By BILL ALBRIGHT
EasternPAFootball.com/WesternPAFootball.net Senior Writer
JERSEY SHORE — One big step. That is what the Shikellamy Braves took here Friday night as they came from behind to defeat Jersey Shore 32-21 in a PHAC-1 conference showdown.
As for the game, the way it unfolded had Shikellamy head coach Todd Tilford’s head spinning.
“Honestly I can’t really tell what we did because they were running the ball and just pounding it at us,” said Tilford. “They were getting six and eight yards at a clip. In my 20 plus years of coaching I don’t think I can remember a group that tightened things up like we did tonight. As for how proud I am of the kids, I am at a loss for words. We just had so many kids step up and make plays tonight, whereas in the past, when we had so many things going against us that we might have folded. But they kept battling and battling and they found a way to get the win and that is all due to the efforts of the kids.”
The Braves fell behind 14-0 in the first period before scoring their first touchdown of the night on the final play of the quarter.
Shore again stretched its lead to 21-7 on a 12-yard scamper by Kyle Tomb, but the Braves answered the call on their next possession when quarterback Gabe Tilford connected with brother Lucas Tilford for a 31-yard scoring aerial.
After surrendering 21 points in the first half, the Braves defense came to play the second half with an attitude that kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard. Again it was the Shikellamy special teams that sparked the effort.
“Tate (Krankoskie) in his first game punting turned the field around more than once,” said Tilford. “Our kids just made plays tonight and that is what a team has to do, especially on the road. Down by 14, I just can’t believe how many kids stepped up and made big plays tonight.”
Josh Krieger set the tone for the Shik defense when he blocked a Bulldog punt that eventually resulted in a 7-yard scoring pass from Gabe Tilford to Darrel Lyles.
Narrowly allowing the Bulldogs any breathing room to get back into the game, the Brave defense again led by Krieger put the final nail in the Bulldog coffin when he picked off an Elijah Shemory pass for a 27-yard pick six to set the final.
While Krieger led the Brave defensive unit, it was quarterback Tilford leading the offense, For the game, Tilford tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers while also using his legs to account for a fourth Shikellamy score.
“All of our seniors have been with us for four years and they kind of have the attitude if they stay the course good things are going to happen,” said Tilford. We had a lot of negative plays tonight, but the kids just kept cranking and cranking and in the end, Gabe, Josh Krieger and our seniors did the job. Krieger made three huge plays tonight and I can’t say enough about his effort.”
With the conference title going through Selinsgrove and Shore for the last few seasons, the Braves (5-2, 4-0) have the opportunity to change that as wins over Selinsgrove and the Bulldogs moves them to 4-0 in conference play with only Mifflinburg remaining on their conference slate.
“We definitely talk about that because we feel that the Heartland Conference Division I is as good a quad-A league as there is in the state,” said Tilford. “To take care of business next week and become champions will be quite an accomplishment regardless of what happens down the road. This win should also give us a home game in districts if we can keep on improving.”
Shikellamy 7 6 13 6 — 32
Jersey Shore 14 7 0 0 — 21
First Quarter
JS — Jason Dincher 29 fumble return. (Cam Griffin kick) (7-0) 10:58
JS — Elijah Shemory 1 run (Griffin kick) (14-0) 3:27
Shik — Joe Folk 21 pass from Gabe Tilford. (John Gittens kick) (14-7) :17
Second Quarter
JS — Kyle Tomb 12 run. (Griffin kick) (21-7) 10:42
Shik — Lucas Tilford 31 pass from Gabe Tilford. (pass failed) (21-13) 8:49
Third Quarter
Shik — Darrel Lyles 7 pass from Gabe Tilford. (pass failed)(21-19) 4:00
Shik — Gabe Tilford 20 run (Gittens kick)(21-25) 1:19
Fourth Quarter
Shik — Joel Krieger 29 interception return. (kick failed)(21-32)
TEAM STATISTICS SHIK JS
First Downs 12 14
Rushes-Yards 36-98 45-208
Passing Yards 125 103
Passing 7-22-2 11-27-3
Fumbles-Lost 3-2 4-3
Penalties-Yards 6-40 4-20
