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Greg Ricupero | November 30, 2019

PIAA Semi-Final 4A
Jersey Shore Bulldogs (11-3) vs Dallas Mountaineers (14-0) from Danville, Pa
Friday November 29, 2019
By Greg Ricupero

Quick Stats
Jersey Shore 426.3 yds/game 5.6 Tds/game
Dallas 413 yds/game 5.9 Tds/game

The expected shootout between Dallas and Jersey Shore lived up to it’s billing. The Mountaineers of Dallas were able to double up the Bulldogs of Jersey Shore behind a 250 plus yard rushing performance by senior running back Lenny Kelley. A full house at Danville’s Ironmen Football Stadium saw a great game.

Jersey Shore had the early momentum, after Dallas loss fumbles on it’s first two plays. The Bulldogs were able to turn the great field position into a 7-0 lead. An interception on their third play prevented it from being worse. Jersey Shore’s second drive covered 44 yards in four plays. Thousand yard rusher Josh Malicky scored the game’s first touchdown. Dallas took 42 seconds to tie the game at seven all. The Mountaineers third play was a 62 yard touchdown run by Lenny Kelly but it was called back on a holding penalty. Dallas was not to be denied, two plays later senior quarterback Michael Starbuck hit his favorite receiver Luke Delgaudio on a 56 post pattern to tie the game.

The Dallas defense than forced the games first punt with a three and out. The Mountaineers took advantage of a short field driving 41 yards in five plays. The drive was capped when Starbuck hit Danny Meuser out of the backfield. Dallas had it’s first lead at 14-7. Jersey Shore went 79 yards in 9 plays overcoming a holding and offensive pass interference call to tie the game again. They also converted a 4th and 1 from the Dallas 37. The drive took just over two minutes, as the Bulldogs ran a super quick no huddle offense the entire game. Tanner Larson who threw for over 3000 yards this year hit sophomore sensation Cayden Hess to tie the game up again.

Now it was Lenny Kelley time. Kelley, who now has over 2600 yards rushing for the season, took the game over. Both teams would have four second quarter possessions. The Bulldogs would punt twice, lose a fumble and have the half run out on them. The Mountaineers would punt once and Kelley would rush for touchdowns on their other three drives. The Dallas offensive line just took the game over. Dallas went 76 yards in seven plays to take the lead for good at 21-14. Both teams than punted. Jersey Shore committed it’s first turnover and on the next play Kelley went 43 yards to make it 28-14. After another Bulldog punt, Dallas went 53 yards in 8 plays to cap the first half scoring.

The Bulldogs knew coming out to start the second half that they needed to get their offense going and stop the Mountaineers offense. Step one went well as their no huddle offense went right down the field in 2 and a half minutes to cut the lead to 35-21. Hess caught his second touchdown from Lorson. Step two didn’t go well. Dallas went 81 yards in 8 plays with Kelley scoring his 4th touchdown. With a quarter and half to go and Dallas up 21 points, both teams suddenly forgot how to get a first down. The Bulldogs punted twice and Mountaineers punted once and ran a fake punt once. It failed.

Jersey Shore’s next two drives ended with interceptions. Dallas took advantage of both turnovers to gain a 35 point lead and start the mercy rule with 11:56 to go in the 4th quarter. Kelley scored his 5th touchdown on a 78 yard run after the first interception ended a Bulldog drive deep in Mountaineers territory. It took Dallas 38 seconds to get the second interception and score. Starbuck hit Meuser again after a great play action. Dallas would play their second string the rest of the way. Jersey Shore would get three more possessions. They squeezed a touchdown in between a punt and the clock running out on their final drive. Lorson would score on a scramble to cap the scoring. The Bulldogs end a great season with 11 wins and as the District 4 champs. Dallas will need to eliminate the turnovers and tighten up their defense if they hope to beat District 7 champs Thomas Jefferson for the state championship.

D 14-21-14-7=56
JS 14- 0- 7- 7=28

JS-Josh Malicky 6 run xp Cam Allison 9:58 (0-7)
D-Michael Starbuck 56 pass to Luke Delgaudio xp Ryan Fisher 9:06 (7-7)
D-Starbuck 19 pass to Danny Meuser xp Fisher 4:35 (14-7)
JS-Tanner Lorson 8 pass to Cayden Hess xp Allison 2:26 (14-14)
D-Lenny Kelley 10 run xp Fisher 11:25 (21-14)
D-Kelley 43 run xp Fisher 6:31 (28-14)
D-Kelley 2 run xp Fisher :48 (35-14)
JS-Lorson 9 pass to Hess xp Allison 9:39 (35-21)
D-Kelley 19 run xp Fisher 6:12 (42-21)
D-Kelley 78 run xp Fisher :34 (49-21)
D-Starbuck 5 pass to Meuser xp Fisher 11:56 (56-21)
JS-Lorson 12 run xp Allison 5:23 (56-28)

Dallas will play Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson Hills, Pa) @Hershey Park Thursday December 5th at 7 pm for the PIAA 4A title