It’s not often during the course of a high school football game that one play can change the momentum of a game.
Especially in a game that wound up being a 38-point margin of victory for one side.
But that’s exactly what happened on Friday at East Penn School District Stadium that helped lead Emmaus to their first win at home this season vs Stroudsburg.
The Hornets can thank their bend but don’t break defense for this victory — their second straight after an 0-2 start to the season.
Holding a 10-point advantage (20-10) late in the third quarter, the visiting Mounties, who had been outscored 144-21 in their last three losses to Emmaus, were threatening to make it a one score game with the ball in the red zone.
But Anthony Attar and his teammates had other ideas as the junior linebacker picked up a fumble recovery from Mounties running back Keyen Johnson — off an assist from senior linebacker Aiden Issler — and raced 94 yards the other way that completely changed the momentum in the favor of the Hornets as they wound up routing Stroudsburg 48-10.
Defensively, Emmaus had arguably their best game of the season as they limited the Mounties to just one touchdown on the night and held the visitors scoreless after halftime.
Meanwhile, the Hornets offense put up a season-high for points in a game against a porous Stroudsburg defense that allowed 40+ plus points for the third game in a row, scoring six touchdowns on the night and outscoring the Mounties 35-0 after it was a 13-10 game in the second quarter.
Senior quarterback Jerek Cooper rushed for a career-high 158 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries, junior running back Jay Santos also had a solid game going over 100 yards for the second time this season (124) to go along with two scores as Emmaus ran for a season-high 320 yards on the ground.
Attar wound up with two touchdowns on the night as he also had an 8-yard score that gave Emmaus a 13-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Senior backup quarterback Peter Sherman also played well completing 5 of 6 passes for 47 yards, including his first career touchdown pass of 16 yards to sophomore tight end Ty Laird, who had his first career catch and TD. Senior running back Jaden Garcia closed out the scoring with his first touchdown on a 19-yard run.
Stroudsburg, which entered the game riding a two-game losing streak, suffered their third straight loss as they dropped to 1-3 on the season. Senior quarterback Jack Mitchell had a solid game completing 12 of 21 for 190 yards with a touchdown of 21 yards to Johnson.
Emmaus will hit the road next week for arguably their toughest test of the season as they travel to undefeated Easton (4-0). The game will be aired LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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Listen to a replay of the game: https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/recordings/2895464
Stats – Individual (Emmaus)
Rushing – Jerek Cooper 10 car., 158 yards, TD; Jay Santos 16-124-2, Jaden Garcia 2-28-1, Anthony Attar 5-18-1, Peter Sherman 3 (-8)
Passing – Cooper 3 of 7, 78 yards, Int., Peter Sherman 5-6, 47 yards, TD
Receiving – Mason Lenig 2-49, Jahmad Sanders 1-29, Jacob Sollenberger 1-20, Ty Laird 1-16, TD, Jay Santos 1-10, Nick Guzzo 1-4, Cooper 1 (-3)
Emmaus 48, Stroudsburg 10
Stb – 3-7-0-0 – 10
Em – 7-13-7-21 – 48
Scoring:
Em – Jay Santos 28-yard run (Gavin Yartymyk PAT)
Sburg – Fuller FG 20 yards
Em – Anthony Attar 8-yard run (Kick failed)
Sburg – Keyen Johnson 25-yard pass from Jack Mitchell (PAT)
Em – Santos 5-yard run (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Anthony Attar 94-yard fumble recovery (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Jerek Cooper 35-yard run (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Ty Laird 16-yard pass from Peter Sherman (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Jaden Garcia 19-yard run (Yartymyk PAT)
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Tom Ashelman)
Jerek Cooper (#4)
Mason Lenig (#9)
Anthony Attar (#21)
Emmaus defense
Cosmas Owiso (31), Brian Brown (6), Bryce Andrew (53) and Anthony Gbur (28) lead the Hornets out onto the field.