Oct 25, 2024
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Central Mountain quarterback Isaiah Maldonado is sacked against Montoursville. Maldonado and the Wildcats have a tough test vs. Jersey Shore.
Jersey Shore PPG–36.2, PPA–18.9, YPG–410.2, YPA–239.6
Jersey Shore notes: Jersey Shore (6-3) has won 12 straight in this series and is looking to secure a home game against Selinsgrove next week. The Bulldogs can clinch that berth with a victory and could be in an ornery mood after losing a 27-19 showdown against Scranton Prep last Friday. All three losses have been close ones and a turnover here or penalty there has made the difference each time.
Fix the self-inflicted mistakes and Jersey Shore has the potential to make a run, especially after playing such a demanding schedule these first nine weeks. Evan Snyder and Paul Hale are both among the area’s top five in catches and Snyder leads with 12 touchdowns, while moving within 85 yards of 1,000. Hale caught eight passes and a touchdown against Scranton Prep. Bo Sechrist has scored in five straight games and ran for a career-high 121 yards and a touchdown last week. He also leads Jersey Shore 96 tackles, averaging 10.7 per game. Quarterback Elijah Jordan has totaled nearly 2,500 yards and 29 touchdowns. Slate Sechrist is one of the district’s premier linemen and has an area-high 23 tackles for loss. Luke Thompson averages five tackles per game, coming off the edge while adding 3 ½ sacks. Sophomore Zeke Sechrist has compiled four sacks and Snyder has an interception and punt return for touchdowns. A win tonight would make it 11 straight seasons that Jersey Shore has won at least seven games, tops among Sun-Gazette area teams.
Jersey Shore player to watch–Mason Larson: The junior center is a two-year starter who has helped Jersey Shore average more than 400 yards and 30 points per game for a second straight season. How he and the line play in the playoffs will have a huge role in how far this team goes.
Central Mountain PPG–8.9, PPA–48.0, YPG–184.3, YPA–370.6
Central Mountain notes: Central Mountain (0-9) concludes its meat grinder of a second half schedule which has included games against teams who are a combined 22-5 the past three weeks. The Wildcats have experienced growing pains this season but have a quality foundation in place for the future and so many first-time starters will have ample experience for next season. Among those is sophomore linebacker Kole Corman who has 85 tackles. In fact, five of the team’s six leading tacklers are underclassmen. Bryce Brungard collected two sacks against the state’s top-ranked 2A team, Troy, last week and Mycah Carson kicked a 32-yard field goal, the second one he has made from 30 or longer this season. Running back Jake Weaver has two 100-yard games down the stretch and Jase Seltzer has averaged 22.1 yards per catch. Gavin Heverly caught six passes for 55 yards against Troy and also is fifth on the team in tackles. Cooper Bottorf ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on six carries last week.
Central Mountain player to watch–Isaiah Maldonado: A converted wide receiver, Maldonado has worked hard to adapt since starting quarterback Hunter Hoy was injured in Week 4. He played well against Troy’s swarming defense, completing 12 of 17 passes. Maldonado also connected on a 94-yard touchdown with Seltzer.
Outlook: The last time Central Mountain defeated Jersey Shore came in the 2012 finale. That capped an 0-10 season for a young Jersey Shore team which became district champions a year later. I’m not saying that history will repeat itself for Central Mountain next season, but am saying that despite what happens tonight, the Wildcats wi
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