Selinsgrove at Jersey Shore preview
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Selinsgrove PPG--12.0, PPA--23.0; YPG--193, YPA--247
Selinsgrove notes: No District 4 teams have played each other more times since 2013 than Selinsgrove and Jersey Shore. This will be the 21st meeting during that time and these rivals have squared off in nine of the last 11 district championships. Selinsgrove ended Jersey Shore’s five-year title reign last season, becoming the first District 4 team to beat the Bulldogs since Southern Columbia in 2019. The Seals graduated a lot of decorated starters and have a new coach. Still, they remain a serious title contender and have shown a knack for reloading over the years. The defense remains tough and shut down Juniata in a state quarterfinal rematch in the season opener. Senior linebacker Ethan Miller has been one of the district’s premier players since his freshmen year and has 279 career tackles, including 50 for loss. He has 24 tackles in his first two games this year, while safety Carlos Stuter has 21. Devon Mitchell and Tegan Minier have added sacks. Brett Rice is one of several players who likely will receive carries tonight and showed his explosiveness against state-ranked Twin Valley a week ago, returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Quarterback Rocco Amato completed 10 of 17 passes for 123 yards.
Selinsgrove player to watch--Gavin Bastian: The senior receiver gave Jersey Shore fits in two games last season, especially in the district final when he was a game breaker, hauling in six catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns. Bastian also scored in the regular season contest and went over 2,000 career receiving yards last week. He also is an excellent defensive back.
Jersey Shore PPG--21.0, PPA--15.5; YPG--303, YPA--254
Jersey Shore notes: Jersey Shore is playing a defending district champion for a third straight week after winning thrillers against District 2’s Dallas and Delaware Valley the first two weeks. Jersey Shore has come from behind in both games, erasing a 14-point late third-quarter deficit at Dallas and a three-point second-quarter deficit against Delaware Valley. The defense did not allow a point over the final 32 minutes against Delaware Valley and made a last-second stand inside the red zone to preserve victory. Senior two-way lineman Slate Sechrist was a force in that game, collecting five tackles for loss and a sack. Zeke Sechrist added eight hurries and produced two sacks against Dallas, while all-state linebacker Bo Sechrist made 14 tackles last Friday. Elijah Jordan and Evan Snyder added an interception and fumble recovery, respectively. Those two also have formed a potent passing duo. Jordan has thrown four touchdowns in his first two starts at his new position, while Snyder was one yard from his second consecutive 100-yard game last week. Paul Hale and Luke Ryan also are dangerous, as is Trent Severino who caught the game-winning touchdown with 43 seconds remaining at Dallas. The running game has struggled at times, but Brodie Herr ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run for the game’s first points last week and Bo Sechrist scored the game-tying touchdown against Dallas. Jersey Shore shared the HAC-I championship with Selinsgrove last year and has won at least a share of six straight league crowns.
Jersey Shore player to watch--Luke Thompson: After enjoying a breakout season a year ago, Thompson has been a key part of Jersey Shore’s defensive success and made 13 tackles, including four for loss. He was in on a sack against Delaware Valley and the junior also returned a fumble 10 yards against Dallas.
Outlook: Both teams certainly are as battle-tested as they come with each facing teams with each facing state-ranked and/or teams that went deep into states last fall in their first two games. Both have the ability to get going offensively, but these teams know each other so well and each has built their proud traditions upon stifling defense, so here is thinking this will be a low-scoring, close contest.