Exeter vs. Penn-Trafford is GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
PIAA Class 5A semifinal
Exeter (10-3) vs. Penn-Trafford (11-2)
Kick: Friday, 7, at Bald Eagle High School, Wingate.
Series: First meeting.
Last week: Exeter defeated Gov. Mifflin 31-28; Penn-Trafford defeated Moon 24-21.
PIAA Class 5A bracket: Click here.
Eagles update: Earned first district title, avenging 54-21 defeat to Gov. Mifflin at midseason. . . Have won six straight since. . . Won more than two postseason games in the same season for the first time. . . Had never gotten past district semifinals. . . All-League RB Eric Nangle ran a program-record 41 times for 225 yards and two TDs in win over Mifflin. . . He has program records with 1,764 rushing yards, 23 touchdowns, 20 rushing TDs and eight 100-yard rushing games in a season. . . Colin Payne completed 13-of-21 passes for 158 yards and three TDs vs. Gov. Mifflin, two of the TD tosses to Penn State commit Joey Schlaffer. . . Payne has thrown for a program-record 2,184 yards and is on the verge of setting program records for completions, attempts and TD passes in a season. . . Nangle is among six all-league picks on offense, along with Schlaffer, TE J.R. Strauss, C Kyle Helm, G Lucas Palange and T Anthony Caccese. . . Palange, at DL, is among three all-league picks on defense, along with LB Ty Yocum and Strauss at LB. . . Listed as a “Team To Watch” in PennLive.com’s preseason rankings.
Did you know? Exeter is averaging 39.7 points per game; the program record is 36.5, set in 2015.
Warriors update: Won first District 7 title after three previous trips to championship game. . . Had to survive last-second 33-yard field goal attempt. . . Wisconsin recruit Cade Yacamelli rushed for 136 yards and scored a pair of TDs in win over Moon, one on a 92-yard reception. . . He has rushed for 1,634 yards, scored 24 TDs and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. . . QB Carter Green has rushed for 1,105 yards and 15 TDs and thrown for 1,125 yards and 10 TDs. . . Green will play lacrosse at Seton Hill. . . Yacamelli is the leading receiver, with 15 receptions and four TDs. . . Lineup includes 12 all-league picks, five on offense, five on defense, and two kickers. . . Strongest unit is O-line, which includes three all-league picks: C Joe Enick, G Garrett Moorhead and T Zach Tomosovich. . . Top lineman is Declan Ochendowski, an all-league pick at DE who also starts at LT; he has an offer to play at Dartmouth. . . G Jack Jollie has offer to play at Seton Hill. . . O-line averages 6-3 1/2, 265 pounds. . . PK Nathan Schlessinger has seven fields, with a long of 48. . . All-League LB Dan Tarabella had 17 tackles vs. Moon; he leads team with 91 tackles. . . 12th-year head coach John Ruane was named Coach of the Year in Big East Conference. . . His teams have gone 103-24 over the last 11 seasons. . . Have won nine straight. . . Nine starters returned from team that went 6-2 and reached district semifinals last season, losing to eventual state champ Pine-Richland 49-14. . . Ranked No. 7 in the state in preseason.
Fast fact: Exeter and Penn-Trafford were each 2-2 after losses on Sept. 17.
Did you know? Exeter’s record for wins in a season is 11, established in 2015.
Quotable: “This is like a fairy tale. . . You had the snow, you had the crowd and for us to finally do it for the first time. . . it’s unbelievable.” — Penn-Trafford RB Cade Yacamelli, to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, after championship at Heinz Field.
Winner gets: Imhotep Charter (9-1) vs. Strath Haven (13-1), Friday, Dec. 3, at Hersheypark Stadium at 7.