Jersey Shore Seeks First-ever PIAA Title Saturday

RecordStaffNovember 27, 2020Last Updated: November 27, 2020

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wcfb-shore — Bulldog quarterback Branden Wheary in action against Central Mountail. Record file photo – Butch Miller

JERSEY SHORE – For Jersey Shore football, this kind of team comes along every century or so. Back in 1922 the Bulldogs went 8-0 and outscored their opponents by a 575 to 0 margin. 98 years later, ‘Shore is one win away from the school’s first PIAA championship (there were no state playoffs in 1922).

Yes, the Bulldogs are heading to Hershey for the PIAA Class 4A title game this Saturday. WPIAL champion and defending PIAA titlist Thomas Jefferson will be the opponent, game time 3:30 p.m. at Hershey Stadium. For late November, conditions will be near ideal. The forecast is sunshine and 51 degrees at kickoff. For those unable to snare the limited tickets, the contest will be aired on PCN.

The Bullogs (11-0) and the Jaguars (9-1) are similar in many respects. Both had blowouts throughout their seasons, both had a close call or two. The only loss between them was a week six loss on the part of Thomas Jefferson, 20-14 to McKeesport (a 6-2 team that did not get out of the regular season).

Both teams have diversified offenses with standout quarterbacks. The ‘Dogs are led by senior Brandon Wheary (6-0, 185); he has completed 131 of 230 passes for 1,843 yards and threw for 23 touchdowns as opposed to only two interceptions. For the Jaguars, the signal-caller is senior Jake Pugh (5-9, 165); he is 100 for 163 passing, good for 1,706 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

‘Shore’s top ground-gainer this year has been senior Cam Allison (5-10, 188) with 180 carries for 1,054 and nine touchdowns, an average of 5.9 yards a carry. For Thomas Jefferson, it has been Conner Munga (6-1, 170) with 86 carries for 706 yards, an average of 8.2 yards a carry, to go along with 12 touchdowns.

So it’s onto Hershey for the 11-0 Bulldogs. For the Jaguars (9-1) it will be a second consecutive appearance. A year ago the Pittsburgh area team downed Lampeter-Strasburg, 44-2 for the title. It was Lampeter-Strasburg that the Bulldogs beat, 39-35, last weekend to advance to this Saturday’s state championship game.

Jersey Shore (11-0)

Shamokin, 41-7

Shikellamy, 53-0

Central Mountain, 55-7

Selinsgrove, 33-0

Shikellamyi, 16-0

Central Mountain, 21-9

Mifflinburg, 48-7

Shamokin, 54-0

Crestwood, 26-14

Lampeter-Strasburg, 39-35

Thomas Jefferson