Jayden Ware-Exeter

Jayden Zandier raced down the left sideline for a 56-yard touchdown just three and a-half minutes into the game. Exeter’s All-State running back was just getting warmed up. The 6’2, 180-pound senior finished with 203 yards and 3 TD on only six carries in a 56-3 rout of South Western at Don Thomas Stadium. Zandier broke the school record for career rushing yards with 3,052. He’s up to 1,676 this season. “He makes plays that you don’t expect. He’s one of my best friends. It’s always good to run into the end zone with him,” said Jayden Ware. Zandier went untouched up the middle for a 5-yard score with 32 seconds left in the opening quarter. That capped an 83-yard drive after Gavin Fraim made a 28-yard field goal for the (7-4) Mustangs. Ware gave the (10-1) Eagles a huge boost in the second quarter with a pair of interceptions of senior quarterback Bryce Graham. Ware’s first pick set Exeter up at South Western’s 47-yard line. On the next snap, Zandier sprinted down the right sideline for a touchdown with three minutes to go in the half. Just 18 seconds later, Ware returned an interception 35 yards to the house. The Eagles’ defense wasn’t done making plays. Carter Redding picked off a tipped pass and went 85 yards for a score with 44 seconds remaining before halftime. “I was on the other side of the field and I sprinted all the way down. I was tired after it. It’s a great feeling to see your seniors get a big play,” replied Ware. A 23-yard TD toss from Jake Hafer to Genuine Stutzman made it 42-3 with 9:11 to play in the third quarter. Hafer, a 6’2 junior, is filling in at quarterback while Riley Martinez’s fractured right leg heals. “I’m really proud of him. I’ve grown up with him. He came back this year to play football again and he’s done a great job taking the next step,” said Ware of Hafer. Stutzman added a 21-yard touchdown run with five minutes left in the third period. The 6’4, 220-pound senior plays the Flex position for the Eagles and is an excellent blocker. Leo Brown, a junior running back who’s on the track team, broke free for an 80-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Exeter, the #8 seed in the District 3-5A playoffs, advanced to the quarterfinals at top-seeded New Oxford. The Eagles lost 28-27 at Hershey in the first round last year after leading by 20 points in the third quarter. “We never want to feel like that again so it really gives us that chip on our shoulder to keep progressing throughout the rest of the season,” emphasized Ware.