Riley Martinez throws five first-half TDs in Exeter rout of Lebanon
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Mike Gross — LNP/Lancasteronline
LEBANON — A power football program on a roll met one enduring historic struggles at Lebanon’s Alumni Stadium Friday, with predictable results.
Exeter routed Lebanon 55-0 in a Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 game. The Eagles are 5-0, 2-0 in the section. Lebanon lost its 37th straight game.
The Eagles came in averaging 240 rushing yards and 146 passing yards per game, and decided to address the imbalance, if that’s what it was.
And that’s what made Exeter quarterback Riley Martinez “The Man” on this night. Exeter went 73 yards in six plays to score on the game’s opening drive, five of them throws by Martinez, who was accurate on routes long, short and medium.
Martinez finished 11-for-14 for 181 yards and five touchdowns, all in less than a half. He took the rest of the night off, and Exeter didn’t attempt another pass.
“That’s definitely an aspect we were trying to improve on this week,’’ Exeter coach Matt Bauer said of the passing game. “We’re going to hit some opponents down the stretch where we may have to throw it more. I was pleased with the way Riley threw it, spread it around, and made great decisions.’’
Lebanon fumbled a punt snap on its first possession, after which it took the Eagles one play to score, Martinez to Jayden Ware, the same connection that worked for the first TD.
Lebanon fumbled the ensuing kickoff away, and the suspense, if that’s the word, was over.
Lebanon had minus-17 yards of offense in the first half. Exeter had 13 plays or 10 yards are more, in a game shortened by the Mercy Rule.
“Although it’s not the results we’re looking for, I’ll be honest with you — our kids are working their tails off,’’ said first-year Lebanon coach Tyler Pritchett. “I think they’re buying into a new Cedar culture here. We just have to keep working at it.’’
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Exeter | 28 | 20 | 0 | 7 | 55 |
| Lebanon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Exeter | Ware, 9 pass from Martinez (kick failed) |
| 1 | Exeter | Ware, 10 pass from Martinez (Stutzman, pass from Martinez) |
| 1 | Exeter | Zandier, 53 interception return (kick failed) |
| 1 | Exeter | Stutzman, 10 pass from Martinez (Stutzman, pass from Martinez) |
| 2 | Exeter | Zandier, 26 run (kick blocked) |
| 2 | Exeter | Redding, 10 pass from Martinez (Gaston kick) |
| 2 | Exeter | Zandier, 40 pass from Martinez (Gaston kick) |
| 4 | Exeter | Brown, 26 run (Franek kick) |
Team statistics
| Exeter | Lebanon | |
| First downs | 16 | 4 |
| Rushes-yards | 22-175 | 32-(-17) |
| Passing yards | 181 | 69 |
| Total yards | 356 | 52 |
| Passes | 11-14 | 5-17 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-1 | 5-1 |
| Punts-average | 0-0 | 6-22.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 6-58 | 5-25 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Exeter: Zandier 5-56, Brown 5-37, Jackson 3-27, Johnson 5-22, Odom 1-7, Prizer 1-5, Redding 1-2, Fuller 1-1.
Lebanon: Rivera 7-27, Briddell 8-4, Richardson 3-1, Griffiths 1-(-10), Rivera-Gonzalez 1-(-13), Castro 12-(-28).
PASSING
Exeter: Martinez 11-14-0–181.
Lebanon: Castro 5-15-2–69.
RECEIVING
Exeter: Zandier 3-79, Ware 3-29, Redding 2-35, Stutzman 2-27, Flanders 1-11.
Lebanon: Briddell 2-28, Griffiths 2-5, Gordon 1-36.
INTERCEPTIONS
Exeter: Zandier, Pashley.
