Teats sets records, Seals roll on senior night

Written by: Cody Smith on Saturday, October 21st, 2023. Follow Cody Smith on Twitter.

SELINSGROVE – A record-breaking night and over 500 yards of total offense propelled the Selinsgrove Seals to a 35-7 victory over Montoursville on Senior night Friday at Harold L Bolig Memorial Field.

Tucker Teats broke multiple records in the game and accounted for over 300 total yards of offense himself.

Teats broke the Selinsgrove school record for total touchdowns in a single season, total points in a single season, and total rushing touchdowns in a single season in his big performance. Teats ran the ball 17 times for 265 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns while adding a 45-yard receiving touchdown in the victory as well.

“It’s amazing,” said Teats of his record-breaking season. “I remember being a little kid watching on Friday nights and it was something I always wanted to do, to go out there and be my best. I couldn’t do it without my linemen though. I love those boys and I’d do anything for them. I try to let them know that they’re the best linemen out there.”

Despite the final score, this game was a barnburner early on. After the Warriors failed to score on their opening possession, it seemed the visiting team forced Selinsgrove into a three-and-out to start their night offensively. However, a fake punt attempt earned the Seals even more than a first down when the upback Teats ran the fake punt 49 yards for the game’s opening score.

It wouldn’t take long for Montoursville to strike right back behind junior quarterback James Mussina. Just two plays into the ensuing drive, Mussina found senior running back Nate Fisher down the seam for a 36-yard catch-and-run to even the score at 7-7.

Little did anyone know this would be Montoursville’s lone point of the game.

The two teams took a tie game into the second quarter before Teats broke the tie again. Despite an illegal block in the back that erased a 98-yard Teats rushing score, the Seals drove the field and scored on a 45-yard catch-and-run by Teats.

“They were loading the box with Tucker running the football and at that point those hitches work as a long handoff,” said Coach Derek Hicks. “When he (Mark Pastore) went downfield he made some nice throws for the touchdowns.”

Senior quarterback Mark Pastore had himself a solid night in the win, completing 12 of 17 pass attempts for 146 yards and a pair of scores.

“Mid-way through the season I thought I hit a little bit of a passing game slump,” said Pastore. “That was something we’ve been focusing on. Obviously, tonight that came through for us. We made some big-time plays in big-time moments. Putting up big points for our guys.”

The Selinsgrove offense wrapped up the opening half with another passing score, this time to junior wideout Gavin Bastian. Bastian had a huge night in the receiving game, hauling in eight receptions for 83 yards and the score.

The rest of the night was all Teats, as he tacked on a pair of rushing scores in the second half to help cap off the victory.

Montoursville’s offense pieced together a few more drives in the game, but big defensive plays from the Seals turned the Warrior offense away. With just over four minutes remaining in the opening half, Montoursville possessed the ball all the way down at the Selinsgrove three-yard line. Selinsgrove forced a fumble and fell on the ball to recover the fumble on a possession where the Montoursville offense could have tied the game at 14 points apiece.

Later in the second half, Montoursville was within striking distance again. On a fourth-and-five at the Selinsgrove eight, Mussina rolled left to pass and launched a ball into the endzone that ended up being intercepted by sophomore defensive back Wyatt Teats.

In all, Selinsgrove allowed 370 total yards of offense and allowed the Warriors to pick up 20 first downs in the game, but Coach Hicks’ bend-don’t-break defense held up to allow just one score.

“They’re a lot like us,” said Hicks. “They’re physical, they’re tough up front, they have a couple running backs that run really hard. They showed up tonight and played as advertised.”

“Last week they played a great game against Jersey Shore,” added Pastore of the Seal’s tough opponent. “Their record doesn’t really speak for how well they’ve played this season. They played us tough. They made us have some mental errors. I thought this was a great win for us against a great Montoursville team.”

The Seals wrap up the regular season this coming Friday night when they travel west on Rt. 522 to take on the Midd-West Mustangs (0-9).

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