Through the first two games of the season, Emmaus’ offense had only been able to manage a pair of touchdowns in eight quarters in losses to Neshaminy and Bethlehem Catholic.
On Friday night at Albright College, the Hornets offense finally found their rhythm at the expense of a porous Reading defense.
With both senior quarterback Jerek Cooper and junior running back Jay Santos having career-nights, Emmaus rushed for nearly 300 yards on the ground while finding the end zone six times as they picked up their first win of the season in a 41-14 rout of the Red Knights.
Cooper ran for a career-high 135 yards on the ground and accounted for two touchdowns, while Santos had a career-best three scores as the Hornets defeated Reading for the second consecutive season.
With the victory, Emmaus improves to 1-2 on the season, while Reading remained winless at 0-3.
The Hornets nearly scored touchdowns every time they touched the ball putting up five scores in the first half in building a 35-6 lead at the break. Santos scored on runs of 1, 15 and 1 yard, while Cooper had a 64-yard TD run and a 9-yard scoring strike to junior Nick Guzzo who scored his first career TD. Senior Robert Edwards also had a 3-yard score.
Defensively, the Hornets had been allowing 32.5 points per game and nearly 330 yards on the ground in their first 0-2 start in 12 years, but against the Red Knights Emmaus had little trouble as they limited Reading to 146 total yards, including 56 through the air. Edwards led the way with six tackles including a sack, while junior Legend Vasquez added four and his first career interception.
Emmaus will return home to EPSD Stadium on Friday as they host Stroudsburg at 7 p.m. The game will aired LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network. The Mountaineers are 1-2 on the season following a 49-17 loss to Liberty.
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Listen to a replay of the game: https://easternpasportsnet1.mixlr.com/recordings/2889578
Stats – Individual (Emmaus)
Rushing – Jerek Cooper 6-135, TD; Jay Santos 17-77, 3 TD; Anthony Attar 4-52, Jaden Garcia 3-23, Robert Edwards 1-3, TD
Passing – Jerek Cooper 3-6, 24 yards, 1 TD/1 Int; Kellen Hafner 0-0, 0
Receiving – Augustine Camacho 2-15, Nick Guzzo 1-9, TD
Emmaus 41, Reading 14
Em – 7-28-6-0 – 41
Read – 0-6-0-8 – 14
Scoring
Em – Jay Santos 1 yard run (Gavin Yartymyk)
Em – Jerek Cooper 64 yard run (Yartymyk)
Reading – Idris Weaver 19-yard pass from Jason Plylaharn (PAT failed)
Em – Santos 15 yard run (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Santos 1 yard run (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Nick Guzzo 9-yard pass from Cooper (Yartymyk PAT)
Em – Robert Edwards 3 yard run (PAT failed)
Read – Tyrice Bradley 8-yard run (2 pt conv)
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Tom Ashelman)
Nick Guzzo (15) celebrates his first career TD with Jamaad Sanders (8)
Mason Weber (66) puts the pressure on Reading quarterback Jason Plylaharn
Jerek Cooper (4) scores on a 64-yard TD run
Aiden Issler comes up with a big hit on a Reading receiver
Gavin Yartymyk (99) converts on an extra-point with Peter Sherman (17) holding