Bulldogs take fifth straight D4 crown, 35-7 over Seals

Record file photo – Butch Miller

JERSEY SHORE, PA – The Jersey Shore football team was challenged by visiting Selinsgrove Thursday night, but the host Bulldogs were more than equal to the challenge, pulling away to a 35-7 win in the District 4 Class 4A championship contest.

The win earned Coach Tom Gravish’s team (12-0) a fifth straight district crown and into the first round of the PIAA playoffs next week at a time and site to be determined. The opponent will be the winner of the District 11 4A championship game on Saturday, the foe either Allentown Central Catholic (6-5) or Bethlehem Catholic (6-5); those two teams met in the regular season on Oct. 28 and Bethlehem Catholic won by a 14-13 score in overtime.

Selinsgrove finished the season at 9-3. The Seals were much more competitive Thursday night than when ‘Shore trounced them by a 63-0 score in September. The Seals were bolstered by the return of quarterback Mark Pastore and running back Tucker Teats who missed the first game with injuries. Meanwhile Jersey Shore lost two-way standout Kooper Peacock to a first period injury on Thursday and it took a while for the Bulldog offense to get into gear, but it ultimately did.

The Bulldog defense was again stellar and produced the game’s first points when Tate Sechrist returned a Seal fumble 39 yards for the score; Breck Miller’s extra point made it 7-0. ‘Shore got its second score when quarterback Brady Jordan went 44 yards up the sideline several minutes into the second period; with Miller’s extra point it was 14-0. JS had a later opportunity in the period, but the drive stalled and a field goal try was no good.

‘Shore broke things open in the third period. Hadyn Packer had been kept in check rushing in the first half, but the bruising fullback put up touchdown runs of 3 and 60 yards and after three periods, the Bulldogs led 28-0.

Selinsgrove had its only successful sustained drive, 47 yards, on its first possession of the final quarter, a 1-yard touchdown and extra point made it 28-7. The Seals had a successful onside kick that followed but could not convert. ‘Shore got the ball back and Brady Jordan scored the game’s final touchdown with a 58-yard bolt.

JS 7 7 14 7 = 35

S  0  0  0  7 = 7