Football – Defense pitches shutout after halftime for second consecutive week, Terrero catches first career touchdown as Hornets defeat Central Catholic 12-7 to move to 2-0 on season

Head coach Harold Fairclough addresses his team following last night's 12-7 win over CCHS. Photo courtesy of Nathan Lewis

RECAP >> Playing before a near-capacity crowd in its home-opener at East Penn School District Stadium on Lower Macungie Youth Association Night, Emmaus scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half then turned the game over to their defense after halftime as the Hornets won a low-scoring 12-7 contest over Central Catholic in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football action on Friday night.

The victory improved Emmaus to 2-0 on the season and marked the second consecutive week that head coach Harold Fairclough’s team has knocked off a defending District XI champion. Last week, the Hornets took down the 6A champs Freedom 19-13, and last night it was the 4A champs Central Catholic. Emmaus also avenged for a 21-0 loss to the Vikings last season.

Sophomore wideout Rafael Terrero wound up scoring the game-winning touchdown with 2:50 left in the second quarter for the Hornets, the first of his career, on a 42-yard pass from senior quarterback Jacob Fotta.

Earlier in the game, it was senior DB Dylan Darville coming up with Emmaus’ other big play of the night as he picked off senior quarterback Matt Keyes pass and raced 86 yards into the end zone for the touchdown that gave Emmaus a 6-0 lead in the first quarter.

Defensively, Emmaus was once again stout as they held the Vikings to just one score in the game and held their second consecutive opponent scoreless after halftime. Senior LB Aidan Garrett led the way with five tackles and eight assists, junior DL Mario Landino had four tackles, four assists and a sack and senior FS Ryan DeJohn had four tackles and three assists. Senior DL Eugene Boney had a big game with two tackles, three assists and a sack and classmate CB Elijah Fajardo also played well with two tackles on the night.

Central Catholic dropped to 1-1 on the season following the loss. The Vikes lone touchdown came in the second quarter on senior Caiden Shaffer’s one-yard run that give the visitors their only lead of the night at 7-6.

Both teams came into the game state-ranked with Emmaus No.6 in 6A and the Vikings No.4 in 4A.

Emmaus will return to action next Friday at 7 p.m. as they travel to Whitehall to take on the Zephyrs (1-1). The game will be carried LIVE on www.easternpasportsnetwork.com beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.

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Emmaus 12, CCHS 7

CCHS – 0-7-0-0 – 7

Emmaus – 6-6-0-0 – 12

Scoring:

1st Qtr

Em – Dylan Darville 86 yard INT return (PAT blocked)

2nd Qtr

CC – Caiden Shaffer 1 yard run (Tamlin Ferguson PAT)

Em – Rafael Terrero 42 yard pass from Jacob Fotta (two point conversion failed)

Stats (Emmaus):

Rushing – Tylik Jarvis 16-38, Josiah Williams 4-13, Dylan Darville 1 (-5), Jacob Fotta 7 (-16)

Passing – Jacob Fotta 6-13, 89 yards, TD

Receving – Rafael Terrero 2-51, TD, Jacob Fotta 1-12, Chase Fotta 1-10, Donovan McCargo 1-9, Dylan Darville 1-7