SHAMOKIN – For most of the first half, second-ranked Selinsgrove
knew it was in a ballgame Friday night.

But two touchdowns in the final three minutes of the half broke
open a seven-point game and propelled the unbeaten Seals to a 48-14
victory over Bradford in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA
playoffs at Shamokin High School’s Kemp Memorial Stadium.

Selinsgrove now advances to play number one ranked Thomas
Jefferson next week, while Bradford closes out its season at
8-3.

“I can’t fault our kids, because they played hard and
Selinsgrove hit some big plays on us,” said Steve Ackerman,
Bradford coach.

“I was happy with the way we played. It was a 13-7 game with a
little over three minutes left in the first half.

“They scored and we threw an interception to give them two quick
scores, and that broke it open (28-7 at halftime).

“Our kids came out to start the second half and moved the ball
right down the field to score (28-14), and I thought we turned the
tide a little in our favor.

“We stuffed them on first and second down, held on third and
then they hit the fourth down pass for the touchdown. They just hit
some big plays on us,” he added.

After a scoreless first quarter, Selinsgrove built a 13-0 lead
on quarterback Eric Deckard’s 11-yard pass to Mike Ritter and then
a one-yard keeper by Deckard. Tim Walls hit one of his two PAT
kicks to make it 13-0.

Bradford got its offense on track when quarterback Ben Walter
found tight end Tyler Hopkins open for a 40-yard touchdown strike.
Steve Butler kicked the PAT to make the score 13-7 with just over
three minutes left in the half.

The Seals answered quickly, however, with Matt Cook scoring on a
seven-yard run and Deckard adding the two-point conversion.
Selinsgrove then intercepted a Bradford pass and turned it into six
points on Deckard’s 45-yard aerial to Ritter. Walls kicked the PAT
to make it 28-7 at the half.

Bradford regrouped during the break and marched the ball 65
yards on its opening possession of the third quarter, with Taylor
O’Brien capping the drive with a one-yard dive into the end zone.
Butler split the uprights again to make it 28-14 and temporarily
quiet the partisan crowd.

Selinsgrove responded with two more scores before the end of the
quarter to erase any hopes Bradford fans had.

Deckard found Ritter on a fourth-and-eight pass play for a
touchdown and then added a short eight-yard strike, again to
Ritter. Both PAT kicks were good to make the score 42-14.

Play moved into the fourth quarter, Bradford punted the ball
away and the Seals took over at their own 44. With Cook and Tony
Troutman alternating carries, they needed just five plays to reach
the end zone. Troutman’s 23-yard gallop through a worn-down
Bradford defense made it 48-14.

Bradford’s E.J. Moore blocked the PAT attempt to keep the mercy
rule from going into effect, but the Seals had all the points they
needed for their 13th straight victory.

“I’m happy for and proud of our seniors,” Ackerman emphasized.
“They were winless as freshmen but have come a long way. We won the
league and are district champions. They (seniors) put our program
back where it should be.

“They have us going in the right direction and have set the bar
high for the next couple of classes,” he added.

The Owls will be honored at the annual booster club banquet
coming up next month.