Leo Brown-Exeter

Leo Brown didn’t play football as a sophomore because he wanted to focus on track. Exeter head coach Matt Bauer stayed after Brown and he returned to the gridiron last season. The 6’, 176-pound speedster was the backup to All-State running back Jayden Zandier. Brown is the starter now and he’s making the most of the opportunity. “He’s still developing and it’s a pleasure to watch the progression. He’s a special young man,” said Bauer. Brown ran for 206 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries in a 43-15 victory over Gov. Mifflin at Don Thomas Stadium. “I really think tonight was his best game because he was patient and then he started hitting the afterburners,” explained Bauer. The (4-0) Eagles beat the (2-2) Mustangs for the fifth consecutive time. “Oh, my gosh! Out of all the people we play, our biggest rival is Mifflin. In any sport, it’s always them. It feels good to be able to put up that big of a score on them,” stated Brown.

Exeter went 51 yards on its opening drive and took a 7-0 lead on Brown’s 24-yard run up the middle. “We were able to get the momentum. Once we got that, we just kept rolling. It snowballs,” emphasized Brown. The Mustangs opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 from their own 39-yard line on the ensuing possession. Senior defensive lineman Andre Osborne tripped up fullback Nick Kalis for no gain. Jake Hafer then hit Aidan Dauble for a 36-yard gain. Hafer, who has stepped in again this year at quarterback for an injured Riley Martinez, ran two yards off the left side for a 14-0 advantage. On the final play of the first quarter, Hafer found a wide open Braylon Reinert. The 6’4, 225-pound tight end rumbled 54 yards to set up Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run. After a bad snap on the extra point, Jayden Ware threw the ball to Reinert for two points and a 22-0 edge with 11:18 remaining in the first half. The Mustangs got on the scoreboard six minutes later when quarterback Lebron Leaf bounced off tacklers down the left sideline for a 37-yard score. Leaf also made an interception late in the second quarter. Brown’s third touchdown came with 3:36 left before halftime. His 19-yard run capped a 74-yard drive and increased the Eagles’ lead to 29-7. Osborne, Joel Ummarino, Kevin Oswalt, Matt Lis, and Wyatt Richard opened big holes all night long. “I couldn’t ask for a better line. I love them, they make it happen. I’m just the one who puts the ball in the end zone. They’re the ones that create the way,” remarked Brown. His speed certainly helps. Brown ran the 200 meters in 22.3 seconds during the spring. He has already piled up 576 yards and nine touchdowns on 65 carries this year.

Ware started the second half with a bang. The 6’2, 160-pound senior returned the kickoff 95 yards to put Exeter in front 36-7. Ware had a punt return touchdown called back earlier in the game due to a penalty. The Eagles committed eleven penalties overall. Josh Jackson made it 43-7 on a 21-yard touchdown run with five minutes to play in the third quarter. The Mustangs got a 2-yard touchdown run from sophomore Trever King midway through the fourth quarter. Exeter outgained Gov. Mifflin 406-to-166. The Eagles churned out 310 yards on the ground.

Exeter brought back seven starters on each side of the ball from a team that went (12-2) in 2024. The Eagles finished second in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League. They lost to Bishop McDevitt 48-14 in the District 3-5A Championship. Brown has high hopes this fall. “We’re coming to win it all, without a doubt,” he said.