Ginck; Indians roll past Braves

Written by: Cody Smith on Saturday, September 30th, 2023. Follow Cody Smith on Twitter.

SUNBURY – Jayce Ginck led a potent rushing attack Friday night as the Shamokin Indians rolled into Sunbury to top the Shikellamy Braves on homecoming night.

Ginck ran for 232 yards on the ground as the Indians rolled to 391 total rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in a 41-20 victory that was closer than the final score may make it seem.

“It was a fantastic win,” said Shamokin coach Marc Persing of his team’s victory. “The line did fantastic after we made some tweaks to the scheme. Credit to our coaching staff for making the right adjustments.”

Despite the home Braves never holding a lead in the game, Shikellamy kept things close throughout with clutch touchdown drives. The Braves almost opened the game with a score, but a lost fumble on first-and-10 at the Shamokin 27-yard line halted the drive.

It didn’t take long for Ginck and the Indians to take advantage of the early turnover. On just the second play from scrimmage, Ginck took a handoff and scampered 75 yards for the opening score of the contest.

“Good blocking,” said Ginck of his rushing performance. “My linemen gave me the best blocks I could get… I see the holes good, I’m fast and I can juke.”

That would not be Ginck’s lone impressive run on the night, as later in the fourth quarter he found pay dirt on a 76-yard run that all but ended the game. In all, he totaled a game-high 232 rushing yards.

Following the Indian’s opening score, Shikellamy battled right back. Just two drives later the home team used its strong passing attack to post a score. Sophomore quarterback Brody Rebuck connected with senior halfback Luke Snyder on a screen pass that Snyder promptly deposited into the endzone following a 43-yard run.

Rebuck posted a solid passing line on the night despite the loss. He completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts in the game – a 63 percent clip – for 179 yards with the Snyder screen pass being his lone passing touchdown.

With 5:26 remaining in the second quarter, Shamokin extended its lead again when senior quarterback Brad Latshaw plowed into the endzone from just one yard out.

Latshaw was not the lone Shamokin quarterback to score in the game. In the second half, freshman Logan Steele also found the endzone on a seven-yard run.

The duo split snaps throughout the game, with Latshaw attempting more passes and compiling more passing and rushing yards on the night. In the game, Latshaw completed three of nine passes for 62 yards and ran the ball nine times for 49 yards and a score.

Steele finished the game 2-for-3 passing for 19 yards and added 23 rushing yards and a score on three attempts.

“There is no ego or animosity between the two guys,” said Coach Persing of his quarterback situation. “I don’t believe anyone loses their spot due to injury, so when Brad (Latshaw) got the news he was coming back, we were ecstatic. He’s one of our few seniors who play and provides leadership in the huddle. Logan (Steele) is a fantastic athlete as well. You saw him out in open space and playing defense as well. It’s on us to figure out how to use both of them moving forward.”

Junior wideout Chase Pensyl also added a rushing touchdown for the Indians in the game on a 47-yard end around. The dual-threat wideout/running back toted the ball five times for 78 yards in the game and also added a pair of receptions for a total of 25 yards.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Shikellamy Braves had an opportunity to tie the game. Following a touchdown run by Rebuck, the Braves defense forced a Shamokin punt to earn possession of the football down 28-20 with just over 11 minutes remaining. Unfortunately for the Braves, the pressure of the Shamokin defense forced Rebuck into an interception that Logan Steele returned into Shikellamy territory.

“We’ve done this now a few times,” said Coach Persing. “We let teams hang around when we have the opportunity to step on their throat and put them away. We keep preaching that that’s what young and inexperienced teams do. Experienced teams don’t give up that touchdown before the half. They go up, they get the ball back and they put them away. There is some learning that needs to take place for this football team, but we’re pleased.”

That is when Ginck iced the game with a pair of fourth-quarter rushing scores.

“We have five kids on this team that we feel can do that on any given night,” said Coach Persing. “Last week it may have been Bridgeton (Delvelle) and Chase Pensyl. This week it was Jayce’s turn.”

Shamokin improved to .500 overall with the win, pushing their record to 3-3 on the season. The Indians will put that record to the test this coming Friday when the Indians host the 5-0-1 Jersey Shore Bulldogs.

Shikellamy slides to 1-5 overall on the season and will look to bounce back this Friday on the road in Mifflinburg (3-3).

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