Heading into this high school football season, head coach Harold Fairclough was pretty emphatic when he said his team would never go through a season like a year ago when they finished 4-7.
Following last Friday night’s disappointing loss at EPSD Stadium to archrival Parkland, it appears the Hornets could be headed towards their second straight four-win campaign.
Playing their final game at home on Senior Night, Emmaus struggled mightily on the offensive side of the field against a Trojans team that had given up 45 points loss last week in a loss to Whitehall, managing a season-low 150 total yards while also committing an uncharacteristic season-high five turnovers as they watched the Trojans once again claim “The Battle of Cedar Crest Cup” with a dominant 38-10 victory.
Defensively, it wasn’t much better for the Hornets as they gave up the most points that they’ve allowed on the season while also surrendering nearly 400 total yards (397) to Parkland.
It all added up to a long night for Emmaus’ seniors which were honored before the game.
The Hornets, who entered the game on a two-game win streak after wins over both Dieruff and Allen, finished their second consecutive regular-season under .500 with a 4-6 record. Despite that, they are still headed to the post-season for the 11th consecutive year as they will compete in the District XI 6A Tournament with a return trip back to Nazareth on Friday.
Senior Blake Nassry had a big night in leading Parkland (8-2) which bounced back following their loss to Whitehall last week. Nassry caught one touchdown and threw for another. He wound up with three receptions for 101 yards, including a 67-yard TD pass and he also threw a 68-yard TD pass to David Scherb for another score. About the only thing Parkland did not do well on the night was being whistled for eight penalties in the game for 89 yards.
The Trojans, who defeated Emmaus for the fifth time in the last six meetings, led 14-3 after one quarter, 21-3 at the break and then put the game into the mercy rule after three quarters up 38-3.
Senior Jay Santos scored the Hornets lone touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard TD run, his 10th touchdown of the season. Santos wound up the game’s leading rusher with 70 yards. Senior Legend Vasquez had a career-high 72 yards on two receptions. Junior quarterback Kellen Hafner surpassed 1,000 passing yards on the season but was just 3 of 15 on the night with two interceptions.
Senior linebacker Tyler Carmosky led Emmaus with a season-high seven tackles on the night. Junior Nick Castro was next with five tackles, while Mason Lenig, Jamaad Sanders and Jerel Robinson each had four.
The Hornets will now prepare for a second meeting against Nazareth. The two teams met back on September 25 with the Blue Eagles pulling away in the second half to roll to a 32-7 victory. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network beginning at 6:30 p.m.
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Parkland 38, Emmaus 10
Pa – 14-7-17-0 – 38
Em – 0-3-0-7 – 10
Scoring:
Pa – Henry Weikel 3-yard run (Andrea Giroudon PAT)
Pa. – David Scherb 68-yard pass from Blake Nassry (Giroudon PAT)
Em – George Marmaros FG 35 yards
Pa – Tycen Norman 2-yard run (Giroudon PAT)
Pa – Nassry 67-yard pass from Coen (Giroudon PAT)
Pa – Giroudon FG 30 yards
Pa – Weikel 11-yard run (Giroudon PAT)
Em – Jay Santos 6-yard run (Marmaros PAT)
Individual stats – Emmaus
Rushing – Jay Santos 20-70, TD: Anthony Attar 3-6, Kellen Hafner 3 (-15)
Passing – Kellen Hafner 3 of 15, 81 yards, 2 Int.
Receiving – Legend Vasquez 2-72, Jacquez Pletz 1-8
PHOTO GALLERY – Courtesy of Tom Ashelman
