout Wolfe.
“We all knew that – and everyone else just found out today,” Batch told a TV reporter after the game. “And they’re going to keep finding out about Trey Hopper.”
Montour built a 10-0 lead on Brayden Davin’s 28-yard first-quarter field goal and Batch’s 2-yard touchdown dive early in the second quarter. But the Warriors drove 80 yards in the final stages of the second quarter, and Jance Henry’s 16-yard touchdown run trimmed the Spartans’ lead to 10-7 at halftime.
Montour, coming off a 10-2 season that ended in the WPIAL semifinals a year ago, widened its lead to 17-7 with just under five minutes remaining in the third quarter on the first of Hopper’s two touchdown passes.
Hopper completed a pair of passes to help the Spartans move from their own 34 to the Central Valley 26. On the next play, Hopper hit Andrew Alston on a short swing pass behind the line, and Alston went the distance for the score. The extra point gave Montour a 17-7 lead.
But Central Valley wouldn’t go away, and the Warriors responded with another 80-yard drive, which ended on Henry’s second touchdown of the game, this one from a yard out. The point-after kick brought Central Valley to within 17-14 with 54 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
But Hopper brought the Spartans right back on the ensuing possession, driving them 82 yards for what proved to be the game’s final score.
Hopper connected with Marcus Battles for a 33-yard gain on a third-and-four play and two plays later, from the Central Valley 42 yard-line, Hopper hit a wide open Battles at the 18 and he went the rest of the way for the score with just under 11 minutes to play in the game.
Montour’s defense stiffened during the final 11 minutes, forcing a pair of punts, and the Spartans went into the Wildcat to bleed the clock and secure the win.
Montour will return to action Friday when they travel to take on Moon at Tiger Stadium.
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