EAGLES FLYING HIGH
Exeter beats Warwick hours after Penn State coach James Franklin visits the Exeter campus and senior Joey Schlaffer
Friday was a special day for the Exeter football team.
Not only did the Eagles (3-0, 6-0) continue their unbeaten run by dominating Warwick 47-7 in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 game at Reiffton on Friday night, but the Exeter community had a special visitor on Friday morning, as Penn State football coach James Franklin stopped by via helicopter to see Nittany Lions commit and current Eagles senior Joey Schlaffer.
“It’s always such a great feeling if I can share that big thing with the community,” Schlaffer said about Franklin’s visit. “We had teachers, all kinds of staff, administrators, everyone was all riled up and wanting to take pictures and autographs, all that. So anytime that we can do something like that for the community it’s a really special feeling because these are all the people who helped me all the way up through so it’s good to see them get something out of it.”
For Eagles coach Matt Bauer, who is in his 14th season at Exeter (99-52) and has grown the program from a 1-9 record in 2009 into a state title contender, the experience was gratifyingly surreal and served as a sign of the exceptional talent that has blossomed under his tenure.
“I never even considered it,” Bauer said when asked if he ever thought he’d see a FBS football coach flying into the fields at Reiffton. “I’m just thankful that I had tremendous kids throughout the years and I’m just happy they’re in my lives. And I’m happy to have this opportunity; it’s really refreshing to see great kids get noticed.”
His great kids were on full display Friday night as the Eagles dominated the Warriors (1-2, 2-4) to win their fourth straight game by 30 points or more in front of a packed crowd at Don Thomas Stadium.
Senior Mason Rotelli got the action started early for Exeter, as the quarterback scored a 76-yard rushing touchdown on the second play of the game. Rotelli finished with 72 rushing yards and was 9-of-9 passing for 135 yards and three touchdown passes.
The Exeter defense got in on the scoring early when Lucas Palange intercepted a tipped pass by Warwick quarterback Jack Reed and took it 25 yards for the second touchdown of the game. A missed extra point by Matthew Skipper kept the game at 13-0 with 7:48 to go in the first.
The early momentum propelled the Eagles to stop the Warriors’ best drive of the first half on 4th-and-16 from the Exeter 36. The eight-play drive that Warwick began on its own 39 ended with an incomplete pass and a turnover on downs.
Richie Karstien capped off the ensuing
drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, and Rottelli ran in the two point conversion to make it 21-0 with 3:36 to go in the first quarter.
“This is a very good football team we played tonight and we came out and were firing on all cylinders,” Bauer said. “He (Rotelli) made a good decision that set the tone on the second play of the game with that run. Boy, what a tremendous run. And that just brought the momentum way in our favor. And we kept the energy up the rest of the way.”
With a 21-0 lead after one quarter, Schlaffer made his mark on the game by scoring on a 53-yard touchdown pass from Rotelli on the first play of the second quarter. Schlaffer finished with four catches for 72 yards and the touchdown.
“Everything’s been berries and cream so far,” Schalffer said regarding the
Eagles’ offensive chemistry. “Our offense as a whole, I think, clicked today. I think we had pretty much every facet of our offense have a touchdown. So I think when you’re able to score from all these different positions, it shows that we’re a well-faceted offense. So I think everything clicked for us tonight and we just rode the wave.”
Rotelli threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Zach Zandier with 5:49 to go in the half. Wide receiver Carter Redding closed out the scoring in the first half with a minute to go on a 30-yard touchdown reception. Redding failed to convert the ensuing two-point conversion attempt and Exeter led 41-0 at the half.
The Eagles’ defense held Warwick to 89 passing yards and 29 rushing yards in the first half. Reed threw a second interception to Nigel Meekins in the second quarter and the Warriors failed to get into the Exeter red zone in the first half.
“Defensively, it was a tremendous effort,” Bauer said. “That’s a very good quarterback on the other side of the ball. And, we were sound in what we did.
“Our front seven is solid, but you know what the secondary really came to play. Gavin Reiking was flying all over the field tonight making huge hits, and I couldn’t be more proud.”
Schlaffer, who plays defensive end in addition to tight end, said there is a combination of elements that make the Exeter defense special.
“Heart and resiliency, that’s all I got to say,” Schlaffer said about his defense. “We got a lot of guys who put a lot of time and effort into it and this is the result that happens when you put the time and effort in. (We have) guys in roles who have played two or three years starting varsity, so there’s a lot of veterans out there. So I think it’s a combination of stuff, you know? We got guys who want to be here in and out every day working hard and the practice squad is even giving us great looks every week so I think it’s a team effort for sure.”
Karstien scored the last Exeter touchdown on a 7-yard carry with 6:48 left in the third. A missed extra point left the score at 47-0. Karstien finished with 161 rushing yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns.
Warwick scored its lone touchdown with 5:46 remaining in the game, as Colin Winters scored on the ground from the Eagles’ 2, and a successful extra point finalized the scoring at 47-7.
“I think this game will be a memorable game just because of the energy going into it,” Schlaffer said. “Coach Franklin coming was definitely a really fun moment for me. That was really cool. It’s always nice when you’re the buzz going around the school. That’s always crazy and fun. But aside from that, we were all really, really prepared for this game. We knew this was gonna be a big one for us. So I think this is one I’ll remember for a while, for sure.”