Mount Carmel PPG–22.7, YPG–332; PPA–21.3, YPA–311

Mount Carmel facts: The Tornadoes have arguably played the district’s toughest schedule thus far and have big wins against District 4 Class AAA title contenders Central Columbia and Lewisburg. Mount Carmel is the only team to defeat those squads and is the biggest threat to Southern Columbia in the Class AA field. Southern defeated Mount Carmel, 41-7 two weeks ago but the Tornadoes held a potent running game to just 129 yards in that contest. Mount Carmel is strong up front and has a thunder and lightning backfield tandem in John Ayres and Shane Weidner. Ayres is a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and produced 138 yards and a touchdown in last week’s 40-20 win at Lewisburg. Weidner topped 100 yards for a second time, running for 136 and two touchdowns on just seven carries. Tommy Reisinger does his best to keep defenses honest and threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The defense stuffed two good running games the first two weeks, but Lewisburg ran for 180 yards a week ago. Mount Carmel struggled more against the pass in those opening two games, surrendering 508 yards. Ayres and Michael Hood help spark the defense and have combined for 10 tackles for loss. Jack Chapman, who had 97 receiving yards and a touchdown last week, is a quality linebacker who averages 7.7 tackles per game. Mount Carmel reached last year’s district final, losing to Southern Columbia and finishing 8-5.

Mount Carmel player to watch–Nick Troutman: The junior strong safety has played well in the secondary and is averaging a team-best 11.7 tackles per game. Troutman made 14 tackles against Lewisburg and has broken up passes in his last two games.

Jersey Shore PPG–18.0, YPG–294.3; PPA–22.7, YPA–313

Jersey Shore facts: If Mount Carmel has played the district’s toughest schedule thus far, than Jersey Shore might have played the second hardest. The Bulldogs opened their season against two defending district champions and recorded a huge win last week when they rallied from a four-point halftime deficit and defeated Montoursville, 30-20. Jersey Shore moved to second in the District 4 Class AAAA standings with that win and will be one of the field’s most battle-tested teams if it reaches districts for a sixth straight season. This is a young Jersey Shore team but it showed how dangerous it can be last week. The offense played its best game and the defense allowed just two field goals over the final three quarters. Koby Peacock was a game-changer, catching eight passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Tanner Lorson threw for 209 yards in his third varsity start and the offensive line took over late as Dawson Sechrist, Kyle Tomb and Josh Malicky ripped off runs of 10 or more yards. All-state nose tackle David Tomb played a fantastic game up front and Sechrist played one of his best games, making a game-high 14 tackles. Fellow linebacker Hunter O’Connor leads the district in tackles with 53 and is averaging 17.7 per game while reaching at least 10 in all three games. Jersey Shore made critical plays at the most opportune times against Montoursville, holding it to six points on three trips inside the 10-yard line over the last three quarters. Cameron Griffin kicked a 28-yard field goal that clinched the win in the final minute and is third all-time among area kicking leaders.

Jersey Shore player to watch–Josh Malicky: The junior safety is emerging as a threat on both sides of the ball. Malicky has 20 tackles and an interception over the last two weeks and also is receiving an expanded offensive role. Malicky broke loose for a 20-yard run against Selinsgrove and produced some good second-half plays against Montoursville, running for 44 yards on eight carries.

Outlook: Expect Mount Carmel to try and impose its will and utilize its size advantage up front. Jersey Shore, though, gave up a lot of size to Montoursville and flourished. If one is looking for the most hard-hitting, physical game in District 4 this weekend, Thompson Street Stadium might be the ticket.

–by CHRIS MASSE