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SELINSGROVE -- Sometimes it just means more, and for Jersey Shore and Selinsgrove their annual fall matches on the gridiron mean everything. The Bulldogs (3-0) came into Friday's game coming off of a big 49-42 win on the road against Delaware Valley. Meanwhile the Seals (0-3) were off the heels of a deflating 62-0 defeat at the hands of Twin Valley.
After what was a feisty back and forth first quarter, the bulldogs put their foot on the gas and never relented, beating the Seals by a final score of 49-6 and getting an emphatic first win in Heartland conference play.
The star of the game for Shore was running back Bo Sechrist. Sechrist was dominant in the run game, racking up the yardage while punching in three touchdowns on the ground in the win.
"It's just a good feeling," Sechrist said after the win. "I lost here my sophomore year, and it was tough so I definitely celebrate getting to come here and really pound them."
The start of the first quarter was one to forget for the Bulldogs, as a fumble on the opening drive set Selinsgrove up deep in Shore territory. While the Seals failed to capitalize on the initial turnover, they would be the first to score in the game, as Andrew Gesumaria ran it in from 30-yards out to give Selinsgrove an early lead. But a partially blocked extra point meant that the lead was only 6-0.
It looked like that initial punch from the Seals awoke something on the Jersey Shore sideline, as immediately following the score Jersey Shore got to work establishing their dominance. A long sustained drive was capped off with a Luke Ryan 12-yard touchdown run to give the Bulldogs a lead they would never relinquish.
In the second quarter it was all Shore all the time, as they put up three scores in 12 minutes of play, with Nolan Pauling and Bo Sechrist (twice) each finding the endzone as the lead ballooned all the way to 35-6 right before halftime. Notably that second Sechrist touchdown was set up thanks to a sack fumble from Connor Yingling.
After an eventful first half the final two quarters of the game felt much more tame by comparison, as the only two scores came from Sechrist and Herrit in the fourth quarter when the game was already out of reach.
Shore's defense played a major factor in the win as well, forcing three turnovers, as they hounded Seals quarterback Rocco Amato all night long. The Bulldogs certainly have not been afraid to be blitz heavy this season, and such again was the case Friday, as they sent five or six rushers on what felt like every down and that relentless pressure completely shut down the Seals offence.
After the game Bulldogs head coach Tom Gravish sounded very pleased with his team’s performance.
"I was really proud of our guys on how they answered the bell after giving up that early score." Gravish said, "They [Selinsgrove] have some talented people on that team, some returning starters. But we challenged our guys and they answered the bell."
It should also be noted this was the first time that Jersey Shore won on the road at Selinsgrove, since 2021. They've since played there for a district playoff game, and it was on the road at Selinsgrove in 2023 that former Bulldog Max Engle collapsed on the field in a game that ended in a 21-21 tie.
Coach Gravish, wearing a hat with an orange No. 4 patch that represented Engle's number, talked after the game on the feeling of playing at Selinsgrove for the first time in the regular season since 2023, and the impact Engle and his family still have on this team.
"It was tough on some of our players and coaches coming back here. We talk a lot about Max all year. A lot did not have to be said, but we are so thankful for Josh and Heather Engle and the entire family. Their continued support of our program made it a lot easier for us to come here and play."
Next week will be one for the story books, as Jersey Shore goes on the road to take on undefeated Shamokin (3-0), in a game that could end up determining the winner of the Heartland-I. That game is set to kick off in Shamokin, with a start time of 7 p.m.
Jersey Shore 49, Selinsgrove 6
Jersey Shore 14 21 0 14 -- 49
Selinsgrove 6 0 0 0 -- 6
First quarter
Sel-Andrew Gesumaria 24 run (kick failed)
JS-Luke Ryan 13 run (Jayden Passetti kicK)
JS-Kash Herritt 2 run (Passetti kick)
Second quarter
JS-Nolen Pauling 3 run (Passetti kick)
JS-Bo Sechrist 3 run (Passetti kick)
JS-Sechrist 3 run (Passetti kick)
Fourth quarter
JS-Sechrist 8 run (Passetti kick)
JS-Herritt 1 run (Passetti kick)
TEAM STATISTICS (JS S)
Rushes-yards 48-266 32-103
Passing yards 163 109
C-A-I 13-19-0 7-19-2
Total yards 429 212
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1
Penalties-yards 8-60 2-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Jersey Shore, Bo Sechrist 21-131, 3 TDs; Kash Herritt 16-86, 2 TDs; Connor Yingling 3-26; Luke Ryan 1-13, TD; Nolen Pauling 7-12, TD. Selinsgrove: Brett Rice 20-46; Andrew Gensumaria 1-24, TD; Isaac Thomas 3-16; Cru Carter 3-12; Colton Fegley 1-1; Rocco Amato 2-3; Alexander Modwar 1-1; Peter Scorsone 1-0.
PASSING -- Jersey Shore, Pauling 13-19-0 163. Selinsgrove: Amato 7-19-2 109.
RECEIVING -- Jersey Shore, Carson Watkins 6-73; Ryan 5-66; Luke Thompson 2-24. Selinsgrove; Wyatt Teats 4-52; Jake Beddall 2-53; Jonathan Neidig 1-7.