Eagles – Berks Sports Report

Exeter falls to Hershey in District 3 Final

Paul Roberts — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 22:42:49 +0000

Exeter limited Hershey to seven points in the first quarter of the District 3-5A championship on Friday night. However, the eighth-seeded Eagles couldn’t slow down the second-seeded Trojans over the final 24 minutes at the Giant Center. Hershey defeated Exeter 69-49 for its third District 3 title overall and first since 1974. The (15-12) Eagles were in front 11-7 after the opening quarter. They were outscored 20-to-4 in the second period. The (22-3) Trojans trailed 15-12 before rattling off 15 straight points. “We turned the ball over more in the second quarter and allowed them to get out in transition. They also did a good job on the offensive glass getting second chance opportunities,” explained Exeter coach Jeff VanGorder. The Eagles committed eight turnovers in the second period. Aidan Dauble and Brady Murray were scoreless in the first half. They average 16 and 13 points per game respectively. Cameron Sweeney, a 6’3 junior guard, jammed nine points into the second quarter. “He’s elite in transition and a very good offensive rebounder. He cuts so well off the ball even in transition. I thought in the half-court we did a very good job on him, but he got us in transition and on the offensive glass,” said VanGorder. Sweeney finished with 28 points including eleven in the fourth quarter. Jayden Ware hit a triple from the left corner to pull Exeter within 44-32 with ten seconds remaining in the third period. The 6’1 junior had a team-high 17 points. Grant Later came off the Trojans’ bench and drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing. On their next possession, Sweeney converted a three-point play to give Hershey a 55-37 cushion with 5:15 to play. James Campbell came alive in the third quarter and ended up with a dozen points. The 6’6 senior guard is committed to Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. Jack Zakovitch provided a spark off the pine with ten points. The Trojans went 6-of-10 from the foul line, while the Eagles were 12-of-23. Each team made three 3-pointers. Paul Blackburn earned his 434th career victory, perhaps none bigger than this one. Blackburn is in his 27th year as a head coach. He’s spent fifteen years at Hershey. Dauble chipped in with eight points for Exeter. Murray and Carter Redding, both seniors, had six points apiece. The Eagles beat Middletown and York Suburban in overtime to reach the District 3-5A Final. “Very proud of the guys for not only this playoff run, but the entire season so far. We played a tough schedule that was more of a 6A type schedule. I believed we were a top team in 5A all season long and they went out and proved it,” noted VanGorder. Exeter will now prepare for the state tournament which begins on Friday, March 7th. “They have represented the school and community in the very best ways possible. I’m excited for them to host a state playoff game,” replied VanGorder.

Brady Murray-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 22 Feb 2025 05:21:56 +0000

Brady Murray has made more 3-pointers than any player in Berks County this season. Exeter’s 6’2 senior guard gives all the credit to his father. “I couldn’t do it without him. He’s the whole reason why I’m a good shooter so shout out to my dad,” said Murray. During the summer, Brady practices his jump shot with his dad every day. Brady will take at least three hundred 3-pointers. The offseason work is paying off. Murray hit five triples and scored a game-high 19 points in a 58-50 win over Spring Grove on Friday night. The (14-11) Eagles advanced to the District 3-5A semifinals on Tuesday at York Suburban. Exeter jumped all over the (11-13) Rockets who were coming off a 45-38 upset of top-seeded Manheim Central. The Eagles led 11-0 after a steal and layup by Jayden Ware with three minutes left in the opening quarter. Cooper Smith, Spring Grove’s leading scorer at 12 ppg., picked up his second foul and headed to the bench just 34 seconds into the second period. Exeter built a 25-9 cushion with four and a-half minutes remaining in the first half. It was 28-13 at the break, but Murray and his teammates understood that they couldn’t relax against the #16 seed. “We knew that they played a really hard schedule like us. We knew that they were battle-tested. It wasn’t like a walk in the park,” emphasized Murray. The Rockets are part of Division 1 in the York-Adams League which includes all Class 6A schools. They caught fire in the third quarter. Six of their ten treys came during that eight minute span. Smith and Kayleb Allen each connected three times from beyond the arc in the third period. Murray responded with a pair of long range shots to keep Spring Grove at a distance. The eighth-seeded Eagles were on top 43-33 entering the fourth quarter. Murray splashed another trey from the top of the key with six and a-half minutes to go. The Rockets were down 48-37 before going on an 8-to-2 run. Owen Renda, who provided seven points off the bench, sank a 3-pointer to cut their deficit to 50-45 with three minutes to play. Aidan Dauble, who poured in 22 points in the first round of the tournament, had back-to-back buckets to increase Exeter’s edge to 54-45 with 55 seconds left. After Dom Pierre knocked down a triple, Carter Redding went 2-for-2 from the foul line to make it 56-48 with 37 seconds remaining. Ware sealed the victory with a breakaway layup with 21 seconds on the clock. Murray thought having home-court advantage was important. “It was great. Fans really were into it, our bench was into it. It’s always fun playing here. I love the rims,” he replied. Dauble (13) and Redding (11) combined for 24 points. Ware chipped in with nine. The Eagles were just 4-of-9 from the charity stripe, but they made eight 3-pointers. Murray has connected 73 times from long range this season. Allen, a 6’2 junior guard, finished with a team-high 14 points. He hit four triples. Pierre added a dozen points. The 6’4 senior had eight points in the fourth quarter. Smith, a 6’3 junior, scored all eleven of his points in the second half. Spring Grove was 2-of-6 from the free throw line. The Rockets outscored Exeter 37-to-30 after halftime. They’ve clinched a spot in the state playoffs for the third time in program history. Spring Grove didn’t qualify for the District 3 tournament a season ago. The Eagles earned their first District 3 championship in 2023. They’re headed back to the Final Four in Class 5A. “I want this season to last as long as possible. I love these guys. I love this team. They’re really fun to be around,” said Murray.

Aidan Dauble-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:16:36 +0000

Exeter coach Jeff VanGorder was extremely disappointed that Aidan Dauble wasn’t named to the All-County team on Sunday. The 6’2 junior guard used that snub to fuel him on Tuesday night against Middletown. “It motivated me a lot because that was one of my goals this season. To not get it really made me strive to do good tonight and push through it,” remarked Dauble. He scored a game-high 22 points as the eighth-seeded Eagles outlasted the ninth-seeded Blue Raiders 60-53 in overtime in the first round of the District 3-5A playoffs. Dauble nailed a 3-pointer with two minutes left in the extra period to put Exeter on top 54-51. “Carter [Redding] came off a screen and I’m trailing him. I had a little bit of space and I was feeling good all game so I just let it fly,” explained Dauble. After Aleel Batts missed a tough scoop shot in the lane, Braylon Reinert sank a pair of free throws with 1:10 remaining. Avery Askins misfired on a triple from the right corner on the next possession. Redding then converted four consecutive foul shots to extend the Eagles’ margin to 60-51 with 24 seconds to go. Exeter outscored Middletown 11-to-4 in overtime. Reinert finished with 17 points including nine after the third quarter. The 6’4 sophomore tied it at 49-49 in the final seconds of regulation. VanGorder used a baseline out of bounds play called “4 down” for the first time this season, and it worked to perfection. The Eagles had four players along the baseline, while the Blue Raiders were in a zone defense. One defender ran to the right corner to cover sharpshooter Brady Murray, but they left Reinert wide open underneath the basket for an easy layup. Landon Keyser went 1-for-2 from the free throw line with 14 seconds to play which made it 49-47. The 5’11 senior, who averages 8 ppg., had 17 points. Batts led Middletown with 19 points. The crafty 6’ senior went 3-for-6 from the stripe. “He got to the free throw line a lot. He was able to get downhill and use a slow step to get to the basket. He’s a good player,” said Dauble. Batts is providing nearly 22 points a night this year. Kylin Noon, a 6’2 freshman forward, chipped in with seven points off the bench. The (13-10) Blue Raiders won the Colonial Division of the Mid-Penn Conference. They trailed 17-6 late in the opening quarter at Reiffton. Middletown went on a 14-to-3 run to even things up at 20-20 with 3:15 left in the first half. Exeter was down 25-24 at the break after getting outscored 15-to-7 in the second period. Murray splashed a 3-pointer from the right wing with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. His 68th trey of the season put the (13-11) Eagles in front 37-30. Batts scored five points to cut the deficit to 39-38 with 5:18 to go. A layup by Askins gave the Blue Raiders a 41-39 lead with 3:45 to play. That was his first bucket of the contest. He made another layup one minute later for a 43-41 edge. Jayden Ware answered on the other end with a drive for Exeter. The 6’1 junior had eight points, as well as the difficult task of guarding Batts. Keyser scored along the baseline with 1:40 left and Middletown regained the lead at 45-44. Dauble was then whistled for an offensive foul which wiped his bucket off the board. Keyser connected twice from the foul line with 39 seconds remaining to give the Blue Raiders a 48-45 advantage. A layup by Murray cut the deficit to one point with 21 seconds to go. The 6’2 senior guard ended up with seven points. The Eagles were 13-of-20 from the charity stripe, while Middletown went 10-of-19. The Blue Raiders made just one 3-pointer. They fell into the consolation bracket after dropping their fifth straight game. The Eagles advanced to the District 3-5A quarterfinals and clinched a berth in the state tournament. Exeter hosts #16 seed Spring Grove on Friday at 7pm. The Rockets upset top-seeded Manheim Central 45-38. “It’s crazy. It’s gonna feel amazing with the home crowd for a second round game in District’s. We’re ready to win,” stated Dauble. He’s averaging 16.6 points and nine rebounds while shooting 51% from the field. Dauble is one of four football players that start on the basketball team. The Eagles reached the District 3-5A championship game this fall. They’re motivated to make another run on the court.

Jeff VanGorder-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Fri, 10 Jan 2025 21:07:18 +0000

Exeter’s boys basketball team hasn’t enjoyed smooth sailing during the 2024-25 campaign. The Eagles’ game at Berks Catholic was a microcosm of the season. Exeter overcame adversity and shooting woes to beat the Saints 48-40. The (6-6, 3-1) Eagles outscored Berks Catholic 35-to-19 in the second half. “I told our guys stick with it, we’re gonna be fine. Guys are learning on the fly. This was a big growing up moment. I’m excited moving forward,” said head coach Jeff VanGorder. He had to replace three starters who each averaged double digits, including All-County selection Kevin Saenz. Exeter was scoreless for four and a-half minutes on Thursday evening at Lloyd Wolf Gymnasium. The (8-3, 3-2) Saints jumped out to a 9-0 advantage. The Eagles didn’t score for the first three minutes of the second quarter and found themselves in a 18-6 hole. Aidan Dauble provided a much-needed offensive spark when he banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer. Berks Catholic was on top 21-13 at the break. Kingston McKoy’s three-point play made it 30-25 with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter. McKoy, a 6’2 junior, had 16 points after 24 minutes. The All-State guard was limited to one point in the final period. Exeter used a 3-2 zone defense with Jayden Ware in the middle. “Our goal was to make him see black jerseys everywhere. We were gonna have to live with some other guys on their team making some shots…Jayden just blanketed him,” explained VanGorder. Brady Murray drilled a 3-pointer from the right wing to give the Eagles their first lead at 35-32 with 5:10 left. VanGorder mentioned that Murray had been fading away on his jumper because McKoy was guarding him. “He stepped into that one. Right when he stepped into it, I go ‘bang.’ It was a Jay Wright moment. I’m really proud of him for sticking with it,” added VanGorder. Carter Redding followed Murray with another triple to increase the margin to 38-32. Meanwhile, the Saints went scoreless for five minutes in the fourth quarter. A layup by Ware made it 40-37 with 1:31 to go. Gavin Welker’s trey from the right corner popped out on the ensuing possession. Dauble and Dylan Donate then went 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Exeter had seized control at 44-37 with 44 seconds to play. Welker connected from beyond the arc with 14 seconds remaining, but Berks Catholic was still down 46-40. That was the Saints’ first field goal of the quarter. Welker, a 6’2 junior, provided eight points while Zach Suski was held to six. Suski had been averaging 14 ppg. Redding led a balanced Eagles’ attack with ten points. Murray contributed nine points and 6’4 sophomore Braylon Reinert chipped in with seven. Reinert provided a presence inside and helped on the glass. He’s one of a handful of football players in VanGorder’s rotation. Dauble and Ware had eight points apiece. They helped Exeter reach the District 3-5A football championship game during the fall. The Eagles sealed the victory by going 15-of-18 from the foul line. The Saints were 7-of-11 from the charity stripe. Each team made three 3-pointers. Exeter got key contributions from everyone who stepped on the floor. “I told them at the start of the fourth quarter, no matter what happened, I was the most proud of a group that I’ve ever been based on circumstances,” said VanGorder.

Exeter drops Opener to Cedar Crest

Paul Roberts — Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:18:23 +0000

Exeter got off to a hot start in its first game of the season. The Eagles were knocking down 3-pointers all over the gym and led Cedar Crest 12-2. “Our guys came out with a lot of energy and were locked in defensively and offensively,” said second-year head coach Jeff VanGorder. However, the long range bombs missed the target after the opening quarter in a 59-53 loss to Cedar Crest at the CoBL Winter Classic. Five of Exeter’s eight triples came in the first period. The Eagles struggled from beyond the arc until Carter Redding hit a pair of treys in the final minute when the game was out of reach. “I think we fatigued a little in the end of the second quarter and to start the third. We have some guys coming off a very successful football season who are still getting into game shape,” noted VanGorder. Four of his starters were part of a football team that reached the District 3-5A Championship game. Exeter was on top 28-23 at halftime. The Falcons outscored the Eagles 20-11 in the third period. Isaac Wolfe, one of ten seniors on Tommy Smith’s roster, nailed a 3-pointer to begin the fourth quarter. That ignited a key 6-0 run that put Cedar Crest in front 49-39. The defending Lancaster-Lebanon League champions had a 57-43 advantage with two and a-half minutes remaining. Danny Speaks finished with a game-high 15 points. Wolfe added eleven points and 6’7 senior RJ Young had ten. Young provided seven points in the pivotal third period. The Falcons were just 9-of-19 from the free throw line. They missed seven foul shots in the final quarter. Exeter was 5-of-10 from the charity stripe. Redding and Brady Murray scored 13 points apiece. Aidan Dauble chipped in with a dozen points including six in the fourth quarter. The Eagles (19) and Falcons (21) combined for 40 wins a season ago, but these are much different squads. Cedar Crest had to replace four starters. Exeter lost three starters including All-County selection Kevin Saenz who averaged 16 points. VanGorder appreciates the early season competition. “This is a great opportunity for us to learn what competing against a 6A or 5A playoff team takes. That is an outstanding coach and program who made us better as we continue to get first-year varsity players up to speed,” he replied. The Eagles host Penncrest tonight at 7:45pm. Five games are on tap today in Reiffton.

Matt Bauer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 06:04:54 +0000

Another outstanding season came to an end for Exeter on Friday night at ELCO High School. The eighth-seeded Eagles fell to sixth-seeded Bishop McDevitt 48-14 in the District 3-5A championship. Exeter reached the District 3 final for the third time in four years. “I’m so proud of what we’ve grown here and the culture, and the way these kids believe,” said head coach Matt Bauer. The (12-2) Eagles have won 106 games over the past twelve seasons. They were overmatched, however, by the (12-2) Crusaders. Bishop McDevitt earned its fourth straight District 3 title and 18th overall. “They’re physical and they’re well-coached. They’re fundamentally sound,” replied Bauer. The Crusaders marched 80 yards on their opening possession. Maurice Barnes’ 1-yard run capped the drive. The 6’2, 215-pound junior has several Division I offers including Penn State, Michigan, and Notre Dame. Bishop McDevitt covered 71 yards on its second series. Stone Saunders found Dominic Diaz-Ellis along the right sideline for a 9-yard touchdown pass and a 12-0 advantage. Riley Martinez was intercepted by defensive tackle Landon Blauch on a screen pass that ended the first quarter. Martinez, who suffered a fracture in his right leg in Week 7, split time at quarterback with lefty Jake Hafer. On fourth-and-7 from the 18-yard line, Saunders hit Diaz-Ellis for a nine yard gain. Nazir Jones-Davis then went up the middle for a 9-yard score. A two-point conversion pass to Diaz-Ellis made it 20-0 with 9:42 left in the first half. On the ensuing drive, All-State running back Jayden Zandier left the game after aggravating a right ankle injury that he’s been dealing with since early in the season. Zandier didn’t return. He holds the single season and career rushing records at Exeter. “He’s an amazing individual. I’m thankful to have been his coach. I can’t wait to see where he ends up at the next level,” replied Bauer. Jerome Larue Jr. took the second half kickoff 86 yards down the left sideline. The speedy freshman already has an offer from Syracuse. He put the Crusaders in front 26-0. Diaz-Ellis made a sweet diving grab for a 21-yard touchdown with five and a-half minutes to go in the third quarter. The 6’, 175-pound senior finished with ten receptions for 110 yards and 2 TD. Saunders was an efficient 14-of-18 for 163 yards. The Kentucky commit is up to 199 career touchdown passes, a state record. He has thrown for more than 13,000 yards. After an interception by Tyler Reinhart, Jones-Davis ripped off a 32-yard score down the left sideline for a 42-0 lead. The 180-pound junior had 122 yards on 13 carries. Early in the fourth quarter, sophomore Jaeden Chase scooped up an Eagles’ fumble and raced 99 yards for a touchdown. Exeter got on the board with eight minutes to play. Martinez went up top to 6’1 junior Jayden Ware for a 72-yard score. Genuine Stutzman added a 1-yard TD run for the Eagles with eight seconds left. Stutzman is one of 16 seniors on the roster. “We had seven captains this year. We probably could’ve had ten. These kids really pulled for one another and were very unselfish,” said Bauer.

Casey Gerhart-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 22:38:16 +0000

Several Exeter football players decided to dye their hair blonde after an impressive 48-14 victory over Conestoga Valley in the District 3-5A semifinals. The (12-1) Eagles handed the Buckskins their first loss of the season. “We’re having a bunch of fun, guys are all loose…We’re really excited,” said linebacker Casey Gerhart. The 5’10, 175-pound senior leads Exeter with 93 tackles. The eighth-seeded Eagles are allowing just 9.5 points per game this year. They’ve reached the District 3 championship for the third time in four seasons. Exeter’s opponent on Friday night at ELCO is very familiar with playing deep into the postseason. Bishop McDevitt has won 17 District 3 titles including three in a row. The sixth-seeded Crusaders are an eye-popping (68-9) all-time in the District 3 tournament. Bishop McDevitt is averaging 40.2 ppg. this fall. “Try to limit the big plays, keep everything underneath, and make tackles. Tackling is gonna be the big key this week,” noted Gerhart. Crusaders’ senior quarterback Stone Saunders holds the state record with 197 career touchdown passes. The Kentucky commit is closing in on Alex Erby’s state record for career passing yards. Saunders needs 435 yards to break the mark of 13,567 which Erby set last year at Steel-High. “He has a great arm. He can make almost any throw,” replied Gerhart. Dominic Diaz-Ellis and Jontai Quick are the top targets for Saunders. They’ve combined for 113 receptions, 2,168 yards, and 27 TD. Quick, a 5’9 sophomore, needs just one yard to hit 1,000 this season. Junior running backs Nazir Jones-Davis and Maurice Barnes have racked up a total of 2,003 rushing yards and 21 scores. Barnes is also a force on defense. The 6’2, 215-pound linebacker has numerous Division I offers including Penn State, Pittsburgh, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Colorado. Gerhart, who’s also on the lacrosse team, said the Eagles have playmakers on all three levels of their defense. Linebacker Genuine Stutzman is second on the squad with 84 tackles. The 6’4, 220-pound senior has 15 TFL and a team-high 3.5 sacks. Navy commit Logan Wegman (6’5, 275) has piled up 74 tackles and 13.5 TFL. Defensive ends Cameron Aiken and Joel Ummarino have combined for 25.5 tackles for loss. In the secondary, Carter Redding and Jayden Ware have three interceptions apiece. Exeter’s offense features All-State running back Jayden Zandier. The speedy 6’2, 180-pound senior has 2,082 yards and 30 TD on the ground this year. “He’s super electric. He can break a run at almost any time. It’s so fun to watch him,” emphasized Gerhart. The Eagles are looking to bring home their second District 3 championship in school history. “All the guys are confident here. We feel like we can come out with a W,” stated Gerhart.

Jayden Ware-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 02 Nov 2024 14:54:34 +0000

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.

Matt Bauer-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 11:35:19 +0000

One yard. That’s what separated Exeter and Conestoga Valley on Friday night at Don Thomas Stadium. The battle for first place in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League lived up to the hype. Jake Hafer’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Ware capped an 83-yard drive by the Eagles with eight seconds remaining. After a penalty against Conestoga Valley, Exeter head coach Matt Bauer opted to go for the two-point conversion from the 1-yard line. All-State running back Jayden Zandier was ruled short of the goal line and the (9-0, 5-0) Buckskins held on for a dramatic 28-27 victory.

Bauer didn’t agree with the ruling. “I think it was clear. He was in,” he said. The officials took their time before signaling that Zandier didn’t score. “The explanation to me was no one had it either way,” stated Bauer. That possession began at the 17-yard line with 1:23 left. Hafer, a 6’2 junior who joined the team in early September, hit Carter Redding on a completion near midfield. A targeting penalty moved the football to Conestoga Valley’s 38-yard line. Genuine Stutzman reeled in a 19-yard pass to get the (8-1, 4-1) Eagles in the red zone. Ware’s second touchdown grab of the night pulled Exeter within one point after trailing 14-0 and 21-7. “I couldn’t be prouder. We wanted to see how we’d respond to adversity. I think we faced basically a season’s worth tonight. We never lost faith,” emphasized Bauer. He’s in his 16th year at the helm in Reiffton with a record of (121-57).

The Buckskins started quickly with consecutive 52 and 66-yard touchdown drives. On fourth-and-12 from the 23-yard line, Sawyer Esbenshade connected with JoJo Garcia over the middle for a 7-0 lead. Following a 25-yard pass to Garcia, Esbenshade’s 2-yard run made it 14-0 with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The 6’1, 175-pound junior finished 19-of-31 for 277 yards and 3 TD. Zandier scored from 1-yard out early in the second period to get the Eagles on the board. They entered the night averaging 45 points per game. Zandier broke free for a 51-yard sprint down the left sideline to set up his 6-yard TD run with 4:21 to go in the half. That came after Esbenshade found 6’2 junior Cordell Bair for a 28-yard touchdown. Ware’s 22-yard TD catch from Hafer tied it at 21-21 with 1:33 to play before halftime. Conestoga Valley went in front 28-21 on a 30-yard pass to speedster Jayden Johnson with just 34 seconds before the break. Johnson, who returned from an injury last week, has offers from Temple, Maine, and Monmouth.

The offensive fireworks came to a halt in the second half. Neither team scored until eight seconds remained on the clock. Seth Frankford came up with an interception of a pass by Zandier on fourth-and-7 with 5:28 to go. Exeter’s defense forced back-to-back punts after that turnover. Bauer noted that the Eagles played more man coverage in the second half. Navy commit Logan Wegman (6’5, 275) injured his shoulder in the third quarter and didn’t return. Exeter was already without junior quarterback Riley Martinez due to a leg injury that occurred earlier this month against Muhlenberg. Zandier and Hafer split time at quarterback on Friday. Zandier piled up 172 yards on 27 carries. “He has amazing body control and he’s so explosive with everything he does,” Bauer said of the 6’2, 180-pound senior.

The Eagles sit one game behind the Buckskins in the Section 2 standings. Exeter visits (2-7) Elizabethtown next week, while Conestoga Valley hosts (3-5) Muhlenberg. Bauer was proud of his team’s effort after an emotional and frustrating game. “They have nothing to be ashamed of. They did everything they needed to do. This is gonna galvanize us,” he said.

Jayden Zandier-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 14 Sep 2024 12:46:41 +0000

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.