That’s a reality Jersey Shore football experienced last Friday. In arguably the most anticipated Week 7 matchup in the entire state of Pennsylvania, the Bulldogs started strong but collapsed through the second and third quarters, allowing Hollidaysburg to score 52 unanswered points in what ended up being a historic, 52-7 loss.

It was their worst loss in over 2,000 days, ending a 59-game span in which Shore never once dropped a regular-season game by more than one score in prolific, demoralizing fashion. But while the loss certainly wasn’t fun for its fans, players or coaches, it shouldn’t dampen the high expectations that came with its hot start to the season.

Yes, the team has flaws, flaws which Hollidaysburg exploited on its way its third straight win over a state-ranked opponent.

Its defense struggled to eliminate the big play for the fourth time this season, allowing three touchdowns of 55 yards or more. Quarterback Nolen Pauling’s inexperience showed for maybe the first time this season and drops hindered a hot start from the sophomore. And in a game where decision-making could make or break a team’s chances, questionable choices proved costly, with the decision to pass in the waning moments of the second quarter being the biggest example of that.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore quarterback Nolen Pauling (1) prepares to throw the ball during a football game against Hollidaysburg on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs fell 52-7.

Nobody present at Thompson Street Stadium last Friday would argue it wasn’t a bad loss, or that the scoreboard didn’t tell the full story. But those same people, apart from maybe Hollidaysburg fans, would also argue against the loss being indicative.

There’s a reason the aforementioned span fell just one game short of 60. And even with one of its younger casts of the 2020s, Jersey Shore’s success through the first six games of the season mirrored the consistency of years past, quieting any doubt that came with all it lost from last year.

It was bound to hit a roadblock, considering its youth and current two-year cycle of scheduling, its toughest two-year cycle since 2018 and 2019. And that roadblock happened to come against the best team it’s faced in quite a while.

While last year’s matchup came down to the last play, the Golden Tigers have taken a large step forward since then. They are one of the best teams in the state at the Class 5A level -ranked No. 9 there according to MaxPreps – and have handed teams exhibiting similar success to Shore similar routs.

Mifflinburg (5-2) has built on what was a breakout 2024 campaign, posting blowout wins over Montoursville (6-1) and Loyalsock (4-3), climbing into the top ten in Class AAA and giving Southern Columbia (6-1) a run for its money in Week 7. But two weeks prior, it was no match for Hollidaysburg, enduring a 49-14 loss after outscoring its first four opponents 172-54.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore head football coach Tom Gravish reacts on the sideline during a football game against Hollidaysburg on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs fell 52-7.

Based off the first quarter and a half, it can be argued that the Bulldogs could’ve hung around longer had it not been for their mistakes through the second. But it’s also abundantly clear that this is a much different Hollidaysburg team, one that likely beats Shore nine times out of ten. It looks the part heading into November, and it remains to be seen how far they can climb.

“(They’re) by far the most physical team that we’ve played in a while, I would say in years,” said Jersey Shore football head coach Tom Gravish after Friday’s loss. “We haven’t had that happen to us on this field since we played Southern Columbia in 2019. They were the most physical team that we’ve played since Southern Columbia. No doubt about that.”

“Had we gotten more first downs, I think we could still do what we do. Their defense took that away from us, not giving us that opportunity. So, hats off to them,” he added.

As it stands, Jersey Shore’s most indicative game remains its Week 4 matchup against Shamokin, a two-overtime classic that, even in defeat, showed it could match up well with the elite of Class 4A.

Assuming it gets Kash Herritt back from injury soon, which remains to be seen, it should head into the postseason with a lot going for it. The sophomore has played a pivotal role in Shore’s success through 2025, both as a shifty, speedy back and impactful linebacker, aspects which were sorely missed against the Golden Tigers.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Jersey Shore's Bo Sechrist (5) celebrates a touchdown during a football game against Hollidaysburg on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs fell 52-7.

LONE VICTOR

The Express area has had some tough Fridays this season, with Week 7 being no exception. However, one team kept the area from going winless for the second time through 2025, and it did so in impressive fashion.

Bellefonte (3-4) went into its matchup against a resurgent Philipsburg-Osceola squad having endured a tough stretch, dropping four of its previous five, three of which had come by a single score. But against the Mountaineers, it finally came together, as the Red Raiders posted their most well-rounded victory of the season by a score of 24-15.

Their defense continues to be a bright spot, holding a Mountie offense that was coming off a 31-point barrage against Bellwood-Antis to less than half that point total – the sixth time the Red Raiders have held an opponent to 21 points or less. And the offense also showed flashes, keeping Philipsburg-Osceola one step behind when the pressure started to grow through the second half.

It’s worth noting that Bellefonte’s upcoming schedule still contains problems, with Richland (6-1) and Bellwood-Antis (3-4) giving it a challenging span heading into its Week 10 Laurel Highlands crossover matchup. But that span previously held three challenges, one which was crossed out on Friday.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte's Kav'en Smith-Kirk (11) high-fives Isaac Gall (3) after a touchdown during a football game against Bald Eagle Area on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, at Rogers Stadium.

A win like that could be what the program needed, as it looks to finish the regular season strong in hopes of earning a playoff spot. It remains to be seen if the team can maintain that momentum moving forward but for now, the turnaround remains possible.

Henry Huber is the sports editor at The Express. He can be reached by email at hhuber@lockhaven.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HenryHuber_.