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SUNBURY -- When Shamokin defeated the Jersey Shore Bulldogs in the 2025 District 4 Class AAAA championship, it signified a changing of the guard at the Class AAAA level in the area.
And after it took place on Friday night at Shikellamy, it signified that the closest District 4 Class AAAA challenger to the Indians may be from the school that sits just off the Susquehanna River.
Taking advantage of early Shore mistakes apexing with a 24-point differential in the fourth quarter, the Braves stunned the Jersey Shore Bulldogs, 56-27, at Shikellamy Stadium on Friday night.
The win marks Shikellamy's first victory over shore in nine years, cementing their second place position in the Class AAAA standings at the halfway mark of the regular season on route to their best start to a season since 2010.
"Tons of credit (to Shikellamy)," said Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish to the media following the difficult defeat. "They played hard, and they played great. They didn't make many mistakes … give them credit for answering the bell and playing with pretty good enthusiasm and energy."
Jersey Shore's misfortune would start quickly, giving Shikellamy their first drive inside the Bulldogs' 10 after a bad snap from a punt. The Braves would take advantage through the uprights, with Shikellamy kicker Ryan DePhillips sailing a 30 yard field goal through the uprights for a 3-0 lead.
One play from scrimmage later, the Bulldogs would go 5-0 down after a scramble from quarterback Nolan Pauling led to a fumble, with the ball being dove on within their own end zone.
Five points became 12-0 on Shiklellamy's ensuing drive. Facing a third down, sophomore quarterback Bobby Felmy found star wide receiver Thomas Pollock, who turned a basic curl route into a shape-shifting run after catch which ended in the endzone.
The first-quarter scoring was far from over. On the next drive, Pauling made amends for his conceded safety when he found a wide open Connor Winters down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown pass that put the Bulldogs on the board.
Not to be outdone, Shikellamy's offense responded on their opening play of the next drive when Felmy again connected with Pollack, who used a nasty double move to create space from his defender and make a catch in stride to score from 65 yards out.
After back-to-back punts, Jersey Shore would conclude a first quarter to remember when, with seven seconds left in the frame, Pauling connected over the middle again to a wide open Winters for a 67-yard touchdown pass that ended the frame with a 19-14 Bulldogs deficit.
The pair would trade blows in the ensuing middle quarters, with both teams scoring 13 points each to enter the fourth with the Braves up, 32-27. In the midst of the back and fourth affair, Shore would take a slim 27-26 lead in the third before another Thomas Pollack touchdown put the home side in front.
"I thought we were in a good position when we took the lead at the end of the third," Gravish discussed. "(Then) they got another score, and anything that could go wrong did go wrong."
On just the second play of the fourth quarter, Pollack's signature double move got him in the end zone for the fourth time of the night linking with Felmy for a 68-yard reception.
With the lead back up to 12, Shikellamy's dagger came on defense. On the next Shore drive, a 50-50 ball over the middle fell to safety Xzavier Baker-Allen, who would shed multiple tackles and reach the end zone on a 51-yard return to make it 46-27 Shikellamy.
To double the misfortune Jersey Shore's next drive also ended in a pick six with Pauling firing outside to cornerback Maddox Hoover, who waltzed into the endzone for an insurmountable 53-27 advantage.
The man who opened the scoring nearly three hours prior, Braves kicker Ryan DePhillips would convert a 35 yard field goal in garbage time to solidify one of Shikellamy's greatest wins in recent memory.
"Are we disappointed? Yeah we are disappointed," admitted Gravish. "We know that wasn't us and who we really are. We will get back after it on the drawing board, regroup, and get to play a good Williamsport team next week."
The win moved Shikellamy to 4-1 on the season, a win total that would have been its highest total since 2017 had it not been for their 5-6 year in 2025.
Jersey Shore drops to 3-2 on the year, facing the barrel of Williamsport at home before a daunting end of the schedule that features back to back road trips west to DuBois and Hollidaysburg before then being greeted by Southern Columbia.