Jersey Shore at Shikellamy playoff preview
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Last Game: Shikellamy 56, Jersey Shore 27, Week 5
Jersey Shore PPG--30.8, PPA--30.0; YPG--405.4, YPA--348.1
Jersey Shore notes: Jersey Shore (6-5) is making its ninth straight finals appearance after dethroning two-time champion Shamokin, 26-6 last Friday. The Bulldogs are trying for their first championship since 2022 and to repeat their 2013 achievement when they won two road playoff games against teams which defeated it during the regular season. Jersey Shore started slow and struggled late at Shikellamy eight weeks ago, falling behind big early; rallying to take a late third quarter lead and then allowing the final 30 points. Jersey Shore avenged a Week 4 loss against Shamokin, scoring the game's first 26 points and scoring on four straight series between the second and third quarters. Khani McCray changed the game's course when he forced a fumble in a scoreless game inside the five-yard line before Nolen Pauling hit Carter Rhinehart for a 63-yard touchdown on the next play. McCray caught two touchdowns, Pauling totaled four and Rhinehart topped 100 yards for the seventh time. Connor Winters has caught 10 touchdowns and had six catches for 153 yards and two scores in the first Shikellamy game. Zeke Sechrist ran for 51 yards against Shamokin last week and had one of his best defensive games, making 16 tackles, including 11 solos. Dalton Rehrig and Jason Jennings intercepted passes. Aidan Patts excelled off the edge with nine tackles and Jersey Shore contained a running game which had given it fits seven weeks earlier. Jersey Shore played the district's most demanding schedule in terms of winning percentage with its opponents, recording a .598 winning percentage.
Jersey Shore player to watch--Jacob Gee: The junior nose tackle missed some time earlier this season, but has come back strong and played one of his best games at Shamokin. Gee made a career-high eight tackles, including four solos. His interior defense was crucial to the unit's success and Gee added a sack.
Shikellamy PPG--34.4, PPA--20.5; YPG--376.6, YPA--259.1
Shikellamy notes: Shikellamy (10-1) is having one of the best seasons in program history and is seeking its first district crown since 2010. The Braves have won seven straight games and survived a big scare from Selinsgrove in the semifinals, winning 20-17 on Ryan DePhillips's game-winning field goal. DePhillips was clutch all night, kicking four field goals, double the previous best for field goals in a game by a District 4 kicker this year. Wide receiver/running back Thomas Pollock went bonkers against Jersey Shore in Week 5, catching 12 passes for 225 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for 42 yards and intercepted a pass. Pollock is among the top three receivers in district history, catching 245 career passes for 3,657 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also has run for 482 yards with 10 scores this season and thrown two touchdowns. Quarterback Bob Felmy went over 2,000 yards this season against Selinsgrove and threw for 299 yards and five touchdowns against Jersey Shore. He's a dual threat as well, running for a team-high 573 yards. Maddox Hoover is a big-play threat who averages 22.3 yards per catch and Xavier Baker-Allen caught four passes last week. Shikellamy produced exciting road, fourth quarter comeback wins in the season opener against defending 3A champion Mifflinburg and in Week 4 at Williamsport. Senior Willie Bender is having a strong season and the linebacker sparks the defense, averaging 8.9 tackles per game with 19 tackles for loss. He and Jackson Kashuba each have 5 ½ sacks. Shikellamy forced four turnovers against Jersey Shore in Week 5; Hoover and Baker-Allen returning fourth quarter interceptions for touchdowns.
Shikellamy player to watch--Chase Swartz: Like Bender, Swartz is having an outstanding senior season and the defensive lineman has a team-high 22 tackles for loss, while averaging 6.9 tackles per game. Swartz also has 5 ½ sacks and collected 10 tackles in the first Jersey Shore contest.
Winner plays: Bellefonte
Outlook: Through three quarters the first time around, this was one of the year's more entertaining District 4 games. Shikellamy dropped the hammer in the fourth quarter but Jersey Shore fought its way back to earn a rematch. Look for this game to mirror the first three quarters of the original but for the sequel to stay exciting for all 48 minutes this time.