Six Jersey Shore players receive all-state honors
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By CHRIS MASSE
cmasse@sungazette.com
The Jersey Shore High School administration might be looking at adding some wall space near the gymnasium.
If that area was not running low on real estate before, it has to be now. Another Jersey Shore football team all-state haul has seen to that.
After helping produce one of the most dominant seasons in area history, six Bulldogs justly were awarded Thursday afternoon, being selected to the Pennsylvania Sportswriters' Class AAAA all-state team. It is the fifth straight season Jersey Shore has produced four or more all-state players.
Quarterback Brady Jordan, offensive lineman Luke Springman, kicker Breck Miller, linebacker Hadyn Packer, defensive lineman Zach Rooney and Kooper Peacock close their scholastic careers in impressive fashion, each earning all-state honors as seniors. Peacock was chosen as athlete, after excelling in all three facets. Together, those six players helped Jersey Shore win district and league titles every year there, as well as provide a boost on three straight state Final Four teams, including the 2020 state finalist. Over the last three years, each player was instrumental to the team going 36-3.
All the stats these players produced this season come with an asterisk, too. Because Jersey Shore mercy ruled nine of the 13 teams it played by halftime, these athletes often played sparingly or not at all during the second halves of games.
Packer joins 2022 graduate Cayden Hess as the only three-time Jersey Shore all-state selections. The Sun-Gazette Player of the Year, Packer was a slam dunk for a third straight honor after anchoring a dominant defense. Also a fantastic fullback who ran for 1,242 yards and 25 touchdowns, Packer went over 300 career tackles, topped 1,000 yards twice and broke the program record for rushing touchdowns.
Jordan is a repeat all-state honoree after being chosen as an athlete last season. The senior quarterback went over 1,000 yards passing and rushing for a second consecutive year, totaling 2,262 yards and 36 touchdowns. Jordan ran for 21 touchdowns and only 2019 State Player of the Year Tanner Lorson has ever produced more total yards during a high school career than Jordan who went over 5,000.
Springman was part of a line which consistently moved defenders and paved the way for a freakishly explosive offense which scored an area record 708 points. Also a terrific defensive tackle, Springman helped the Bulldogs score more than 30 points in 12 of their 13 games as they averaged 54.4 points and 435 yards per game.
Rooney helped make everything click up front for a defense which often made just gaining a first down an adventure. Part of a starting unit which surrendered two touchdowns in the first 12 games, Rooney often was an unstoppable force, charging up the middle form his nose tackle position. Rooney stuffed the run, attacked the quarterback and was among the area leaders in tackles for loss. His presence also created opportunities for fellow defenders to storm into the backfield.
Peacock literally did everything, boosting Jersey Shore offensively, defensively and on special teams. He caught nine touchdowns, returned three of his four interceptions for touchdowns and led the country in kick/punt return yardage during the regular season. Peacock returned two punts for scores, averaged 35 yards per kick return, 21 per punt return and also was one of the district’s premier punters. The senior captain often flipped field position, giving the offense short fields and the opponent long fields to navigate.
Miller played only two years of football and earned all-state honors both times. In just two years, Miller also became the area’s all-time leader in kicking points with 209. Miller’s 115 points as a junior and 94 this season are the two highest single-season totals in area history and he produced 19 field goals during that time. Miller also often boomed his kickoffs and set a single-season record with 94 extra points this past fall.