Jayden Zandier-Exeter

When Exeter and Gov. Mifflin square off on the gridiron, it’s going to be a hard-hitting affair. Friday night in Shillington was no exception. Jayden Zandier took a shot that sent his helmet flying. Even that couldn’t stop the All-State running back. The 6’2, 180-pound speedster finished with 214 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. The (4-0) Eagles knocked off the (2-2) Mustangs 34-13. Exeter has won four straight in the series. After Gov. Mifflin fumbled on its opening possession, Zandier lined up at quarterback and took a direct snap 81 yards to the house. “It’s definitely fun. I used to play [quarterback] back in the day. It was a new addition and they weren’t expecting it. I’m just glad it worked,” he replied. Senior linebacker Casey Gerhart forced a fumble on the Mustangs’ second series. Riley Martinez found Carter Redding down the right sideline for a 43-yard gain. That set up Redding’s 4-yard touchdown run on a toss to the left. Redding, a 170-pound senior, starts at wide receiver and safety. “He’s a big part, biggest leader on the team I feel like. He’s gonna keep guiding us to wins,” said Zandier. Gov. Mifflin responded with an 80-yard drive that took seven minutes and twenty seconds off the clock. On fourth-and-8 from the 19-yard line, Javien Pletz connected with 6’2 junior Joe Murray for a first down. Grady Garner scored from two yards out to make it 14-7 with 8:47 left in the second quarter. Zandier went back to work on the first possession of the second half. He busted a run down the right sideline for a 54-yard score. After the Eagles stuffed the Mustangs on fourth-and-1, they marched 74 yards for another touchdown and a 28-7 advantage. Redding went around the left edge again for a 9-yard score. Gov. Mifflin answered with a 73-yard drive that lasted four and a-half minutes. Garner reached pay dirt on a 9-yard run with 35 seconds remaining in the third quarter. The 200-pound senior fullback already has twelve touchdowns this season. The Mustangs weren’t able to recover an onside kick and Exeter quickly went 47 yards for a score. A 1-yard plunge by 220-pound senior Genuine Stutzman put the Eagles on top 34-13 with 11:16 to go. Zandier, who has an offer from Division I Stony Brook, gave credit to the defense. “We specialize on defense at practice. It’s always defense, defense, defense and defense wins games,” he stated. Tyler Flanders and Navy commit Logan Wegman (6’5, 275) came up with fumble recoveries. The offense wasn’t too shabby either. Martinez was very sharp in the Section 2 opener. The 6’3, 195-pound junior went 9-of-11 for 196 yards. Jayden Ware had four receptions for 78 yards. Zandier mentioned that the Eagles haven’t forgot last year’s 28-27 loss at Hershey in the first round of the District 3-5A playoffs. “It definitely motivates us a lot, but we’re a more talented team than last year,” he said.