PIAA 4A Playoff Preview Allentown Central Catholic vs Jersey Shore

Tagged under: District 11, District 4, News, Playoffs

Brian "Hollywood" Ptashinski | November 17, 2022

ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (7-5) Coach Tim McGorry (3rd season, 22-11 record)

Tamlin Ferguson and Matt Keyes have split the quarterback duties this season. Keyes started the year and is 40-54 passing and 354 yards 1 touchdown and one interception. Ferguson has finished the latter part of the season and has thrown for 538 yards on 44 of 65 passing with 7 touchdowns and zero picks. Senior Caiden Shaffer leads the ground attack for the Vikings with 833 yards on 148 carries and 16 touchdowns. Nathan Shultz is second on the team rushing with 84 carries and 318 yards along with 2 touchdowns. WR Jareel Calhounleads the team with 44 receptions and 347 yards with 3 touchdowns. Griffen Patridge also has three scores on the season on 9 catches and 180 yards.

The Vikings have been inconsistent all season as they started out 3-1 with a close 12-7 loss to Emmaus in week two. The lost three of their next four games including giving up 35 unanswered points against Nazareth on October 8th and then a disappointing showing in a 37-6 loss to Whitehall. The Vikings dropped a 14-13 overtime decision to rival Bethlehem Catholic in week ten. They did avenge that loss last week in the District XI 4A championship game 14-3 at Whitehall HS. Ferguson was 15 of 21 in that game for 113 yards. Shaffer had a game high 154 yards on 24 carries and 2 touchdowns. The defense forced three interceptions of Golden Hawk QB Luke Thomas.

JERSEY SHORE BULLDOGS (12-0) Coach Tom Gravish (11th season, 96-42 record)

Two years ago Jersey Shore came up just short of a Class 4A state championship. Last year they suffered a state semi-final loss to eventual 4A state champion Aliquippa. This year, the Bulldogs have cruised to a 12-0 record while capturing their 5th consecutive District IV Class 4A championship (they have also won 6 of the last 7 District IV 4A championships).

Shore, who has scored 677 points (56.4 ppg), is led by QB Brady Jordan, RB Hadyn Packer, and Kooper Peacock. Jordan led the Bulldogs in a 35-7 win over Selinsgrove last week with 173 yards and 2 TDs on 18 carries and also threw for 74 yards on 5 completions. Packer carried the ball 10 times for 81 yards and a pair of scores and Peacock caught 1 pass for 12 yards before leaving the game early with an injury.

Defensively Shore has allowed just 79 points (6.58 ppg) this season, due to the ‘Dawgs aggressive defensive led by Packer and Tate Sechrist. Packer leads the team with 87 tackles and has also intercepted two passes and recovered 3 fumbles. Sechrist, who is second on the team with 84 tackles, leads the team with 9 sacks and also also recovered 3 fumbles on the season, including one for a 39-yard touchdown last week.

The winner of the game will take on the winner of Meadville and Juniata next week at a date, time, and location to be determined.

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