Senior running back Bo Sechrist rushed for a program-record six touchdowns, turning 17 carries into 280 yards and appearing unstoppable from start to finish. The Bulldogs put up 21 points through the first quarter and 50 by halftime while holding the Wildcats scoreless for 34 minutes, roaring out to a dominant 73-14 victory over Athens in the District 4 Class 4A semifinals.

They’ll face top-seeded Shamokin in the final next Friday.

In their final two games at Thompson Street Stadium, Shore’s seniors left fans with back-to-back games to remember, compiling a combined 136 points and 894 yards against rival Central Mountain and Athens. The latter was also the most the Bulldogs have scored under longtime head coach Tom Gravish, surpassing the previous mark of 72 points against Shikellamy in 2019 (also a district semifinal game).

“We just came into the game and wanted it a little bit more. We know it’s playoffs now, and we’re a different team,” said Sechrist on the win. “It’s awesome. We love playing here. It feels good to go out with the performance we had tonight. It’s special.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore head coach Tom Gravish speaks to his players before the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

“I just have so much fun with this group of guys, especially the seniors. Then when it’s practice time, we all take it seriously,” said senior Carson Watkins. “I don’t even think our coaches let us smile anymore because it’s such an important next two weeks. Maybe even three. Hopefully three.”

Jersey Shore was firing on all cylinders from the very first play, as Nolen Pauling traversed past midfield on the opening kick before launching a deep ball to Watkins just three plays in. Despite falling backwards with a defender in his face, Shore’s leading receiver managed to reel it in for a 42-yard gain, setting up Sechrist’s first touchdown on the very next play.

“Our coaches saw the defender like four yards off the ball and two yards inside, so they called the go route. I just had to go up and get it even though he was pulling me and all that,” said Watkins. “I just ran inside a little bit, cut back out and the ball was perfect. It was awesome.”

Following a Pauling rushing touchdown five minutes later to put Shore up 14-0, the game quickly turned into the Bo Sechrist show. Eight minutes into the first, he had the one initial touchdown. And midway through the third, he had six.

On his fourth run of the game, Sechrist took a dive straight up the middle and found a hole in the Athens defense, bursting through it and quickly finding himself into the secondary. Once he got there, he took a far detour to the right and seemed to hit a second gear, sprinting down the sideline for a 74-yard score with defensive back Lucas Persun trailing him for much of it.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Multiple Bulldogs wrap up Athens's Karson Sipley (15) during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

He’d go on to post two long touchdowns within a two-minute span early in the second, breaking off back-to-back stretch runs to the right for scores of 20 and 33 yards, as the Bulldogs’ lead grew to five scores. And with under a minute left in the half, Sechrist would up the team’s lead to 50-0 with a ten-yarder, capping the half with 179 yards and five scores on just 11 attempts.

The senior would cap off the historic night with a record-sealing 63-yard score in the third, finishing with a career-high in yards (280), yards per carry (16.5) and a program record in touchdowns (6). When asked what went into the night, he was quick to credit his line, who dominated upfront to consistently open up holes.

“The line blocked everything great, and the holes were there,” said Sechrist. “I just hit it, used my athletic ability and got it done.”

“Who played really well was Ace Willits. He’s been an off-and-on starter, both defensively and offensively, and he’s only a sophomore,” said head coach Tom Gravish when discussing the line’s success.

“We had three sophomores on the offensive line throughout the game, going up against big and physical guys. I thought they did really well with the run game.”

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Carson Watkins (6) makes an acrobatic catch in the first quarter during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

On top of the line, Shore’s explosive performance was also fueled by the defense and special teams unit. Through the first half, the Bulldogs started seven of their nine drives past midfield, constantly setting themselves up for easy scores thanks to dominance in the field position battle and turnovers.

Watkins’s first of two interceptions on the night set Shore up inside the red zone, which helped it up its lead to two scores in the blink of an eye. Sound returning led to the Bulldogs starting just three drives all night inside their own 30-yard line, and a great punt from Luke Ryan and kickoff from Jayden Passetti even allowed them to score two safeties.

“What he’s doing with his kickoffs and extra points, he’s really coming on,” said Gravish on Passetti, who went 10-for-11 on extra points on the night. “He’s really placing the ball where we want it, and our coverage is getting better with it.”

Nolen Pauling was efficient under center, completing 11 of his 18 throws for 180 yards and two touchdowns, a 54-yarder to Carter Rhinehart and four-yarder to Luke Ryan, while also adding a third on the ground.

All three of Watkins’ catches went for first downs, as he finished with a team-leading 73 yards. Ryan posted a team-leading five receptions, proving to be an especially reliable target late. And Rhinehart turned three receptions into 72 yards.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Bo Sechrist (5) finds open field on an eventual 74-yard touchdown during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

And alongside three turnovers and two safeties, the defense forced two turnovers on downs and four three-and-outs. It held the Wildcats to just 42 yards on 20 attempts, putting a dent into that stat line with two sacks – both which saw Luke Thompson in the mix. When it surrendered its first score, the team was already up 57-0, cruising its way to the finish line.

All in all, it was as dominant of an outing it could’ve hoped for when setting the tone in postseason. Heading into next week, it’ll look to use that momentum to avenge three straight losses to Shamokin (11-0), who defeated Shikellamy 37-7 on Friday to advance to the final.

“We look forward to next week,” said Gravish. “Shamokin’s a great team, and we’ve let a few narrowly slip away the last few times down there. That’s not our intent this time around.”

Jersey Shore 73, Athens 14

Athens 0 0 7 7 – 14

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Bo Sechrist (5) celebrates a touchdown with his offensive line during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

Shore 21 29 7 16 – 73

1st Quarter

JS – Bo Sechrist 6 run (Jayden Passetti kick), 11:02.

JS – Nolen Pauling 5 run (Passetti kick), 5:59.

JS – Sechrist 74 run (Passetti kick), 3:57.

2nd Quarter

JS – Athens safety (Sechrist sack), 11:55.

JS – Sechrist 20 run (PAT blocked), 10:55.

JS – Sechrist 33 run (Passetti kick), 8:58.

JS – Pauling to Luke Ryan 4 pass (Passetti kick), 5:47.

JS – Sechrist 10 run (Passetti kick), :58.

3rd Quarter

JS – Sechrist 63 run (Passetti kick), 5:55.

ATH – Shea Davidson to James Franklin (Zach Fisher kick), 1:30.

4th Quarter

JS – Kash Herritt 1 run (Passetti kick), 9:22.

ATH – Davidson to Gage Marmor 90 pass (Fisher kick), 7:21.

JS – Pauling to Carter Rhinehart 54 pass (Passetti kick), 5:44.

JS – Athens safety, 5:44.

TEAM STATISTICS ATH JS

First Downs 5 12

Rushes-yards 22-26 38-323

Passing yards 200 180

Comp-Att-Int 14-29-3 11-18-0

Total yards 226 503

Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-1

Penalties-yards 3-25 3-30

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS 

RUSHING: Athens, Brendan Cook 10-30; Karson Sipley 10-12; Shea Davidson 2-(-16). Jersey Shore, Bo Sechrist 17-280, 6 TDs; Kash Herritt 13-34, TD; Nolen Pauling 5-7, TD; Chase Ellison 3-2.

PASSING: Athens, Shea Davidson 14-29-3 200 yards, 2 TDs. Jersey Shore, Nolen Pauling 11-18-0 180 yards, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING: Athens, Gage Marmor 6-128, TD; James Friend 4-61, TD; Ryan Cook 1-10; Kade Rowe 1-4; Karson Sipley 2-(-3). Jersey Shore, Carson Watkins 3-73; Carter Rhinehart 3-72, TD; Luke Ryan 5-33, TD.

INTERCEPTIONS: Athens, none. Jersey Shore, Carson Watkins 2, Carter Rhinehart 1.

Records: Athens, 9-2. Jersey Shore, 8-3.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Nolen Pauling (11) reaches for a touchdown during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Carter Rhinehart (3) wraps up Athens's Brendan Cook (44) during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Kash Herritt (0) finds open field during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.

TIM WEIGHT/Special to the Sun-Gazette Jersey Shore's Carson Watkins (0) finds open field during the District 4 Class AAAA semifinals against Athens on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Thompson Street Stadium. The Bulldogs won 73-14.