Quips rally to down Bulldogs, 41-16

EBENSBURG, PA – For well into the second period Friday night the Jersey Shore Bulldogs gave WPIAL power Aliquippa all it could handle. ‘Shore used a first period field goal and a second period 78-yard drive to open a 10-0 lead. But over the next six minutes of game time it all came unraveled; the Quips erupting for 27 points on the way to a 41-16 win.

The victory sent the 12-1 Quips into the PIAA Class 4A championship game versus Bishop McDevitt (12-1) of Harrisburg, the game scheduled for Hershey on Thursday of next week at 7 p.m. The loss ended the Bulldog season at 14-1, a year exceeding all expectations as a mostly inexperienced ‘Shore team plowed through a perfect regular season, two District 4 playoff wins and two victories in the first two rounds of the state playoffs.

Jersey Shore would score first at the Central Cambria field Friday night, converting a Tate Sechrist blocked punt into a 25-yard Breck Miller field goal with 1:23 to go in the first period. Early in period two the Bulldogs put up their 78-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by a 26-yard Brady Jordan pass to Connor Griffin, an Elijah Jordan 10-yard run, a Hayden Packer 13-yard run, culminating in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Brady Jordan to Nathan Tyson.

But Aliquippa, kept completely in check without a first down on its first five possessions by the stingy ‘Shore defense, unleashed an 87-yard drive, scoring on a 2-yard run from freshman Tiqwai Hayes as time expired at the end of the half; the extra point cut the Bulldog lead to 10-7.

And then the Quips went to work with their big play capability: an 83-yard touchdown pass on their first possession of the third period, a pick-six returned for a TD, then a 93-yard punt return and midway through period three Aliquippa had opened a 27-10 lead.

Jersey Shore would continue to battle as Brady Jordan scored from 1-yard out late in the third period to pull ‘Shore to within 27-16. But Aliquippa would add two more final period touchdowns, a Hayes 35-yard run and another pick-six for a score to set the final at 41-16.

The Bulldogs were unable to sustain a running game against the Beaver County team but quarterback Jordan had some success passing, completing 16-of-37 for 209 yards, for one touchdown and three inceptions. Packer finished with 39 yards rushing, Elijah Jordan with 26. The three backfield mates will be back next year, Packer a junior, Brady Jordan a junior and Elijah Jordan a freshman.

JS 3 7 6 0 = 16
A 0 7 20 14 = 41