Football – Hornets host state’s No. 8 ranked team Nazareth Friday in big early-season matchup. PREVIEW

Photo courtesy Tom Ashelman

Matchup: Nazareth (1-0, #8 state) vs Emmaus (1-0, Hon. Ment.)

When/Where: Friday, Sept. 1/East Penn School District Stadium

Time:  7 p.m.

Coverage: LIVE Internet webcast: The Eastern Pa. Sports Network (Pregame: 6:40 p.m.)

Coaches: Nazareth: (Tom Falzone, 10th season); Emmaus: (Harold Fairclough, 8th season)

Last week: Emmaus defeated PM East 41-0; Nazareth defeated ES South 56-7

Players to keep an eye on: Nazareth: Soph. QB/P Peyton Falzone 12-16, 260 yards, 3 TD; Sr. WR/DB Mason Kuehner 4-92, 2 TD; Sr. WR/DB Logan Hilarczyk 3-102, 1 TD; Sr. RB/OLB Jed Bendekovits 7-74, 2 TD; Sr. OL/DL Sean Kinney, Soph. RB/DB Marquez Wimberly …

Emmaus – Sr. QB Josiah Williams 7-10, 161, 3 TD; Sr RB Jasiyah Banks 4-74, TD; Sr. WR Cael Kratzer 3-69, 2 TD; Sr. OL/DL Mario Landino 10 tackles; Sr OL/DL Ben Mercado 10 tackles, Jr. RB/LB Reilly Bechtel

GAME NOTES:  Both teams are coming off of easy Week 1 road victories with Emmaus rolling over PM East and Nazareth cruising past East Stroudsburg South …The Hornets won their season-opener for the ninth straight season behind QB Josiah Williams who accounted for 4 total touchdowns (3 pass/1 run). Defensively, Emmaus held the Cardinals to just 40 total yards …Nazareth got a 3-TD passing effort from sophomore QB Peyton Falzone, the coach’s son and accumulated over 400 total yards of offense in their victory over the Cavaliers …A year ago, Emmaus started the season 7-0 before suffering their first loss at Nazareth, 20-14 . The Hornets defeated the Blue Eagles twice in 2021 – 35-7 at Emmaus and 20-19 in District semifinal at Nazareth. Emmaus has won five of the past seven matchups vs Nazareth dating back to 2017