Kyle Lash-Exeter

Exeter was looking to get back to the District 3-5A championship game. Northern York was trying to get there for the first time in school history. The Eagles set the tone on the opening possession. They marched 65 yards on eleven plays. Nine of those plays were runs which is just fine with right guard Kyle Lash. “I love it so much. Every single play I want to run. Richie just carries people on his back,” said Lash. Richie Karstien finished with 182 yards on 36 carries in a 21-7 victory over the (8-5) Polar Bears. Karstien ended the first series with a 2-yard score. The 6’1, 215-pound senior piled up 213 yards on 22 touches last week in a quarterfinal win versus Dover. Karstien has 1,548 rushing yards and 19 TD this season. The (12-0) Eagles put together a 61-yard drive late in the second quarter. Mason Rotelli found Joey Schlaffer for a 38-yard completion. Rotelli scored from one yard out to give Exeter a 14-0 advantage with 52 seconds remaining before halftime. #11 seed Northern York was held to 59 yards in the first half. Junior linebacker Miles Brant had two interceptions for the Eagles. Exeter had an opportunity to extend its lead, but Matthew Skipper missed a 26-yard field goal with 1:24 left in the third quarter. The Polar Bears finally reached pay dirt on Cole Bartram’s 35-yard run with nine and a-half minutes to go. The Eagles responded immediately with a 62-yard drive. Karstien broke off a 22-yard run down the right sideline. Rotelli then went up top to Schlaffer for a 30-yard score with seven minutes to play. The 6’6, 215-pound Penn State commit was able to outleap Mason Yohn for the touchdown. Yohn had six interceptions this year. Schlaffer wound up with six grabs for 115 yards. He has 883 receiving yards and 11 TD this season. Rotelli was 8-of-16 for 125 yards. Exeter outgained Northern York 339-151. The Eagles had a 214-89 advantage in rushing yards. Exeter’s offensive line averages nearly 250 pounds. “They lean on us to carry the team. We’re a big line and we’re a veteran line,” stated Lash. 6’6, 280-pound right tackle Anthony Caccese is headed to the University of Delaware. Lash and 235-pound senior Lucas Palange hold down the guard positions. Matt McConnell starts at center. His twin brother Ryan is at left tackle. Lash is also an impact player on defense. The 225-pound senior DT entered tonight with 16 TFL and 4.5 sacks. He’s second on the team to Caccese in both of those categories. The second-seeded Eagles are allowing just 11 points per contest. They snapped the Polar Bears’ 4-game winning streak. Bartram went for 81 yards on 16 carries. He wraps up his junior campaign with 1,635 yards and 17 TD. Lefty QB Timmy Bonin was 6-of-14 for 62 yards and 2 INT. Exeter will host #12 seed Cocalico next Friday in the District 3-5A championship. Lash told me that he doesn’t have much free time, but he enjoys playing Call of Duty. Lash revealed that he’s a 49ers’ fan. I asked him what would happen if the Eagles faced the 49ers in the playoffs. We also discussed his favorite teacher at Antietam.