Playing in arguably the best division in the state – the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference South Division – it’s not always easy to pick up victories.
Ask any coach and they’ll tell you that.
Any win is a good win.
Playing infront of a near-capacity crowd on Homecoming last night at East Penn School District Stadium, Emmaus was able to come away with its fourth straight victory, 21-6 over Liberty, but by no means was it pretty.
From stalled drives on offense to drop passes to penalties, it wasn’t head coach Harold Fairclough’s best game of the season, especially after coming an impressive 42-14 road win at Easton last week.
But the Hornets will take it, learn from it and move on.
Defensively, Emmaus once again shined as they limited Liberty to just 210 yards of total offense. Defensive coordinator Jake Hildebrand’s unit has given up just two touchdowns in its last four games.
Senior lineman Mario Landino had arguably his best game of the season and career with 13 tackles on the night – six for loss – a sack and a blocked punt. For his efforts, Landino was named the SportClips Player of the Game on the LIVE broadcast on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network.
Junior LB Reilly Bechtel was next with six tackles and one sack, while senior DL Ben Mercado and sophomore DL Robert Edwards each had four tackles.
On offense, Emmaus squandered a number of good scoring chances in the game, but did just enough against a Liberty defensive unit that was allowing 35 points in its last five games – all losses.
Senior running back Riley Guiffre rushed for a career-high 140 yards on the ground with half of those coming on an electrifying 70-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that all but sealed the victory.
Junior wide reciever Daniel Duggan got the scoring started for the Hornets in the second quarter with his first career touchdown, a 10-yard run. Duggan also had three receptions for 40 yards on the night.
The only other score of the night for Emmaus was a 2-yard touchdown run from senior quarterback Josiah Williams, his fifth rushing score of the season.
Liberty’s lone touchdown of the night came in the fourth quarter when senior quarterback Caden Vermuelen hooked up with classmate, wide receiver Anthony Vega in the corner of the end zone on a 7-yard touchdown pass to cut the Emmaus lead to 14-6.
On the ground, the Hurricane managed just 34 yards. Sophomore Gabriel Green, who entered the game as the area’s second leading rusher (677 yards/9 TD) was held to 26 yards on 19 carries.
The Hurricane, who opened the season 2-0, dropped its sixth straight game as they fell to 2-6. A year ago, Liberty finished just 2-8.
Emmaus continued its dominance in the head-to-head series against Liberty picking up its eighth straight win. The Hurricane’s last victory came back in 2015 – a 34-31 win at Emmaus.
Up next for the Hornets will be the regular-season finale next Friday at 7 p.m. when they host Freedom (4-4) on Senior Night. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.
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Emmaus 21, Liberty 6
Lib – 0-0-0-6 – 6
Em 0-7-7-7 – 21
Scoring:
Em – Daniel Duggan 10 yard run (Will Buck PAT)
Em – Josiah Williams 2 yard run (Buck PAT)
Lib – Anthony Vega 7 yard pass from Caden Vermuelen (PAT failed)
Em – Riley Guiffre 70 yard run (Buck PAT)
INDIVIDUAL STATS – Emmaus
Rushing – Riley Guiffre 13-140, TD; Daniel Duggan 4-21, TD; Josiah Williams 8-20, TD: Jasiyah Banks 6-13, Jerek Cooper 1 (-3)
Passing – Josiah Williams 8-15, 85 yards; Jerek Cooper 0-1, 0
Receiving – Daniel Duggan 3-40, Rafael Terrero 3-35, Ben Jones 2-10
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy of Tom Ashelman)
John Wassel (25) with the hit on Liberty quarterback Caden Vermuelen
Josiah Willams (7) goes back for a pass
Reilly Bechtel (44) and his defensive teammates
Daniel Duggan (3) celebrates scoring his first career touchdown
Ben Mercado (77) moves in Liberty quarterback Caden Vermuelen