SHAMOKIN, Pa. — This is year two for Head Coach Marc Persing at Shamokin and through the first 4 weeks has an undefeated football team.
The Indians have outscored their opponents 155-41, with Persing stressing all phases of the game.
"We thought we were going to be really good this year because we have all of our seniors returning. We have like maybe 12 seniors and it's just like we are ready for it," said sophomore QB Logan Steele.
"It's just a great group of kids. It's a great nucleus who have a team offensively, defensively and special teams. So we're 4-0 right now, but we're only worried about being 1-0 next week," Persing said.
Last week, Shamokin upset Jersey Shore at home, something that hasn't been done since 2019, but this team says it's something that they're not surprised about.
"Our expectation is that we could hang with anybody, and the kids are starting to become more and more confident in themselves and you're starting to see that play out on the field," said Persing.
"We have a lot of big guys, a lot of fast, strong guys and it's a lot for a team to try and line up against us for four quarters. Our guys do an awesome job at imposing their will and that's what happened on Friday," said senior Chase Pensyl.
It's week-to-week in Northumberland County. Up next, Central Mountain: an opponent they don't take lightly.
Football pride runs deep in the coal region and with this team's success, the community is buzzing with excitement.. with Shamokin firmly in the top in the District Four "4A" standings right ahead of Jersey Shore.
"I'm an alumni to the program. I played here many years ago and I don't remember it like that in the early 2000's. I think we'd have to go back to, to when Coach Carm DeFranceso first got here, for that type of buzz. I'm glad he's here with me now to, to experience it again," said Persing.
"Coming off a win like that, we're expecting it to be packed out standing room only, in a game like this, we should absolutely have a lot of excitement around town and we're excited to play," said Pensyl.