Jersey Shore at Scranton Prep

Recap

SCRANTON PREP 51, JERSEY SHORE 19

Scranton Prep got huge contributions from quarterback Will McPartland and wingback Noah Krzywiec on their way to a 51-19 thumping of visiting Jersey Shore. The win moved the Cavaliers to 5-4 and firmly established them as a strong contender in the upcoming District 2 Class 3A playoffs. Jersey Shore fell to 6-3 with the loss.

Early on, it looked as though the visiting Bulldogs might be too much for Prep to handle. Jersey Shore took the opening kickoff and went 76 yards on 11 plays with the touchdown going to rugged senior back, Bo Sechrist. The extra point made it 7-0 with 8:26 left in the opening quarter. But it was the Bulldogs’ only lead of the ball game.

Prep answered quickly, taking over on their own 32. On a 3^rd and 9 from their own 48, McPartland hit Krzywiec on a screen pass that covered 50 yards down to the Bulldog 2-yard line. McPartland carried over from there. Tyler Bianchi added the point after to tie the game at 7 with 4:59 left in the first frame.

With the Bulldogs driving once again on their next drive, the opportunistic Prep defense came up big. Sophomore quarterback Logan Pauling lofted a deep pass toward the Prep end zone that was picked off by Prep’s Liam Haggerty, ending the Jersey Shore threat.

After forcing Prep to punt, the turnover bug bit Jersey Shore once again as the Bulldogs fumbled at their own 35. After a holding penalty negated a Prep touchdown on the first play of their drive, the Cavaliers, undaunted, took just two more plays to reach the end zone. Krzywiec took a handoff from McPartland and raced around the end for a 41-yard scoring run. Bianchi’s kick made it 14-7 with just 23 ticks left on the first quarter clock.

On Jersey Shore’s next possession, disaster struck in the form of a mishandled punt snap that resulted in Prep taking over at the Bulldogs’ 26-yard line. Krzywiec instantly found the end zone on another sweep to make it 21-7 with 11:17 left before halftime.

After forcing the Bulldogs to punt, Prep took over on their own 44 yard line after a strong 20-yard return by A.J. Croom. On first down, McPartland connected again with Krzywiec on a 26-yard pitch and catch down to the Bulldogs’ 30. Four plays later on 4^th and 2, McPartland bounced a quarterback keeper outside and sprinted 22 yards to the end zone untouched. Bianchi connected once again to make it 28-7 with 7:14 left before haltime.

The offensive theatrics for the Bulldogs resumed on the following drive. On 2^nd and 15 from their own 46, Sechrist took a handoff and took off down the left sideline. Corralled by several Prep tacklers near the goal line, the Bulldog fumbled, only to see the ball scooped up by Carter Rhinehart who carried the ball into the end zone for the Jersey Shore touchdown. The extra point was wide, making it 28-13 with 4:59 left in the half.

Prep answered quickly. On 3^rd and 13 from the Jersey Shore 49 after another holding penalty, McPartland took a scramble 29 yards to the 20. On the next play, he found Croom at the goal line and the senior wideout fell into the end zone with another Prep touchdown. Bianchi’s kick sailed wide and the half ended at 34-13.

While both teams mounted long drives in the third period, neither was able to score. Prep went nine plays on their first drive of the final quarter, highlighted by a 25-yard run by McPartland that saw the senior standout break several tackles. When the drive stalled at the 10, Bianchi connected on a 28-yard field goal to make it 37-13 with 10:03 left in the contest.

Jersey Shore got their final score of the evening on their next possession, marching 75 yards in 7 plays. The diminutive Pauling pushed over from 4 yards out with 7:07 left in the game. The try for two points was unsuccessful, making it 37-19.

Prep, once again, quickly held serve. After McPartland hit Croom on a 53-yard pass and run down to the Bulldog 8, Prep’s quarterback called his own number and tallied his third scoring run of the evening, making it 44-19 with 5:15 left.

The Cavaliers, who earned Coach Terry Gallagher’s 100^th coaching win at his alma mater with the win, scored once more when backup quarterback Oliver Swingle hit tight end Sean McCormack on a 4^th and 6 toss that McCormack carried in to complete a 32-yard scoring play. That made the final score 51-19.

The Cavaliers will host unbeaten, league titlist North Pocono next weekend to conclude the regular season for both teams.

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

JS – Bo Secrist 5-yd run (Jayden Passeti kick) – Jersey Shore 7-0

SP – Will McPartland 2-yd run (Tyler Bianchi kick) – Tied 7-7

SP – Noah Krzywiec 41-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 14-7

2ND QUARTER

SP – Krzywiec 26-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 21-7

SP – W. McPartland 29-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 28-7

JS – Carter Reinhardt 3-yd fumble recovery (Kick failed) – Scranton Prep 28-13

SP – A.J. Croom 20-yd pass from W. McPartland (Kick failed) – Scranton Prep 34-13

3RD QUARTER

None

4TH QUARTER

SP – Bianchi 28-yd field goal – Scranton Prep 37-13

JS – Nolen Pauling 4-yd run (Pass failed) – Scranton Prep 37-19

SP – W. McPartland 8-yd run (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 44-19

SP – Sean McCormack 32-yd pass from Oliver Swingle (Bianchi kick) – Scranton Prep 51-19