The start to last Friday’s rivalry game against Parkland couldn’t have gone any better for Emmaus.
What happened after that, however, turned into a landslide victory for the Trojans.
Needing a win against an unbeaten and the state’s No. 3 ranked team or help elsewhere in order to clinch a berth in the District XI 6A Tournament, the Hornets had plenty to celebrate early on in its regular-season finale at Orefield Middle School as they took the opening possession and marched down the field and to take the early lead.
Unfortunately, that celebration and lead was short-lived as the Trojans quickly responded running off the next 27 points and cruising to a 34-13 victory, capping off a perfect 10-0 regular-season on their Senior Night and bringing back the Battle of Cedar Crest Cup after Emmaus claimed it a year ago in a 27-0 rout.
The loss, which was the third in the last four meetings for the Hornets against their archrivals, snapped a two-game win streak as they dropped to 4-6 on the season. But all the news wasn’t bad for Emmaus as they were able to clinch a berth in districts for the 10th straight season thanks to Pocono Mountain East defeating their rival in PM West.
Head coach Harold Fairclough’s clinched the last playoff spot will now travel to another unbeaten and state-ranked squad this Friday at 7 p.m. as they visit top-seeded Easton (10-0) at Cottingham Stadium. The two teams met earlier this season with the Red Rovers rolling to a 42-7 victory. A year ago, at the same venue, Emmaus ended Easton’s season in the semifinals, 20-19.
Junior running back Jay Santos got the scoring started for Emmaus on its opening drive as the scored the first of his two touchdowns on the night on a 27-yard run giving the Hornets their only lead of the night 6-0. It was also the first points Parkland’s defense have given up in the first quarter this season.
Parkland then responded as junior running back TJ Lawrence scored the first of his three touchdowns and classmate Finn Coen tossed one of his two touchdowns on the night as the Trojans opened up a 21-6 lead at the half.
The Trojans then extended the lead to 27-6 on an 11-yard Lawrence TD run in the third quarter before Emmaus finally was able to get into the end zone for only the second time in the game on Santos’ 2-yard run.
Santos wound up as the Hornets leading rusher (12 carries/68 yards) and was voted his team’s offensive player of the game.
Senior quarterback Jerek Cooper threw for his second highest total of the season with 121 yards in the game. Classmate Kai Jefferson Rushing was Emmaus’ leading receiver with four receptions, while junior Jamaad Sanders had two receptions for 65 yards.
Senior Asher Dougherty led Emmaus with seven tackles, while junior Mason Lenig had six and an interception. Senior Robert Edwards had five tackles and a sack and was named Emmaus’ defensive player of the game.
The Hornets were once again hurt by penalties in the game with 11 for 70 yards. Parkland was penalized eight times for 58 yards.
Lawrence, Parkland’s MVP on offense, finished the night with 137 yards on the ground. Coen was an efficient 8 of 13 for 94 yards and two scores.
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Parkland 34, Emmaus 13
Em – 6-0-7-0 – 13
Pa – 0-21-6-7 – 34
Scoring:
Em – Jay Santos 27-yard run (PAT failed)
Pa – TJ Lawrence 1-yard run (Andrea Giroudon PAT)
Pa – Jaren Sanchez 4-yard pass from Finn Coen (Giroudon PAT)
Pa – Lawrence 13-yard run (Giroudon PAT)
Pa – Lawrence 11-yard run (PAT failed)
Em – Santos 2-yard run (Gavin Yartymyk PAT)
Pa – Blake Nassry 14-yard pass from Coen (Giroudon PAT)
Stats – Individual
Rushing: Em – Jay Santos 12-68, 2 TD; Kai Jefferson Rushing 3-0, Jerek Cooper 15 (-8); Pa – TJ Lawrence 16-137, 3 TD; Naquan Thomason 7-34, Finn Coen 5-24, Nass Adams 2-13, Liam Spang 2-9, Caleb Corsa 2-2
Passing: Em – Jerek Cooper 7-15, 121 yards, Peter Sherman 0-1; Pa – Finn Coen 8-13, 94 yards, 2 TD/1 Int
Receiving: Em – Jamaad Sanders 2-65, Kai Jefferson Rushing 4-31, Jay Santos 1-25; Pa – Nass Adams 3-49, Jaren Sanchez 2-20, TD; Blake Nassry 1-14, TD; Lawrence 2-11
PHOTO GALLERY – Courtesy of Tom Ashelman
#11 Kai Jefferson Rushing
Emmaus defensive line
#22 Jay Santos
#9 Mason Lenig makes a tackle on Parkland’s #1 TJ Lawrence
Head coach Harold Fairclough