Exeter stopped short by Hempfield, suffers first loss
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story was produced by LNP/Lancasteronline, and published in partnership with MikeDragoSports.com.)
By Kyle Kutz — LNP/Lancasteronline
| Final | |
| Hempfield | 30 |
| Exeter | 28 |
LANDISVILLE — It was the perfect trap for unbeaten Exeter: One week after an emotional win over Muhlenberg, one week before a showdown against Conestoga Valley.
And the Eagles got snared, losing to Hempfield 30-28 in non-league play Friday to end their perfect start.
The Eagles (7-1), ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 5A, got a late touchdown reception from Aidan Dauble to pull within two points but Leo Brown was stopped on a two-point conversion run that would have tied it.
Hempfield (4-4), coming off a tough loss to Wilson, scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a last-minute comeback victory.
Despite the defeat Exeter remains tied for first with Conestoga Valley atop the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 standings at 4-0. Those teams meet next week at Conestoga Valley.
Brown, who leads the league in rushing yards, wasted no time finding the end zone on an 80-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter to give Exeter an immediate advantage. Brown rushed for 251 yards and Exeter out-gained Hempfield 499-352.
Hempfield quarterback Derek Katch threw for 265 yards, completing 16-of-25 passes.
Senior Jayden Ware mishandled the snap on the extra point attempt but salvaged the broken play by connecting with Braylon Reinert on a desperation throw to stake an 8-0 lead.
Black Knights senior Orion Abrams, the league leader in receiving yards and receptions, soon responded by reeling in a 14-yard Katch pass over the middle to narrow the gap.
| SECTION 2 | League | Overall | PF | PA |
| Conestoga Valley | 4-0 | 8-0 | 318 | 63 |
| Exeter | 4-0 | 7-1 | 335 | 80 |
| Muhlenberg | 4-1 | 7-1 | 314 | 143 |
| Ephrata | 1-3 | 4-4 | 178 | 178 |
| Elizabethtown | 1-3 | 4-4 | 188 | 135 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 1-3 | 3-5 | 180 | 262 |
| Lebanon | 0-5 | 0-8 | 62 | 355 |
Early in the second quarter, the Eagles’ dual-threat passer, Jake Hafer, took to the air and found Ware on a TD connection of 84 yards, once again extending the deficit to eight points.
Hempfield answered by marching down the field offensively, allowing senior PJ Poole to catch a 7-yard TD pass from Katch and cut the Eagles’ lead to 15-14 before halftime.
Out of the break, Brown recorded his second rushing score on a 16-yard carry, putting Exeter up 22-14.
Katch dialed up another big-play TD pass for Poole, this time on a 55-yarder, to close out the third quarter at 22-20.
The Eagles’ defense then buckled down and tackled Katch short of the goal line on a quarterback keeper to thwart the ensuing two-point conversion attempt.
Hempfield assumed control with two quick scores in the fourth. Senior kicker Brady Biscoe nailed a 37-yard field goal attempt and Poole returned a clutch red-zone interception 77 yards for a TD.
Hafer connected with Dauble on a 34-yard TD pass later in the quarter, trimming the Knights’ lead to 30-28, but the Eagles could get no closer.
The Knights’ entire defensive line swarmed to Brown during Exeter’s two-point try and tackled the senior shy of the end zone to ice the game.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Exeter | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 28 |
| Hempfield | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 30 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Exeter | Brown, 80 run (Reinert, pass from Ware) | |
| 1 | Hempfield | Abrams, 14 pass from Katch (Biscoe kick) | |
| 2 | Exeter | Ware, 84 pass from Hafer (Franek kick) | |
| 2 | Hempfield | Poole, 7 pass from Katch (Biscoe kick) | |
| 3 | Exeter | Brown, 16 run (Franek kick) | |
| 3 | Hempfield | Poole, 55 pass from Katch (run failed) | |
| 4 | Hempfield | Biscoe, 37 FG | |
| 4 | Hempfield | Poole, 77 interception return (Biscoe kick) | |
| 4 | Exeter | Dauble, 34 pass from Hafer (pass failed) |
Team statistics
| EXETER | HEMPFIELD | |
| First downs | 17 | 16 |
| Rushes-yards | 37-273 | 19-87 |
| Passing yards | 226 | 265 |
| Total yards | 499 | 352 |
| Passes | 7-16-1 | 16-25-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 1-1 |
| Punts-average | 3-31 | 2-41 |
| Penalties-yards | 10-95 | 3-40 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Exeter: Brown 32-251, Hafter 4-26, Ware 1-(-4).
Hempfield: Talbott 3-46, Katch 10-23, Abrams 3-11, Rice 3-7.
PASSING
Exeter: Hafer 7-16-1–226.
Hempfield: Katch 16-25-1–265.
RECEIVING
Exeter: Ware 4-159, Dauble 2-44, Reinert 1-23.
Hempfield: Caban 5-124, Poole 5-84, Abrams 5-47, German 1-10.
INTERCEPTIONS
Exeter: Ware.
Hempfield: Poole.
