DALLAS TWP. — The Dallas Mountaineers played a strong three quarters against Jersey Shore on Friday night. And then came the fourth.
The runner-ups in last year’s PIAA Class 4A state title game got off to a losing start in 2024, falling to Jersey Shore 28-21 in their season opener.
Dallas got the scoring started just about two minutes into the contest when Brady Zapoticky hit Gavin Lewis for a 23-yard score. Lewis was a standout in the game, frequently dodging Jersey Shore defenders and slicing up and down the field.
The first quarter, however, was rather sloppy on both sides of the ball, and neither offense was able to capitalize on a quick spree of turnovers.
In the second quarter, Jersey Shore responded with their first score of the game, a 16-yard toss from Elijah Jordan to Evan Snyder, knotting the score 7.
About 20 seconds of gametime later, the Dallas offense responded when Zapoticky tossed another touchdown, this one a 40-yarder to Logan Geskey.
Zapoticky and Lewis got back to work in the second half, when the quarterback hit his top weapon for a 36-yard touchdown with 3 minutes left in the third quarter, bringing Dallas’ lead to 21-7.
But Jersey Shore answered again before the fourth quarter began, with Jordan and Snyder hooking up for another score. That put the tally at 21-14, advantage Dallas.
The Mountaineers’ day took a turn for the worst early in the early fourth quarter with a costly fumble from Zapoticky. The ball ricocheted and was recovered deep in Dallas territory, but complete disaster was averted when Dallas’ defense stalled the Jersey Shore attack.
On their next offensive possession, however, Jersey Shore tied it at 21 on a 1-yard touchdown run from Bo Sechrist.
Dallas’ ensuing drive ended with a chance to break the tie, but a 35-yard field goal attempt from Rowan Laubach sailed wide left.
In response, Jordan led a truncated 2-minute drill, culminating in an 11-yard touchdown sling to Trent Severino. That put Jersey Shore up by 7 with 43 ticks left in the game.
Dallas was unable to heave the ball down the field fast enough to tie the score, sealing Jersey Shore’s comeback victory at Mountaineer Stadium.
Jersey Shore 28, Dallas 21
Jersey Shore`0`7`7`14 — 28
Dallas`7`7`7`0 — 21
First quarter
DAL — Gavin Lewis 23 pass from Brady Zapoticky (Rowan Laubach kick), 9:59
Second quarter
JS — Evan Snyder 16 pass from Elijah Jordan (Herr kick), 6:55
DAL — Logan Geskey 40 pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick), 6:34
Third quarter
DAL — Lewis 36 pass from Zapoticky (Laubach kick), 3:06
JS — Snyder 16 pass from Jordan (Herr kick), :51
Fourth quarter
JS — Bo Sechrist 1 run (Herr kick), 7:30
JS — Trent Severino 11 pass from Jordan (Herr kick), :43
Team statistics`JS`DAL
First downs`17`9
Rushes-yards`38-137`25-60
Passing yards`280`226
Total yards`417`286
Passing`17-34-1`12-34-1
Sacked-yards lost`4-25`2-9
Punts-avg.`7-28.1`8-29.8
Fumbles-lost`1-1`4-2
Penalties-yards`8-55`5-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — JS, Herr 16-69, Jordan 14-49, Sechrist 7-15-1, Pauling 1-4. DAL, D. Geskey 17-34, Zapoticky 6-21, Malarkey 2-5
PASSING — JS, Jordan 16-32-228-3, Sechrist 1-1-50-0, Pauling 0-1-0-0. DAL, Zapoticky 17-34-3-0, D. Geskey 0-1-0-0.
RECEIVING — JS, Snyder 6-103-2, Hale 5-47, Ryan 4-119, Severino 2-11-1. DAL, Lewis 4-102-2, L. Geskey 3-59-1, Malarkey 3-50, Rigol 2-15.
INTERCEPTIONS — JS, Ryan 1-0. DAL, Malarkey 1-0.
MISSED FGs — JS, None. DAL, Laubach 0-1.
Most Popular
Comments / 0