Nov 5, 2025
Christian Banks of Montoursville celebrates his crew’s win over Mt. Carmel at Montoursville Excessive Faculty Friday night time. Montoursville gained in triple additional time 43-42. DAVE KENNEDY/Solar-Gazette
The ultimate two quarters he would ever play at Memorial Stadium beckoned. He felt ache however Christian Banks wouldn’t exit the sphere.
A technique or one other, the Montoursville senior was leaving his house turf for the final time on his protect. As a result of he delivered such a valiant efficiency there, Banks additionally left it a winner.
After an harm restricted him to largely protection within the first half, Banks made a monster offensive influence within the second half, operating for 137 of his 149 yards, scoring three touchdowns and serving to Montoursville win a dramatic 43-42 three-overtime thriller in opposition to Mount Carmel within the District 4 Class AAA semifinals. His effort helped the Warriors (9-2) attain their first district championship since 2021 and there, they may play at Mifflinburg, Friday.
“I simply knew I wished to offer all the pieces I had. I used to be simply driving as a lot as I may,” Banks stated. “The harm shut out of my thoughts within the second half as a result of my mindset was simply to win.
“I knew it doesn’t matter what proportion I used to be or, even when I needed to keep on the sideline, I used to be going to do all the pieces to help my crew they usually had been going to offer all the pieces again that I gave to them.”
That reciprocal relationship continued by all of the ebbs and flows on this riveting immediate traditional. All of the gamers stored driving ahead and Banks helped energy that engine. After carrying simply thrice within the first half, he ran for 137 second-half yards, carried 19 occasions and caught the game-winning landing move from Elijah Eck.
Banks is a four-year starter who has 3,485 profession yards and 250 tackles. However of all his standout performances, this one may need been one of the best given the state of affairs and ramifications.
“I’ve been at Montoursville some time now and we’ve had some actually good operating backs and he’s up there with these guys and that’s a tribute to his perseverance and work and toughness,” Montoursville coach Joe Hanna stated. “He has the mentality of, ‘I wish to win and lay all of it out on the road.’ Christian actually overcame a variety of adversity.”
Banks has battled accidents all through the season however one can hardly inform. He has run for 1,263 yards and 19 touchdowns, whereas including 137 receiving yards and two scores. Banks additionally has made 50 tackles, together with 40 solos and eight for loss. That has been important to Montoursville making a three-win enchancment and successful its most video games in a season since 2019.
The numbers inform a small story, nevertheless it’s the best way Banks performs which actually is the web page turner. By no means was that more true than in opposition to Mount Carmel. Montoursville discovered itself concerned in one of many extra dramatic video games within the historical past of its storied program as each title contenders traded massive performs and leads like Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam in a Metal Cage match.
However impressed by senior teammate, two-way linemen Noah Rakestraw, Banks fought on. As an alternative of asking for a lighter load, Banks welcomed a heavier one. There have been occasions he ran by holes and occasions Banks ran over tacklers. Both approach, he stored churning out yards and Montoursville stored battling again, erasing a seven-point fourth quarter deficit and two additional time deficits.
“Noah Rakestraw has the motivation to guide a military into any battle. He has that drive to win each recreation, and he simply places the mindset into your head that you could win the sport it doesn’t matter what,” Banks stated. “After I see that from him, it drives me much more and I hope that pushes the crew. With out him, I wouldn’t have the ability to do what I do. Whenever you want him, he’s a man you possibly can rely upon, irrespective of the circumstance.”
So is Banks.
Banks was first injured in Week 2 in opposition to Milton however didn’t miss any time. He closed the common season with six straight 100-yard video games, beginning at Mount Carmel’s Silver Bowl in Week 5. Banks went over 100 yards earlier than halftime within the Battle of the Bridge Recreation 5 weeks later however was banged up once more and performed simply protection throughout that second half.
That just about was the case all through the primary half in opposition to Mount Carmel and Montoursville constructed a 14-0 lead. However after the Tornadoes tied it early within the third quarter and took the lead later that quarter, Banks pushed apart each a robust opponent and any ache he felt. And as Banks began imposing his will, his physique began feeling higher.
Now, it was Banks administering the ache. He tied the sport with a 6-yard fourth quarter landing earlier than crashing in for a 3-yarder and including a 2-point conversion as Montoursville took a 36-28 double additional time lead. Mount Carmel responded and scored on consecutive performs, going up, 42-36 within the third additional time.
Mount Carmel possible had an thought who would get the ball on Montoursville’s ensuing play however the line did its job, Banks his and he ripped off a 10-yard landing run which tied the sport once more.
“I believe I reached a unique degree, contemplating I used to be coping with an harm,” Banks stated. “The quantity of effort I used to be in a position to launch from my physique, I felt like I used to be bettering as the sport went on with the harm and with my energy and my agility and issues like that.”
“Christian sort of took it upon his shoulders within the second half to go in on offense,” Hanna stated. “He wished the ball and knew as a senior that this was most likely his final house recreation and that within the playoffs, it’s win or go house, so he wished to do all the pieces he may.”
Banks actually did that and moments later he skilled euphoria as Adam Shearer drilled the game-winning further level. Via all of it, Banks and the Warriors overcame all obstacles and gained, 43-42. Discuss making one’s closing house contest a particular one.
“That’s most likely one of the best ways I may have left that subject,” Banks stated. “Any regular win or blowout would nonetheless have been memorable, however that recreation was one thing I’ll always remember. I’m very pleased with that.”
Montoursville has been more than pleased it has had Banks these final 4 years.
He instantly stepped in as a freshman and performed effectively at linebacker. A 12 months later, he grew to become the crew’s prime speeding choice, operating for 786 yards and 7 touchdowns. Every season he progressed and Banks ran for 1,308 yards and 14 touchdowns final fall as Montoursville made a three-win enchancment and reached the district semifinals.
That Banks has elevated his immense crew worth every year isn’t a coincidence or simply pure development. It’s a results of numerous hours spent lifting, coaching and conditioning. That has made Banks a 5-foot-10, 190-pound bowling ball-type runner with pace.
He has the power to run by, round or over defenders. Conversely, Banks has the pace and intelligence to assist quarterback the protection and excel in opposition to each the move and rush.
What completes the bundle, nevertheless, is the toughness Banks shows. That’s the thread which has related all 4 years at Montoursville.
Banks is among the many prime 20 space rushers of the 2000s and the one Montoursville gamers to realize extra yards throughout that point are Keith Batkowski, Rocco Pulizzi and Cody Haupt. That places him in unique firm nevertheless it’s who Banks is which actually cements his place in Montoursville historical past.
“Whenever you play as a lot soccer as Christian has over time, you’re going to have setbacks mentally and bodily and he at all times appears to beat these,” Hanna stated. “He’s a tricky, bodily child and he put in a variety of effort within the offseason to make himself higher, and has turn into a extremely, actually good operating again. He’s a very good linebacker, too, however this 12 months he sort of made it his mission to turn into an entire operating again and he’s actually executed a very good job of doing that.”
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