MOUNT CARMEL – Mount Carmel is the state’s all-time winningest program. Over the years, one of the things that got the Red Tornadoes to that point was a tough, hard-nosed running game, the type that is synonymous with the strong work ethic of generations from the coal region.
This year, the Red Tornadoes are installing a new offense that is more of a spread attack. However, the old ground and pound is still available for when it is needed, and it was definitely needed and in effect on Friday against Jersey Shore.
Getting tough yards in tight space for most of the night, the Red Tornadoes turned in their best rushing performance of the year, running for 289 yards on 54 carries and the offense put up 441 total yards as Mount Carmel controlled the ball for much of the game and topped Jersey Shore 34-18.
“This was definitely our best rushing game of the year. I think our offense is kind of based on running the ball in tight spaces with everyone condensed like that so that’s something we’re used to,” said Mount Carmel coach John Darrah. “At the same time we have to have a cleaner performance. I didn’t really feel good about the way we ended the game so we have a lot of room to improve.”
While Jersey Shore scored a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns after the Red Tornadoes had taken a 34-6 lead, it was what they were unable to do earlier in the game that made the biggest difference along with Mount Carmel’s rushing attack. Jersey Shore was stopped on downs in the red zone twice, including once when a touchdown was called back due to a penalty, and a crucial turnover earlier in the contest also turned into seven points for Mount Carmel.
“We left too many points out there. We probably had another two or three touchdowns we could have cashed in,” said Jersey Shore coach Tom Gravish. “We had a penalty call one back at a crucial time when we had some momentum and a chance to get back into it but just couldn’t quite cash in. We played hard against a big offensive line. We’re much smaller but they’re a good running football team, as good as you can find.”
Things looked bright for the Bulldogs on their first possession of the contest as they got a 35-yard return on the opening kickoff by Owen Anderson and a 25-yard reception by Dawson Sechrist on the second play from scrimmage to set them up at the Mount Carmel 21. But they gained just two more yards on their next four plays and turned it over on downs.
Mount Carmel took over at their own 20 and put together their longest drive on the game, a 14-play (13 rushes), 80-yard drive that took 6:24 and was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Julien Stellar.
The Bulldogs answered right back with a long drive of their own, this one an 11-play, 71-yard drive capped by a one-yard Josh Malicky touchdown run, although the PAT was missed.
Jersey Shore then appeared to have momentum when Anthony Shaffer picked off Reisinger in the end zone and then Lorson hit Stanton Westlin for a 43-yard gain on the Bulldogs’ ensuing play from scrimmage.
But Jersey Shore fumbled away the snap on the next play, and two Mount Carmel plays later, Reisinger burst loose for his 56-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw, aided by Weidner’s outstanding block about 15 yards downfield. That play was one of the few all night in which a Mount Carmel runner has lots of space with which to work.
“Shane is real unselfish kid and he was just as excited about the block as any run he had,” said Darrah. “I have to give credit to the guys up in the booth for that play. They’re the ones that dialed that up.”
In addition to the great block on that play, Weidner has his best game of the year with 138 yards on 22 carries and a late touchdown.
“There were a few games where Shane didn’t get as many opportunities as he did tonight. We just fed him the rock, he was hot and in many cases picked up eight yards a pop so there was no reason to stop giving him the ball,” said Darrah.
Mount Carmel extended its lead on its next drive after a Jersey Shore three-and-out as Stellar found the end zone for the second time to cap another long drive, this one 10 plays and 56 yards to give Mount Carmel a 21-6 lead that it took into halftime after the Bulldogs’ ensuring drive stalled at the Mount Carmel 30.
The Red Tornadoes were forced to punt on their first drive of the second half and the Bulldogs took over at their own nine. They put together another impressive drive and appeared to have a touchdown when Lorson hit Catden Hess for a 15-yard touchdown on a fourth-and-10 that would have made it a one-score game, but it was erased by an ineligible man downfield penalty and Jersey Shore failed to convert the ensuing fourth-and-15.
Mount Carmel capitalized by moving 80 yards in nine plays to take a 27-6 lead on Resiinger’s second touchdown run of the night with 3:09 left in the third.
The Bulldogs would get solid field position on their next drive following a 43-yard kickoff return by Cameron Allison, but the drive stalled on downs on the Mount Carmel 29, and the Red Tornadoes responded by taking just six plays to go 70 yards and take a 34-6 lead on Weidner’s touchdown.
Jersey Shore would get a pair of fourth quarter touchdowns, one on a 76-yard run by Malicky, who burst loose with 7:49 left in the game, and the other on a late 13-yard reception by Westlin.
“All in all, we’re proud of our team’s effort,” said Gravish. “I thought we improved a lot from last week to this week and we have a young team so we’re getting better every day.”
Mount Carmel 34, Jersey Shore 18
Jersey Shore (2-2) 6 0 0 12 – 18
Mount Carmel (3-1) 7 14 6 7 – 34
First quarter
3:50 – (MC) Julien Stellar 2-yard run (Stellar kick), 14-80, 6:24
:45 – (JS) Josh Malicky 1-yard run (kick failed), 11-71, 3:05
Second quarter
10:34 – (MC) Tom Reisinger 56-yard run (Stellar kick), 2-60, :42
4:54 – (MC) Julien Stellar 4-yard run (Stellar kick), 10-56, 4:04
Third quarter
3:09 – (MC) Tom Reisinger 8-yard run (kick failed), 9-80, 3:04
Fourth quarter
11:54 – (MC) Shane Weidner 6-yard run (Stellar kick), 6-70, 1:42
7:49 – (JS) Josh Malicky 76-yard run (pass failed), 5-90, 2:01
4:08 – (JS) Stanton Westlin 13-yard pass from Tanner Lorson (pass failed), 10-56, 1:53
Statistics
JS MC
First downs 17 22
Rushes-net yards 30-133 54-289
Passing yardage 260 152
Passing 15-34-1-0 7-16-0-1
Fumbles-lost 1-1 1-0
Penalties-yards 9-44 7-61
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Jersey Shore: Josh Malicky (15-125-2), Dawson Sechrist (9-18), Tanner Lorson (3-(-5)), Cameron Allison (1-(-2)), TEAM (2-(-3)); Mount Carmel: Shane Weidner (22-138-1), Tom Reisinger (8-74-2), Joey Bendas (7-29), Noah Berkoski (6-23), Julien Stellar (6-18-2), Damon Doukus (4-13), TEAM (1-(-6))
PASSING: Jersey Shore: Tanner Lorson (14-32-264-1-0), Branden Wheary (1-2(-4)-0-0); Mount Carmel: Tom Reisinger (7-16-152-0-1)
RECEIVING: Jersey Shore: Stanton Westlin (7-116-1), Anthony Shaffer (3-60), Dawson Sechrist (2-35), Catden Hess (2-16), Owen Anderson (1-35); Mount Carmel: Noah Berkoski (2-54), Shane Weidner (2-53), Jack Chapman (2-25), Logan Wills (1-20)
