Jayden – Berks Sports Report

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.

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.

Jayden Zandier-Exeter

Paul Roberts — Sat, 16 Sep 2023 09:23:00 +0000

Jayden Zandier isn’t bashful when it comes to talking about his speed. “I know I’m the fastest player on the field…They couldn’t catch me,” he stated. The 6’2, 170-pound junior had two touchdowns on the ground and another through the air as Exeter beat Gov. Mifflin 31-10 at Don Thomas Stadium. The (2-2) Mustangs settled for a 26-yard field goal from Lance Koenig on the opening possession. The (4-0) Eagles responded quickly by going up top. Sophomore Riley Martinez launched a 56-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Zandier with 4:43 remaining in the first quarter. Martinez was 10-19 for 179 yards. Gov. Mifflin marched from its 42-yard line to Exeter’s 1-yard line, but couldn’t punch it in. Fullback Grady Garner was stuffed on fourth-and-goal with eight minutes left before halftime. A 16-play drive resulted in no points and the Mustangs wouldn’t recover. The Eagles covered 99 yards in just over three minutes to take a 14-3 advantage. Zandier took an inside run and bounced it outside for a 33-yard score. The speedster only had six carries in the first three games. He doesn’t mind playing running back. “I still prefer receiver, but I’m an athlete and I’m gonna play any position this team needs me to play,” said Zandier. He finished with eleven carries for 128 yards on Friday night. An interception by 230-pound sophomore linebacker Joel Ummarino set Exeter up at the Gov. Mifflin 32-yard line with 51 seconds to go. Robbie Gaston made a 21-yard field goal as time expired to give the Eagles a 17-3 lead at the break. They started the second half with a 67-yard touchdown drive. Zaymar Paschall punched it in from 1-yard away on fourth down. There were eleven penalties in the third quarter alone and twenty overall. Fourteen of the flags went against Exeter for 115 yards. The Mustangs put together a 99-yard drive of their own that lasted nine minutes. 6’1 senior Nolan Morris made a spectacular one-handed grab down the left sideline for 31 yards. On the next play, Chase Huber raced 15 yards to make it 24-10 with eight minutes to go. Zandier, who has run a 4.47 40-yard dash, answered with a 35-yard sprint down the left sideline with 5:18 remaining. Nate Pashley sealed the deal with his second interception of the night. “He’s a beast on defense. He can also play offense, all-around great player,” emphasized Zandier. The Eagles have taken three of the last four meetings with the Mustangs. Exeter is ranked #6 in Class 5A by PennLive. The defending Section 2 champs will host Lebanon next week.