SEASON SNAPSHOT

2023 Schedule

Aug. 25—at Pottsville

Sept. 1—vs. Lewisburg

Sept. 8—at Selinsgrove

Sept. 15—vs. Shikellamy

Sept. 22—at Mifflinburg

Sept. 29—at Executive Charter

Oct. 6—at Shamokin

Oct. 13—at Montoursville

Oct. 21—vs. Capital Prep

Oct. 27—vs. Central Mountain cause Jersey Shore was so senior-loaded last season, that meant a lot of underclassmen were waiting their turn.

It did not mean those athletes could not play. It simply meant their opportunity had not come yet. Now it has, and all the Bulldogs have put in a lot of work throughout the offseason. Jersey Shore played various lineman camps, 7 on 7s and hit the weight room hard. The goal now is putting all that effort and determination into a winning mix.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge with those guys. We feel confident in them. They can only get better every day and we feel they will,” Gravish said. “I have a lot of confidence in our assistant coaches, too, and feel like together we can mold them into what we need on the field.”

Jersey Shore has done just that the past 10 seasons, going 96-32 during that time, a winning percentage only topped in District 4 by six-time defending Class AA state champion Southern Columbia. Still, this program has thrived because it has never looked at the past achievements. The team embraces the the three H’s philosophy— healthy, humble and hungry—so it’s only focus now is getting better each day. Achieve that goal and everything else could fall into place.

While Jersey Shore has many voids to fill, it also has exciting players eager to step in. That includes at quarterback where Jerrin Loomis looks like the likely starter after playing well in limited action last season when he was not excelling at tight end. Sophomore Paul Hale also is a versatile threat who could push Loomis and/or be used in different packages. The same goes for running back Elijah Jordan who shined throughout his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Jordan and Tate Sechrist from what could be an explosive backfield combination with both going over 500 yards last season. Brodie Herr, Talon Mauck and Bo Sechrist also ran well last year and have nice blends of power and speed. Herr averaged 10.2 yards per carry and is, pound for pound, one of the team’s strongest players. Dathan Tyson is a Swiss Army Knife player who can be used as a rusher and/or receiver after totaling five touchdowns last season.

While standout wide receivers Kooper Peacock and Connor Griffin graduated, Jersey Shore has plenty of weapons who could help the quarterback keep the offense bal- anced.PaytonSamar,AshtonSweeley,EvanSnyder,CarsonWatkins, PeytonWhitmanandTrentSeverinoallareplayerswhoareexcitingprospects.WhatJerseyShore especiallylikesaboutitsplaymakersisthatsomanycanbeutilizedin differentways.Somemaylineupin thebackfield,intheslot,atreceiver orattightend.Theflexibilitythe playersprovidegivestheBulldogsa lotofalternativesandcouldbeespeciallycrucialifsomeoneisinjured.

“Ourgoalforthesummerhas beentofigureouthowtousethem all.Ifeellikeitgivesusmoreoptionsthanwehadlastyear,”Gravishsaid.“Insomeregards,we’lllook similar,butinsomeregards,we mightlookdifferent.”

JerseyShorewilllookabitdifferentupfront,althoughitreturnstwo standoutsinall-statetackleDyson DelaneyandguardOwenVandruff. TheBulldogsmadeconsecutive FinalFourappearanceswithfairly youngoffensivelinesin2021-22and havesomestrongprospectstofill thestartingroles,includingTravis Blackburn,PrestonBeatty,Mason Larson,BraydenSwalesandsenior leaderJohnDammer.

Thoseplayersalsolikelywillplay keyrolesdefensively.Itsurehelps havingaplayerlikeSechristtobuild aroundupfront.Thetwo-timeallstatedefensiveendledtheteamin tackleslastyearandhasledthe areainsacksthepasttwoseasons. MaxEnglealsoplayedwellatdefensiveendlastseasonandreturns, whileSlateSechristwasstrongonin theinteriorlastseason.Blackburn stoodoutinweightroomandSwales cuthisteethbattlingagainstallstatenoseguardZachRooneyall lastfallatpractices.Herrcansquat 505poundsandalsocouldbeabig factoralongthedefensiveline.Severinoalsoisanotherplayertowatch.

•••••••

2022 RESULTS (12-1)

Jersey Shore 55, Pottsville 12

Jersey Shore 70, Lewisburg 6

Jersey Shore 63, Selinsgrove 0

Jersey Shore 49, Shikellamy 6

Jersey Shore 63, Mifflinburg 24

Jersey Shore 65, Executive Ed. 12

Jersey Shore 62, Shamokin 0

Jersey Shore 58, Montoursville 0

Jersey Shore 23, Canton 0

Jerey Shore 71, Central Mountain 12

District 4 Class AAAA Semifinals

Jersey SHore 63, Shamokin 12

Championship

Jersey Shore 35, Selinsgrove 7

PIAA Class AAAA tournament

Jersey Shore 31, Allentown CC 38 (OT)

Samarreturnsandanchorsthe linebackingunitafterenjoyinga strongjuniorcampaign.Luke Thompsonhasexcitedcoaches throughouttheoffseasonandBo Sechristcouldbethenextlinebackerfromhisfamilytomakeabig impactatJerseyShore.Tysonexcelledduringhisfirstyearplaying cornerbackandgivesthesecondary agoodfoundationtobuildupon.

AshtonSweeleystartedinthestate tournamentasdidJordanandplayerslikeWhitman,SnyderandHale alsocouldplaykeyroles.

“Eachteamhasitsownpersonalityandwelikedthisteam’spersonalityandlastyear’s,althoughinsome regardstheyaredifferent,”Gravish said.“Ourcoachesarehavingablast tryingtofitthepuzzletogetherand findingouthowtomakeitwork.”

Eventhoughsomanyplayerswill bestartingforthefirsttimethey bringinalotofconfidence.Thatgoes beyondtheprogram’swinningways overthelastdecade.Itismorebecausethesearetheplayerswhocompetedagainstthosestartersevery dayatpracticelastseason.Theyare thereasonthosestarterswereso goodcomeFridaynightsandsince theywerepushedsohardeveryday.

2022 Leaders

PASSERATCMINYDSTD

Brady Jordan136725125015

RUSHERATYDSTD

Hadyn Packer134124225

Brady Jordan111101221

Elijah Jordan1046328

Tate Sechrist565558

Brodie Herr222254

Gabe Andrus23178

RECEIVERRECYDSTD

Kooper Peacock295079

Connor Griffin254953

Elijah Jordan91251

2023 Football Players To Watch

Dyson Delaney, OL/DL: One of two underclassmen who started full-time up front last year, Delaney played a pivotal role in Jersey Shore setting an area record by scoring 708 points and averaging 54.5 per game last season. A punishing blocker, the senior tackle frequently pushed back defenders last season, clearing big running lanes and/or giving the quarterback time to look downfield. Delaney and Owen Vandruff made a quick transition and jelled with an experienced line to give Jersey Shore a 1,000-yard passer and 1,000-yard rusher for the ninth time in 10 seasons. A 6-foot-4, 290-pounder, Delaney can overpower defenders but also has quick feet and has no problem playing fast in Jersey Shoreʼs no-huddle offense.

Elijah Jordan, RB/DB: Part of a three-headed monster his first two years at Jersey Shore, Jordan could see an even bigger role this season. The quick but strong junior running back has topped 500 yards in each of his first two seasons, producing 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is able to break big plays but also slippery and tough enough to gain hard-earned yards. Jordan averaged six yards per carry last season and scored eight touchdowns and could be part of a thunder and lightning duo with Tate Sechrist. Jordan also could see more targets in the passing game after catching nine passes for 125 yards last fall. An experienced safety, Jordan also has seen quality time in the secondary these past two seasons. Keep an eye on Jordan on special teams as well. An effective returner, he could play a role similar to Kooper Peacock the past two seasons and become a field position weapon.

Payton Samar, LB/WR: One of the few underclassmen who started on a senior-laden defense, Samar made a quality impact and was part of a dominant unit which did not allow a touchdown until Week 10. Samar rotated with Stone Sechrist, who graduated, and now is the unitʼs most experienced linebacker. Because Jersey Shore so often mercyruled opponents by halftime, Samar did not play a lot in the second half, but still made 62 tackles, including four for loss. He is the teamʼs second-leading returning tackler and made eight tackles against state semifinalist Allentown Central Catholic. The offense also was senior-laden, so Samar did not get a lot of playing time there.

Tate Sechrist, DL/RB: A two-time all-state defensive end, Sechrist has been the areaʼs best pass rusher the last two seasons, leading it in sacks both times. Sechrist has produced 18 1/2 sacks the past two seasons and added 10 more last fall. He also has 39 tackles for loss during that time and has been equally impressive against the run. Sechrist led Jersey Shore in tackles a year ago, making a career-high 95 and has both the strength, speed and smarts to be a game-changer. Even when he does not make the sack, Sechrist often is disrupting things and had 73 hurries last season, while forcing three fumbles and recovering three more. He has three defensive touchdowns the last two years and returned a fumble for the first touchdown in a district championship win against Selinsgrove.

B By y C CHHRRIIS S M MAASSSSE E cmasse@sungazette.com

Several starters are back from last season. They just look a lot different now.

So many South Williamsport players were either starting and/or contributing for the first time at the varsity level last season. While entering the 2023 season, those players feel more comfortable they also are much bigger and stronger. Putting all those qualities together has South feeling good after going 6-4 and reaching districts for a 12th straight year last fall.

“If you took these guys and stood them next to their selves from last year they look like 12-year-old kids compared to now,” South coach Chris Eiswerth said. “That makes it exciting.”

South has produced exciting teams throughout Eiswerth’s tenure and this team has the potential to build on the tradition. The Mounties won their last three regular season games a year ago before giving state semifinalist Canton a battle throughout the first half in the district semifinals. The difference this season goes beyond the strength so many players have added. Where so many players have experienced the most growth since last summer is between the ears.

The entire offensive backfield included first-time starters last August and South