Eric Nangle-Exeter

It may take some high school running backs four games to get 40 carries. Eric Nangle got that amount of touches in one game, and it happened to be with a District 3 championship on the line. Obviously, the Eagles’ coaching staff has a lot of faith in the 175-pound senior. He didn’t disappoint. Nangle ran for 223 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling 31-28 victory at top-seeded Gov. Mifflin. He also had a 33-yard TD catch that put Exeter up 21-7 midway through the second quarter. The (10-3) Eagles had lost 15 of their previous 16 matchups with the Mustangs, but they wouldn’t be denied on a cold and windy night in Shillington. They outgained Gov. Mifflin 399-to-219. Exeter finished with 238 rushing yards. The Eagles’ final possession took seven minutes and 35 seconds off the clock. Nangle described his go-ahead 31-yard TD run on 4th & 1 with 9:15 remaining. He gave credit to senior quarterback Colin Payne (3TD passes) and the offensive line. Nangle said he knew back in the preseason that this was a special team. Exeter had never appeared in a District 3 championship game before this year. The Eagles came into the postseason with a (4-11) all-time record in the District 3 playoffs. They doubled that win total in the month of November! Nangle rumbled for 332 yards and 5TD in the semifinals at Cedar Cliff. Exeter is only the third #7 seed to ever bring home a District 3 title. The Mustangs end up (10-1).