Nov 5, 2025
Christian Banks of Montoursville celebrates his staff’s win over Mt. Carmel at Montoursville Excessive Faculty Friday evening. Montoursville gained in triple time beyond regulation 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 sector.
A technique or one other, the Montoursville senior was leaving his residence 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 damage restricted him to largely protection within the first half, Banks made a monster offensive influence within the second half, working 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 might,” Banks mentioned. “The damage 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 staff they usually have been going to offer all the pieces again that I gave to them.”
That reciprocal relationship continued via all of the ebbs and flows on this riveting prompt basic. All of the gamers stored driving ahead and Banks helped energy that engine. After carrying simply 3 times within the first half, he ran for 137 second-half yards, carried 19 instances and caught the game-winning landing cross 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 might need been the very best given the state of affairs and ramifications.
“I’ve been at Montoursville some time now and we’ve had some actually good working 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 mentioned. “He has the mentality of, ‘I need to win and lay all of it out on the road.’ Christian actually overcame a whole lot 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 very important to Montoursville making a three-win enchancment and profitable 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 huge 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 instances he ran via holes and instances Banks ran over tacklers. Both method, he stored churning out yards and Montoursville stored battling again, erasing a seven-point fourth quarter deficit and two time beyond regulation deficits.
“Noah Rakestraw has the motivation to steer 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 mentioned. “After I see that from him, it drives me much more and I hope that pushes the staff. With out him, I wouldn’t be capable of do what I do. Whenever you want him, he’s a man you may rely upon, regardless 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 Sport 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 time beyond regulation lead. Mount Carmel responded and scored on consecutive performs, going up, 42-36 within the third time beyond regulation.
Mount Carmel seemingly had an concept 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 special degree, contemplating I used to be coping with an damage,” Banks mentioned. “The quantity of effort I used to be capable of launch from my physique, I felt like I used to be bettering as the sport went on with the damage 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 mentioned. “He wished the ball and knew as a senior that this was in all probability his final residence recreation and that within the playoffs, it’s win or go residence, so he wished to do all the pieces he might.”
Banks definitely did that and moments later he skilled euphoria as Adam Shearer drilled the game-winning additional level. Via all of it, Banks and the Warriors overcame all obstacles and gained, 43-42. Discuss making one’s remaining residence contest a particular one.
“That’s in all probability one of the simplest ways I might have left that discipline,” Banks mentioned. “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 very happy it has had Banks these final 4 years.
He instantly stepped in as a freshman and performed nicely at linebacker. A 12 months later, he turned the staff’s prime speeding possibility, working 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 staff worth annually 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 flexibility 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 cross and rush.
What completes the package deal, nevertheless, is the toughness Banks shows. That’s the thread which has linked 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 through the years, you’re going to have setbacks mentally and bodily and he at all times appears to beat these,” Hanna mentioned. “He’s a tricky, bodily child and he put in a whole lot of effort within the offseason to make himself higher, and has change into a extremely, actually good working again. He’s an excellent linebacker, too, however this 12 months he sort of made it his mission to change into an entire working again and he’s actually achieved an excellent job of doing that.”
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