It was a splendid afternoon for November. The sun was shining, and I was in Muncy, PA, for a PIAA District IV Class A semifinal. The talented Indians were hosting the Montgomery Red Raiders. I was excited. There is so much to love about this small-town rivalry. Muncy is loaded, and they already smacked their neighbors 40-18 to claim the Old Shoe a few weeks prior. Obviously, the Indians were the heavy favorites. But that’s the beauty of playoffs. Everyone gets a clean slate.

We found out immediately that Montgomery was up for the challenge. The Red Raiders executed a great game plan. They dominated the time of possession and kept their dynamic counterparts on the sidelines. It was incredible. Montgomery’s defense was equally as impressive. Perhaps they found a way to keep the potent Muncy offense in check. The Indians were frustrated. Momentum was not on their side. We were scoreless at the half. No one predicted this. And if someone said they did. They lied.

Montgomery’s Maurice Walters returned the second-half kickoff 78 yards for a TD, and the Red Raiders took a 7-0 lead. Muncy battled back to score 14 unanswered points and showed why they are still the state’s 2nd ranked team. The Red Raiders didn’t quit and mounted one last charge. Senior quarterback Logan Almeida was outstanding in that final drive and found Weston Pick for a 25-yard touchdown on a fourth and ten. With nothing to lose, first-year Coach Christian Diggs decided to go for two. The attempt came up short, and Muncy recovered the onside kick and escaped with a 14-13 win. What a game.

I enjoy scribing and calling these games each week. The feedback and praise are somewhat embarrassing. I have been doing this for a long time, and it is a great opportunity to watch the area coaches and players. I have established so many great friendships over the years. It is hard to explain. But I was so very proud of a few chums in particular.

I have wanted to do an article on Montgomery’s Christian Diggs and Logan Almedia for weeks now. These two and I go back a long way. Coach Diggs just wrapped up his first year at the helm. The rookie coach is full of energy, and he is helping the Red Raiders turn the curve. A new school boss, the 24-year-old, certainly relates to his guys. He demands perfection, and his players have responded. Montgomery finished the year at 5-6 and almost pulled off one of the greatest upsets.

“Coach Diggs brought so much energy to our team this year,” Logan Almeida explained. “He and his staff preached hard work, and we bought in from day one. Coach had a great connection to his players. Everyone was on the same page this season, and we had a great year.”

Logan had a fantastic season. The quarterback led the entire area in a number of passing categories. Almeida threw for 2,031 yards and 16 TDs. He was tops with a 137.1 rating. Logan will go down as one of the all-time greats. He shattered all of the Montgomery records. Almeida finished with 4,436 yards and 31 TDs. Incredible numbers.

“Logan is a stud.” Coach Christian Diggs remarked. “He is a great kid: a 4.0 student and a phenomenal three-sport athlete. Logan’s numbers are impressive, but he is also a great leader. He made sure everyone was held accountable, and he did not have any problems taking the blame. Logan played with a lot of emotion and heart. He taught me a great deal, and he will be missed. I only wish I could coach him another year.”

“We had a great run,” Almedia continued. “I learned a lot along the road. We experienced some ups and downs, but we had a lot of fun. I have been very blessed to play with some great talent. Colton Hans. Maurice Walters. Colby Springman. Weston Pick. And others. We had some great experiences. Hopefully, we laid down a foundation. I appreciate all of the support from our coaches and fans. Everyone played a part in shaping me into the player I am.”

“My first year coaching was a ball,” Diggs observed. “I can’t say enough about my staff. Everyone came together. I love every single guy associated with this team. This senior class was amazing. They were all special. They endured some rather tough moments. They stuck together and did what we asked. I am happy they experienced some successes. My guys were not only good footballers, but they were also great kids.”

The relationships and respect between a player and coach are beautiful things. Those who aren’t in the business wouldn’t understand. Forget the wins and losses. Dealing with the parents or the stipend. The long hours away from home. There is still only one reason we coach. It is for the kids. Props to the Montgomery Red Raiders. Especially Christian and Logan. This was a fun run. Cheers.