Joey Schlaffer-Exeter

Exeter made history in 2021 by winning its first District 3 championship and advancing to the state semifinals in Class 5A. The Eagles lost four all-state selections and their starting quarterback to graduation. If you think they’re going to take a step back this year, you haven’t spoken with PSU commit Joey Schlaffer. “I think that was one of the biggest motivators going into the season. A lot of question marks were put around our name. I think this should be a little bit of an indicator as to what’s to come,” he said. The 6’6, 215-pound senior had two touchdown grabs in a 35-0 rout of Daniel Boone. The Eagles, who return six starters on each side of the ball, get to keep the Pig Iron Trophy. This was the 64th meeting between the rivals from Reiffton and Birdsboro. Sophomore Carter Redding broke off a 34-yard run late in the first quarter. Redding finished the drive with a 1-yard score to put Exeter on the board with 58 seconds left in the opening period. Schlaffer made his first appearance at quarterback on the Eagles’ next possession. He immediately took off for 26 yards. Exeter failed to capitalize, however, as Ryan Poore hit Richie Karstien just in front of the goal line. Karstien fumbled the ball into the end zone and the Blazers recovered with 8:22 remaining in the second quarter. After a 35-yard scamper by sophomore Pharrell Caceres, the Eagles were back in business. A 10-yard shovel pass from Mason Rotelli to Schlaffer gave them a 14-0 edge midway through the quarter. One play after Exeter junior Zach Zandier missed a 37-yard field goal, senior defensive tackle Kyle Lash recovered Ethan Kryman’s fumble at the 7-yard line. Rotelli’s 1-yard run extended the Eagles’ advantage to 21-0 with 1:11 before the break. Exeter got the ball back at the Blazers’ 47-yard line with nine seconds to go until halftime. Rotelli went up top to Zandier as time expired. The 6’5, 220-pound tight end reeled it in to stun the Blazers. Schlaffer was very proud of Rotelli’s effort in his first start. “Great job, no question about it. He threw a deep bomb before half to Zandier which was freaking great. Oh my God was that great. He wasn’t afraid to stick his nose in between the lines,” he said. Rotelli went 12-of-16 for 158 yards and 3TD. He found Schlaffer over the middle for a 34-yard touchdown with 42 seconds to go in the third quarter. Schlaffer had four receptions for 53 yards and 2TD. He rumbled for 37 yards on three carries in his lone series at quarterback. He mentioned, “It felt really good. I felt like we got a lot of positive plays, linemen were doing a great job. It definitely was a confidence booster.” Schlaffer is also playing defensive end for the first time. He emphasized, “The sack was great. It felt amazing. I love defense. I love pursuing the ball.” The Eagles limited Daniel Boone to 62 yards in the first half. Things got much worse for the Blazers in the third quarter when junior quarterback Dean Rotter suffered a collarbone injury. He didn’t return to the game. Rotter was 6-of-14 for 34 yards. Senior Caden Tolosky led Daniel Boone on the ground with nine touches for 48 yards. Exeter lost a player of its own in the same period when Joey Reedy hurt his shoulder. The 6’3, 220-pound DE was taken off the field in an ambulance. Caceres chipped in with a team-high 64 yards on nine carries. The 5’9, 155-pound RB is hard to find behind an offensive line that includes Anthony Caccese at RT. The Delaware commit is 6’6 and 280 pounds. Lash and Lucas Palange are back as the starting guards. Schlaffer’s expectations haven’t changed. He said, “I don’t believe it’s any sort of drop-off. We’re just picking up right where we left off.”