Jersey Shore has tough matchup against Shamokin
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Jersey Shore (5-5) meets the team which has ended its season the past two years in the district championship and that has become its nemesis the past three seasons. Shamokin has won five straight during that time, but the first three games were decided by four combined points.
Jersey Shore also had lots of chances in the loss seven weeks ago, but came away empty on five different trips inside the red zone. The Bulldogs built momentum last week, taking a 39-point second-half lead and defeating Central Mountain, 53-27. The offense produced a season-high 595 yards with quarterback Nolen Pauling throwing for a career-high 353.
Carter Rhinehart and Khani McCray both scored and topped 100 yards receiving, while Connor Winters caught two touchdowns and totaled 91 yards. Pauling leads District 4 in passing and total yards and Rhinehart in receiving yards. Winters has caught 10 touchdowns and McCray has excelled in his debut season, consistently stretching the field.
Pauling also finished second among area rushers and Jason Jennings and Zeke Sechrist both ran well last week, Jennings producing a career-high 101 yards. The defense has struggled at times, but both Sechrist and lineman Isaac Shirey have had big seasons. Sechrist went over 100 tackles last week and has 13 for loss. Shirey has a team-best seven sacks and 13 t ackles for loss.
Defensive end Aidan Patts averages seven tackles per game and Jennings and Connor Yingling had sacks last Friday.
In addition to making 82 solo stops this year, Zeke Sechrist often sets the tone with his relentless play on both sides. His hard-nosed running early against Central Mountain lit the fuse which soon became an inferno and, a year after missing his junior season with a torn ACL, Sechrist has rushed for 559 yards.
Shamokin looked like it would be the top seed most of the year and was No. 1 in the state during an 8-0 start. It lost its last two games, however, to No. 6 Blue Mountain and undefeated Mount Carmel, allowing Shikellamy to steal the No. 1 spot despite Shamokin's 37-0 win against it. Losing Wake Forest-bound senior Logan Steele in the third quarter at Blue Mountain heavily factored into the last two outcomes, but Steele is expected back tonight.
Like Pauling, Steele is an explosive player who hurts teams with his arm and legs. Steele went over 1,000 yards rushing in fewer than nine games and is closing in on his second 1,000-yard passing season. In the first Jersey Shore contest, Steele ran for 201 yards, caught a 35-yard touchdown and threw for 74 yards and a score, totaling five touchdowns. Standout linebacker/running back Noah Ringes ran for 101 yards in that game but was injured during the second half and has not played since, although he could return tonight. Trey Taylor has run well in Ringes's absence, rushing for 84 yards on 11 carries in a Week 7 win at Williamsport.
Before the last two weeks, Shamokin had won 28 straight regular season games. The defense held its own against Mount Carmel despite missing several key starters and has generated six touchdowns this season. Steele and linebacker Brayden Cavanaugh each have returned two interceptions for scores. Colin Steinhart gave Jersey Shore nightmares in last year's final, intercepting five passes, but could be sidelined again tonight.
Ryan Bickert, another senior who has been a thorn in Jersey Shore's side, changed the complexion in last year's double overtime regular season win against the Bulldogs, taking the second half's opening kickoff for a score. Bickert has made explosive plays his calling card in all three phases. He has a Pick 6 this year and also averages 22.5 yards per catch and has kick and punt returns for scores.
With the No. 1 seed on the line last week, Shamokin opted to keep Steele and some other valuable starters on the sidelines with a look to making a deep postseason run. Jersey Shore could use that as motivation since it meant a match-up against the Bulldogs instead of Selinsgrove.
Still, it will take a herculean effort for Jersey Shore to win this one and reach its ninth straight district final.