DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore’s Kooper Peacock (2) looks for running room in the second quarter against Mifflinburg at Jersey Shore on Friday.

Play after play last Friday, Jersey Shore offensive linemen Zach Rooney, Luke Springman, Jared Palski, Dyson Delaney and Owen Vandruff were pushing defenders backward and opening up big holes. Linemen might toil in anonymity but those looking on at Thompson Street Stadium easily could see that in front of every big Bulldog play was a hustling, hard-nosed lineman paving the way.

It has been that way throughout much of the first five weeks as Jersey Shore (5-0) has steamrolled its opponents and averaged 60 points per game. But a primary reason Jersey Shore fans are seeing those video game like numbers each Friday is because of the work those linemen did when nobody else was watching throughout the offseason. That is where this powerful unit laid the foundation.

“All that work in the offseason is paying off,” Delaney said after Jersey Shore routed Mifflinburg, 63-24 in last Friday’s showdown of unbeatens. “We’ve been working together and working out together all the time and it all builds up the chemistry in the end. Playing since we were in youth football together, the chemistry is great.”

That cohesiveness is crucial, especially with Delaney and Vandruff being first-time starters. Rooney, Springman and Palski all shined up front a year ago when Jersey Shore averaged nearly 40 points per game, went 14-1 and reached a third straight state semifinal. To build off that success, Delaney and Vandruff developing fast was crucial.

That is what makes all that offseason work so valuable. Instead of playing catch up when summer practices opened, this line hit the ground running and Delaney and Vandruff have fit like a glove with the returning starters.

It already felt like they had been playing together and each week is another step forward. Linemen often say it is a brotherhood playing together up front. This band of brothers is pulling closer each week.

“It’s a whole different ball game. Going from JV to varsity in one year is crazy,” Delaney said. “Every week you get more experience and we get more comfortable.”

“Their chemistry is huge. They are on the same page and it’s amazing to see them working together,” running back Tate Sechrist said after running for 41 yards and a touchdown on three carries. “Even the running backs are perfectly in sync with our tackles and pulling guards. It’s really clicking for us in our run game.”

It sure is. It’s working pretty well in the passing department, too, with Brady Jordan completing 73 percent of his passes and throwing for six touchdowns. Jordan and Sechrist also are two of four runners who have produced 247 or more yards. The Bulldogs have scored 38 offensive touchdowns and are averaging 452 yards per game. Those playmakers are dynamic and run as hard as the linemen block.

This is a reciprocal relationship. It translates from the line to the skill players and vice-versa. Each is providing the other motivation and Jersey Shore has piled up the points seemingly as quick as it rattles off plays in its no-huddle offense which operates at Indy 500 speed.

“If we do our job, they’re scoring,” Delaney said. “That’s how we feel.”

That’s how it looked Friday. Delaney’s big block sprung Jordan for a 76-yard touchdown in which he went untouched in the first quarter. That started a run in which Jersey Shore produced touchdowns on six straight drives. By halftime, the Bulldogs already had 400 yards and 17 first downs and were averaging a staggering 10.8 yards per play.

Equally impressive, Jersey Shore scored those points in a flash with the longest of its scoring drives taking 2 minutes, 29 seconds. Three times, the Bulldogs scored in less than a minute and different backs took turns bursting through gaping holes.

This line is still growing each week. But it certainly has taken some big steps forward and the work continues.

“That’s a great feeling whenever you just keep going with it over and over again and they can’t stop it,” Delaney said.

“They’re growing and we like that. They’re doing a great job and so are our seniors with leading them,” Gravish said. “They know the system well. The play of our offensive line has been key.”

STREAK BUSTERS: Warrior Run snapped a 19-game losing streak which dated back to 2019 in emphatic fashion, stunning previously undefeated Northwest, 33-19. The Defenders controlled all facets, outgained Northwest 513-223 and showed why their record did not indicate how much progress they were making throughout a difficult early-season schedule. The offensive line enjoyed its best performance, the defense stifled an offense which had been scoring in bunches and Samuel Hall and Carter Marr both went over 100 yards receiving.

Warrior Run scored three touchdowns of plays going 31 yards or longer and ran out the clock over the final six minutes. It was a monster step forward and a potential sign of things to come. The Defenders start nearly all underclassmen and they have now tasted victory. That could provide quite a springboard.

FIGHTING ON: Just like their coach Mike Boughton, who is attending every home game while valiantly fighting cancer, Montoursville continues battling on and winning hard-fought games. The Warriors did it again against Bald Eagle Area, playing well in every phase while winning, 29-21. Montoursville (4-1) won its third straight and has taken three challenging home games by 18 combined points.

On a night Montoursville honored Hall of Fame coach Jim Bergen, it continued showing why the program remains in good hands with the line excelling on both sides and Matthew Conklin running for 165 yards and two touchdowns. James Batkowski added a 41-yard touchdown and a charging defense collected seven sacks. Cole Yonkin and Tyler Lepley both had two sacks, while Ethan Wanner, Evan Bloom and Christian Banks added the others.

Special teams stood out as well and kicker Wyatt Fry was one of the game’s most valuable players. The reliable kicker drilled three field goals, including a 40-yarder, and is 4 for 4 this season.

EXTRA POINTS: Hughesville (3-2) continues playing spectacular defense and blanked Midd-West, 28-0 as it continues its strong turnaround. The Spartans have allowed just six points in three wins and scored two more defensive touchdowns, giving them as many (six) as they have allowed this season. Garret Sharer returned a fumble and Aiden Barlett an interception for scores while Mason Hoppes and Tyler Wetzel broke long touchdown runs. Hughesville won consecutive games for the first time since 2016 and has its most wins since that season as well … Bucktail continues making massive strides and won its second game, downing Sheffield, 42-12. The Bucks (2-2) are getting strong play from their offensive line and that unit paved the way for 483 yards as Brody Pentz threw for 214 yards and three touchdowns … Cowanesque Valley sophomores Tim Freeman and Fletcher Good had big games in a 47-14 loss at undefeated Waverly. Freeman topped 100 yards for the eighth time in his high school career, running for 101 yards and a touchdown. He also found Good for a 68-yard touchdown. Good produced 94 rushing yards and 89 receiving and is among the area’s top 10 in both categories … Montgomery linebacker Weston Pick was in on 26 tackles in Friday’s 26-0 loss against Wyalusing. Gavin Strouse made a career-high 12 tackles, Coy Bryson had 11 and Caden Finck added 10.

Chris Masse covers high school football and may be reached at cmasse@sungazette.com. Follow him on Twitter at @docmasse

DR. MASSE’S TOP 5 RANKINGS

1. Jersey Shore (5-0): While the Bulldogs have overpowered the competition and scored 300 points, there is one growing area of concern. Jersey Shore committed 14 penalties totaling 150 yards against Mifflinburg. The four-time defending district champions are averaging nearly eight penalties per game and had a touchdown wiped out by one early against Mifflinburg. They have gotten away with it thus far, but will be rolling the dice come playoff time if that continues.

“There’s a lot to improve on. There’s so much more we can implement to our game,” Sechrist said. “We need to clean up a lot of things, that’s for sure.”

“Penalties are a killer. We have to work on that,” Delaney said. “Once we get that down and clean that up, we’ll be a lot better.”

2. Canton (5-0): Cancer survivor and current Rutgers player Timmy Ward graduated two years ago but the legacy he built at Canton during a brilliant scholastic career continues aiding the program. The defending District 4 Class A champions brilliantly are executing a multitude of offensive and defensive looks while overwhelming opponents with their versatility. Ward was the poster child for that system and helped usher in a current five-year run in which Canton has gone 41-7. The Warriors took the torch from Ward and carried it on in emphatic fashion Saturday, blanking South Williamsport, 50-0, recording a fourth straight shutout and running their consecutive points streak to 207.

“It all goes back to when Timmy Ward was here his football IQ was off the charts. I think a lot of these kids looked up to him and they tried to model what he did,” Canton coach Tyler Sechrist said. “There’s some of his residue being felt throughout the program and helping these kids.”

3. Loyalsock (4-1): Things grew a bit scary, but Loyalsock held off a furious Williams Valley and toppled a state-ranked team on the road for a second time in three weeks Friday, winning, 35-29. Davion Hill’s last-second interception sealed the win after Williams Valley rallied from a 27-0 second-quarter deficit. Hill continues to dazzle and ran for 180 yards and three touchdowns as the offensive line surged. Quarterback Tyler Gee totaled 318 yards and two touchdowns and the offense produced 500 yards. Jaylen Andrews continued his tremendous breakout season, catching six passes for 134 yards and a score. Andrews has come up huge with all-state receiver Rian Glunk sidelined by injury, topping 100 yards in consecutive games. Loyalsock played one of the district’s most demanding first-half schedules, something which could help it make a strong second-half and potential playoff push.

4. Muncy (4-0): Cousins Branson and Ross Eyer grew up throwing the football together in their respective yards. Friday against North Penn-Mansfield, those two made history as Branson hit Ross with a 29-yard touchdown. That score made Ross the program’s all-time leader in touchdown catches with 28, also moving him into second among area career leaders. Muncy made quick work of an opponent for a third time, building a 35-0 halftime lead as all three facets clicked. Ross Eyer returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and Brady Ryder a kickoff 65 yards for another score. The offensive line overwhelmed North Penn-Mansfield and Jacob Fowler topped 100 yards for a second time, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Eli Weikle added 49 yards and a touchdown. Muncy has outscored its last two opponents, 91-0 in the first half.

5. Milton (4-1): Possessing more balance makes Milton a more dangerous team then when it nearly reached last year’s District 4 Class AAA championship. Quarterback Cale Bastian is spreading the ball among three dangerous receivers and threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s 42-13 win at Holy Redeemer. Dylan Reiff caught four passes for 109 yards and a touchdown while Xzavier Minium hauled in a 63-yard score and added a 15-yard touchdown run. Bastian also went over 100 rushing yards for a second straight week, running for 105 yards. Keep an eye on freshman Monty Fisher who returned his second punt for a touchdown.

Players of the Week

Ryan Newton and Samuel Hall, Warrior Run; Braylon Fantaski, Bucktail

It’s usually just two players but Newton and Hall have to be a combo after combining on a sensational passing performance. Newton threw for a 2022 District 4-high 401 yards and four touchdowns and each of his touchdown passes covered nine or more yards. He became the area’s first 400-yard passer since Jersey Shore’s Tanner Lorson in 2019. Hall was on the receiving end of seven of those passes, totaling a district-best 222 yards and two touchdowns. The sophomore scored on passing plays of 64 and 61 yards and leads area receivers with 428 yards. Hall became the area’s first 200-yard receiver in a game since Montoursville’s Tommy Shea in 2016. Fantaski put together one of the best all-around performances a player can. The versatile junior totaled 330 yards and six touchdowns, while intercepting a pass. Fantaski ran for 123 yards and three scores, caught five passes for 172 yards and three more touchdowns and also completed a 35-yard pass. Fantaski has scored 10 touchdowns and totaled 811 yards in four games.

Game of the Week

Hughesville at Milton

Two of the area’s top defenses collide Friday. Hughesville has surrendered one touchdown in three wins and Milton three in four wins. Both are allowing fewer than 200 yards per game and they are a combined 7-3. The first one to 20 likely wins this one … if either defense lets it get that high.