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JERSEY SHORE -- The last time Jersey Shore entered the last game of the regular season under .500 was in 2018, but they are in the same boat now as Southern Columbia defeated the Bulldogs, 56-20, Friday night at Thompson Street Stadium.
The Tigers (8-1) took control from the start, and the Bulldogs (4-5) couldn't keep up. Southern rushed for 382 yards and Grady Garcia had 184 of them.
"I felt this was one of the best running games we had all season in terms of our three backs and quarterback all having success when they ran," said Southern coach Jim Roth. "Jersey Shore unfortunately had some key guys out with injuries, but they did make it tough at times in the running game. Eventually though, you can only contain Grady (Garcia) for so long."
Garcia and quarterback Ayden Hockenbroch each had short rushing touchdowns to give Southern a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Jersey Shore cut the deficit to 14-7 with 6:40 to go in the first half and nearly recovered an onside kick until Chase Williams got on top of the ball.
The next play, Garcia ripped off a 51-yard score and Southern scored twice more before halftime to make the score 35-7. Hockenbroch scored on a 15-yard carry and then connected with tight end Jace Malakoski for a 27-yard TD pass.
In the third quarter, Gavin Brown put the game into the mercy rule at 42-7 on a 27-yard run. Southern's offensive line also opened space for Hockenbroch to add 80 yards through the air.
"We all just bond together. We talk about our roles and assignments and when we have to execute," Southern offensive lineman Cameron Traugh said. "When I pull as a guard, I have to keep my eyes open like a running back and hit my guy. It's up to us up front to get our skill guys in the open field."
In between two long touchdown strikes from Jersey Shore, Joey Williams scored for the Tigers from 14 yards out and reserve back Orion Wojtowicz scored a final time for Southern in the fourth quarter.
"In the previous games that Jersey Shore lost, they got beat primarily against spread teams with the pass. I don't think anybody lined up and ran the ball like we did tonight against them all year. So, I thought that was a positive, because they have a pretty tough defensive front even with one of their key guys out," Roth said.
Despite winning, Roth wasn't pleased with the pass coverage displayed by his team. Jersey Shore's Nolen Pauling threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns and surpassed 2,000 yards passing on the season.
Carter Rhinehart finished with seven receptions for 142 yards and two TDs for the Bulldogs.
"We've got to play with more confidence back there. I mean, we've played enough spread teams this year. It's not like we haven't had the work or the experience playing pass coverage," said Roth.
Southern's run defense didn't have any issues as they limited Jersey Shore to two yards per carry and forced three turnovers on fumbles.
"If you want to have a good run defense, you can't shy away from tackling. You got to be one of those people that want to hit, because those big tackles can lead you into really big momentums, especially getting the big cheers and stuff going on from our big crowd," Southern leading tackler Nolan Wittig said.
With one week remaining in the regular season, if the Tigers beat Selinsgrove, they will claim the top spot in districts over Bloomsburg regardless of how other games pan out in Class AA. For Jersey Shore, they will be the third or fourth seed in Class AAAA.
"Southern showed us what consistency is, which is something we have struggled to find at times this year," Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish said following his team's loss to the state's top-ranked team in Class AA. "They beat us every which way that they could and hats off to them. They are a class program, and I hope they win another state championship this year."