RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Camden Newcomer picks up yardage during a PIAA District 4, Class AAA semifinal game against Selinsgrove at home on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024.

1. Lewisburg (9-1): Lewisburg was off last weekend after earning the No. 2 seed and a bye into District 4 Class AAA semifinals. The Green Dragons play No. 3 Mount Carmel, a ?-? winner against Milton and are trying to reach their first district final since 2010. Lewisburg has erased 10 and eight-point deficits in its last two games.

2. Jersey Shore (8-3): A nasty Jersey Shore defense set the tone as the Bulldogs exacted revenge against Selinsgrove, avenging last year’s District 4 AAAA final loss and winning, 48-7. Jersey Shore heads to undefeated Shamokin and will be trying to avenge a 30-28 Week 4 loss there. The defense could be finding its footing at the perfect time and produced two touchdowns with Brodie Herr taking a fumble back and two-way lineman Owen Vandruff an interception. Luke Thompson was a force, collecting three sacks and producing nine tackles. Jersey Shore totaled seven sacks and the offense had good balance, generating 401 yards. Quarterback Elijah Jordan threw for 160 yards, Evan Snyder went over 1,000 yards receiving this season, and Bo Sechrist scored for a seventh straight game, producing rushing and receiving scores. Jersey Shore will be playing in the final for a seventh straight year.

3. Williamsport (6-5): Williamsport played stifling defense and the offensive line heated up as it defeated Hazleton, 15-6 and earned its first District 2-4 Class 6A final appearance since 2021. The Millionaires will try and win their first title championship Friday when they head to Wilkes-Barre. The defense allowed just 188 yards and surrendered just one touchdown in two victories against Hazleton this season. It also held the Cougars scoreless over the final three quarters. The offensive line continued its quality late-season play and Jamel Bailey ran hard, producing a game and career-high 164 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey ripped off scoring runs of 32 and 41 yards. Kicker Parker Johnson alertly recovered a muffed snap and found Bailey for a game-clinching 2-point pass following his second touchdown. Williamsport has had its ups and downs this season but has surged at the right time and is right where it wants to be, playing for a championship. It should be quite exciting, too, after Williamsport and Wilkes-Barre played a thriller just two weeks ago.

4. Warrior Run (7-4): A physical defense kept Warrior Run in the game during the first half when Loyalsock ventured into Warrior Run territory on three straight possessions but scored no points. All three levels playing as one also helped the Defenders deny Loyalsock points on three second-half red zone opportunities. James Keifer made a game-changing interception at the 3-yard line when the game was tied 7-7 and sophomore lineman Jackson Albright was a beast, generating a sack, 11 tackles and four tackles for loss.

5. Muncy (9-2): Dropping a one-point heartbreaker in the final minute at Hughesville stung, but in the big picture, it may have helped Muncy. The Indians learned from that experience and looked refocused and re-energized Saturday, routing Canton, 56-14 and earning their seventh straight District 4 Class A championship appearance. Muncy played fast, physical and strong in all areas, building a 35-point halftime lead and scoring 49 straight points between the first and fourth quarters. Muncy will try building off that performance Friday when its hosts Line Mountain for the championship.

“I feel like we really did need that,” Landyn Wommer said after running for 120 yards and two touchdowns. “We were all getting dormant but that loss really helped us focus a lot, and show us that we need to work together to get this stuff done.”

“After that Hughesville game, I was happy to see our kids come back Monday and they were hungry and amped up,” Muncy coach Sean Tetreault said. “They were ready to play this game and they came out playing fast and playing physical right from the start and that’s what we need to do.”

Players of the Week

Jayden Ransom,

Williamsport and Brodie Herr, Jersey Shore

Ransom put together one of the most dominant performances in program and area history and that’s not hyperbole. The senior defensive end was unblockable, producing a remarkable seven sacks. To put it in perspective, Derrick Thomas holds the NFL record for sacks in a game with seven. Ransom has enjoyed a breakout season and his magnificent performance helped fuel the defense all night as it smothered Hazleton. Herr did damage offensively and defensively. The senior running back ran for 89 yards and a touchdown before switching sides and totaling two sacks, seven tackles and returning a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown.

Game of the Week

Jersey Shore at Shamokin

Obviously, this is a toss-up with three district championship games being played, but it gets the edge based on the prior encounter. Shamokin planted its flag as District 4’s team to beat when it rallied from a 13-point deficit and defeated Jersey Shore at Thompson Street Stadium, 30-28 in Week 4. There was a feeling then that these two teams would cross paths again and now they do so Friday night, this time at Shamokin’s Kemp Memorial Stadium. The roles are reversed now and Jersey Shore is the underdog, so this is a fascinating matchup between two excellent teams.