Riley Montgomery has begun to begun to realize how his final season in the Northampton football program can be a special one.

“The offseason has been going very well,” said the 5-11, 265-pound senior center. “I’m excited to see how the team’s energy will carry into the season.”

Montgomery will anchor a line that helped the Konkrete Kids to an overall 6-6 season last year in the newly formed Northampton County or Steel Division of the East Penn Conference (EPC).

The Kids have been busy this summer with workouts and seven-on-seven passing camps. They will open the regular season Aug. 22 at Pennsbury.

Montgomery has been working hard to develop his game on and off the field.

“I’ve been trying to focus on sharpening my skills as a player and also as a leader of the team,” stressed Montgomery. “I feel after last season our team has come a long way, and we are all trying to build our chemistry together throughout the entire team for the season.”

Head coach John Toman is excited to have Montgomery back as a focal point for a veteran line.

“It (offensive line) will be senior drive, and he is the leader of the line,” beamed Toman. “Riley played as a sophomore, started as a junior, and has become a great leader as a senior.

“He is a person of great character, a great student, and a great teammate.

Montgomery, who began playing football at the age of five in the NAA, stopped for a period and began again eighth grade.

In middle school, Montgomery made the transition in high school. Montgomery was the starter at center in the Kids’ opener against Pennsbury last year.

Montgomery sees plenty of incentive from regular-season losses to Parkland, Liberty, Easton, Nazareth, and Freedom, all members of the EPC South, where Northampton played before they moved to the North, where they thrived.

“We feel like we have something to prove heading into this season,” added Montgomery. “Everyone has been working hard at becoming better players across all positions, so we can be successful this season.”