Bulldogs romp in D-4 playoff opener
By Doug Byerly
JERSEY SHORE, PA – It was Saturday night football in western Lycoming County for the first round of the District 4 4A playoffs with 9-1 Milton in town to face the Bulldogs of Jersey Shore. ‘Shore scored early and often to pile up a 54-6 win.
The Black Panthers were riding a 9-game winning streak losing only their season opener vs South Williamsport in addition to winning the program’s first ever Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference Division III championship. Milton had two quality wins in the regular season vs Mt. Carmel and Canton and came into the game with aspirations to upset Jersey Shore on its home field.
Jersey Shore came into the game at 9-0-1 and has gone 40 regular season games without a loss in addition to winning 13 straight home playoff games.
After stopping Milton on the first drive of the game, Jersey Shore took over and moved quickly down the field with the big play being a Jerrin Loomis to Dathan Tyson pitch and catch for yards. A solid rush game lead by Tate Seachrist resulted in a Seachrist 4-yard TD to open the scoring on a 6 play drive (Herr PAT), Jersey Shore led 7-0.
On the ensuing kickoff a big hit by Preston Beatty caused a fumble that was recovered by Ashton Sweeney at the Milton 22-yard line. The Bulldogs mixed the pass and run to convert its second score of the first quarter (Herr PAT), Bulldogs led 14-0.
With 50.3 seconds to go in the first quarter a 13-yard TD Loomis to Payton Samar on a post corner pattern put the third score of the quarter on the board. (Herr PAT); Jersey Shore extended its lead to 21-0.
The Bulldogs were turned away on a Peyton Rearick interception in the end zone with just over 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. The drive stalled and a short Milton punt gave the Bulldogs the ball at the Milton 45-yard line, but the Black Panther defense held to force a Jersey Shore punt.
A good defensive stand by Jersey Shore and a short punt return by Sweeley set the Bulldogs up at the Milton 26-yard line. A Jerrin Loomis to Samar pass to the 2-yard line set up the Bulldogs for another score. Jersey Shore converted on a 1-yard Seachrist rush at the 4:51 mark of the second quarter (PAT missed) and the Bulldogs extended the lead to 27-0.
A great interception by Payton Samar at the 4:31 mark set up the Bulldogs at the Milton 35 but a few incompletions turned the ball over on downs to the Black Panthers.
With 1:34 to go in the first half, Elijah Jordan broke free aided by a great block by Samar and then made a great move to avoid the final defender and took it in 20 yards for the score (Herr PAT), the Jersey Shore lead moved to 34-0.
A Peyton Whitman interception and return to the Milton 30-yard line gave the Bulldogs one more chance to score before the half but Milton turned them away and the score at the half remained 34-0.
Jersey Shore wasted no time in the second half with Elijah Jordan bolting 78 yards on the first offensive play of the half. 18 seconds into the 3rd quarter the Bulldog lead expanded to 41 -0 after the Herr PAT.
On the final drive of the 3rd quarter a 45-yard Loomis to Sweeley catch and run set up Jersey Shore at the Milton 8-yard line. Jordan rushed to the 1 and on the first play of the 4th quarter, he took it in for his TD of the night (PAT missed) stretched the lead to 47-0.
The Bulldogs added a final score with Elijah Jordan adding his third rushing touchdown on a 2-yard run with under 2 minutes to go (Herr PAT).
Cale Bastian of Milton broke free on a 60-yard run to break the shutout at the 1:47 mark (PAT missed). The final score of the game ended with the tally at 54-6.
Milton ended its season at 9-2 while Jersey Shore improved to 10-0-1.
The Bulldogs will go on the road for the District 4 final vs Selinsgrove (10-0-1) who defeated Shikellamy 58 -10 in its first round game.
