Undefeated Exeter defeated Gov. Mifflin 34-13 at Shillington in a Lancaster-Lebanon Section 2 game on Friday.
Eagles’ coach Matt Bauer talked about not facing adversity through the first three weeks of the season but the Eagles answered the call against the Mustangs in week 4.
“It was a total team win,” Bauer said. “The kids really stepped up and played so hard, and so many kids came through in huge situations. We kept swinging the momentum back in our favor, and I’m just so proud of the way they competed tonight. This is the first time we faced a little bit of adversity. Mifflin gave us a great effort. And they’re our rival, I knew it going to be physical, but I think we matched their physicality.”
The Mustangs (2-2) began the game with a promising series as they drove the ball into the Eagles’ red zone on a 10-play drive.
However, quarterback Javien Pletz fumbled the snap as Tyler Flanders recovered for Exeter.
The Eagles (4-0) got going on their first offensive play as Jayden Zandier took a direct snap 81 yards up the middle then down the Exeter sideline for the first score of the game.
“We just added it this week, we just watched a lot of film and saw what they do on defense,” Zandier said of their first play call. “That was one of the plays that we thought could kill their defense and it obviously did.”
It was deja-vu for the Mustangs as their next series also ended in a fumble, this time from Grady Garner.
On the third play of the series, Riley Martinez faked a toss left to Zandier freezing the defensive backs as he connected overtop to Carter Redding for a 43-yard reception that went down to the Mustangs’ 9-yard line.
After a personal foul on Mifflin, Redding scored on a four-yard toss to the left as Exeter went up 14-0 with 4:07 left in the first quarter.
Gov. Mifflin knew they had an uphill battle on both sides of the ball if they wanted to get back into the game.
An eight-minute, 16-play drive that went 80 yards got the Mustangs right back where they wanted.
Garner took a screen pass 36 yards on a third-and-fourteen to keep the drive alive. He capped the series off with a three-yard touchdown.
Exeter was able to put together yet another efficient series as they drove into Mifflin territory.
Martinez connected with Genuine Stutzman for 36 yards down to the 16-yard line. On the next play, Zandier ran to the two-yard line before fumbling into the endzone for a touchback. A rare mistake on the night for the senior.
With under five minutes left in the half, both teams had two more opportunities each to put together a drive but failed, resulting in punts.
The Eagles, recently listed as a team to watch in Class 5A in the statewide rankings, led 14-7 at halftime in their most competitive half of the season thus far.
Zandier and Exeter came out of halftime and put any type of upset speculation to rest on their first series.
On their own 46-yard line, Zandier rushed up the middle before bouncing to the right sideline where his breakaway speed was on full display, outrunning multiple defenders.
54 yards later, Zandier scored his second touchdown of the game and eighth of the season.
“He was electric tonight, no question about it,” Bauer said of his star running back. “Have to teach him that every ball can’t go the distance. Again, that’s a good problem to have.”
“Definitely feel a lot more comfortable reading the holes,” Zandier said as this is only his second season at running back. “But also my offensive line is always going to lead me to the promised land.”
Mifflin tried responding with a score of their own but turned the ball over on downs in Exeter territory.
Two plays later, Martinez sprinted out right and connected with Jayden Ware for a 51-yard gain down to the nine-yard line. Redding punched in his second score of the game to take the 28-7 lead with 5:05 remaining in the third.
Right before the end of the quarter, Garner broke multiple tackles to get into the endzone yet again with a nine-yard score.
Mifflin tried an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but did not recover. Three plays later, Stutzman was in the endzone after a one-yard touchdown as the Eagles led 34-13.
With 11 minutes remaining in the game, Mifflin’s triple-option offense chewed the clock down to two minutes as they turned the ball over on downs after a 12-play drive.
Exeter kneeled the ball out to win their third consecutive game over rival Mifflin.
Martinez completed 9-of-11 passes for 196 yards. Redding led the team with 79 yards on three receptions.
For the Mustangs, Garner had 31 carries for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Pletz completed 7-of-11 passes for 127 yards.
“We’re going to take it week by week,” Bauer said. “That’s what we built this program on. We’re not looking down the road. The next rung in the ladder is Lebanon and that’s what we’re going to go back to work on tomorrow.”
Source: Berkshire mont