Looking to avoid its first 1-3 start to a season in eight years, Emmaus had rallied with six minutes left in regulation on Friday night at Zephyr Stadium in Whitehall to take a one-point lead.
But, as they had done not once, but twice in the second half, the Zephyrs were able to put together a rally of their own as they scored the game-winning touchdown with just 1:55 left in the fourth quarter to stun Emmaus 21-16.
Whitehall quarterback Trey Dogmanits was the hero scoring on a nifty 4-yard run for the Zephyrs who improved to 3-1 on the season. It was also the first time since 2017 that Whitehall had beaten Emmaus, snapping a five-game losing streak.
The Hornets had a chance on their last possession of the night with great field position at their own 49. But facing a 4th-and-19, senior quarterback Josiah Williams’ desperation heave was intercepted ending Emmaus’ hopes.
The loss was the third straight for head coach Harold Fairclough’s team who dropped to 1-3 on the season. Emmaus was coming off a last second heart-breaking 27-24 defeat to Central Catholic last Saturday.
In last night’s loss, the Hornets were once again hurt by turnovers as they had two passes intercepted and a lost a fumble. Whitehall turned those turnovers into points as they outscored Emmaus 18-6 after halftime.
Williams, who was coming off a career-best 401 total yards of offense (290 pass/111 rush) in last week’s defeat, once again led the offense.
On the Hornets opening drive of the night, Williams marched his team down the field and hooked up with junior Ben Jones on a 28-yard scoring strike giving Emmaus a 7-0 lead. It was Jones’ first career touchdown.
Williams also had a 1-yard run with 6:02 left in the fourth quarter that gave Emmaus its last lead of the night at 16-15.
Junior Will Buck converted on his fourth field goal of the season in the second quarter connecting a career-long 45-yarder giving the Hornets a 10-3 lead.
Defensively, junior linebacker Reilly Bechtel led Emmaus with six tackles and a sack. Senior linebacker John Wassel and classmate lineman Mario Landino each had five tackles and a sack.
Whitehall was led by Dogmanits who was 13 of 24 for 169 yards through the air, including a 33-yard touchdown pass to senior Jack Kocher, who had six receptions for 95 yards. Senior running back Dalton Wickel had 55 yards on the ground, including a 2-yard score.
Emmaus will return home for the first time in three weeks as they host Dieruff in a rare Thursday night game at 7 p.m. The game will be carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa. Sports Network beginning with the pregame show at 6:40 p.m.
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Whitehall 21, Emmaus 16
Em – 7-3-0-6 – 16
Wh – 3-0-12-6 – 21
Scoring:
Em – Ben Jones 28 yard pass from Josiah Williams (Will Buck PAT), 7-0 Em
Wh – Andrew Deutsch FG 27 yards, 7-3 Em
Em – Buck FG 45 yards, 10-3 Em
Wh – Dalton Wickel 2 yard run (PAT blocked), 10-9 Em
Wh – Jack Kocher 32 yard pass from Trey Dogmanits (2-pt conv. failed), 15-10 Wh
Em – Josiah Williams 1 yard run (2-pt conv. failed), 16-15 Em
Wh – Dogmanits 4 yard run (2-pt conv. failed), 21-16 Wh
INDIVIDUAL STATS – Emmaus
Rush – Josiah Williams 20 car., 105 yards, 1 TD; Riley Guiffre 9-50, Jasiyah Banks 4-11, Cael Kratzer 1 (-2)
Pass – Josiah Williams 12 of 19, 102 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int; Jerek Cooper 0-0, -6 yards
Rec – Rafael Terrero 5 recep., 39 yards; Ben Jones 2-35, TD; Jasiyah Banks 1-11, Riley Guiffre 1-10, John Wassel 2-8, Cael Kratzer 1-7
PHOTO GALLERY (Courtesy Tom Ashelman)
