Bulldogs pull away from Wildcats for 24-0 win
JERSEY SHORE, PA – For two quarters the Central Mountain football team stayed with the unbeaten Jersey Shore Bulldogs, but the home team took advantage of several Wildcat turnovers in the second half and pulled away for a 24-0 win.
The victory gave ‘Shore an undefeated regular season at 10-0, the Wildcats finishing at 6-4. Both will be in the postseason next weekend, Central Mountain to play Hollidaysburg (5-4) in the District 6 Class 5A final while Jersey Shore will be hosting a District 4 Class 4A semifinal against an opponent to be determined. The Bulldogs were a state runner-up a year ago, while Central Mountain fell to Hollidaysburg in the D-6 final last year.
Friday night was a rainy night in Jersey Shore and field conditions on the natural grass field were difficult from the beginning and only got worse. Central Mountain had a great chance to open a lead on its first possession after blocking a JS punt. The Wildcats, starting from the Bulldog 22, advanced to the ‘Shore 2-yardline after Brett Gerlach completed a 20-yard pass to Tyler Weaver. But the drive ended on the 1-yardline after three rushes and an incomplete pass. That was the only scoring chance for either team in a first half that ended scoreless, each team with multiple punts.
Central Mountain received the third quarter kickoff but fumbled deep in its own territory, the first of its four turnovers the second half. Jersey Shore answered quickly, scoring on a 37-yard pass from Brady Jordan to Cayden Hess. The pass went through the arms of a Wildcat defender and into Hess’s for the score. Breck Miller’s extra point made it 7-0 for the Bulldogs.
Central Mountain turned the ball over again in its own territory on its next possession on an interception and ‘Shore settled for three points on a 27-yard field goal from Miller. The Wildcats were stopped on their next possession and punted. This time ‘Shore had a 67-yard drive for the score, a 27-yard run from Hayden Packer. The extra point made it 17-0 Jersey Shore.
The Wildcats did move the ball into Bulldog territory on their next possession, but another interception killed that drive. ‘Shore got its final score with several minutes remaining in the game, another picture-perfect catch from Hess, the pass from Jordan covering 28 yards. Miller’s extra point put the final at 24-0.
The Wildcats had some success throwing the ball on a difficult night. Gerlach finished 16-for-28 for 104 yards, Connor Foltz (6 catches, 65 yards) and Weaver (8 catches, 75 yards) leading with receptions. A stout Bulldog defense and field conditions took away CM’s running game, Ryan Pentz held to 28 yards on 10 carries. Pentz also completed a 36-yard pass to Foltz
Packer paced the ‘Shore ground attack with 101 yards on 14 carries.
CM 0 0 0 0 = 0
JS 0 0 17 7 = 24
