Mason Rotelli throws three TDs, runs for another in Exeter rout of Warwick
(This story will be updated later tonight with additional details and postgame reaction.)
By Mike Mitchell Jr. — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Mason Rotelli completed all nine of his passes, threw for three touchdowns and ran for a TD and a two-point conversion to lead unbeaten Exeter to a commanding 47-7 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 victory over Warwick Friday night at Don Thomas Stadium in Reifton.
The Eagles (3-0, 6-0), ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 5A, dominated Warwick (1-2, 2-4) from the start. Rotelli scored his first touchdown on a 74-yard run on the second play from scrimmage.
Later in the first quarter Exeter’s Lucas Palange picked off a Jack Reed pass that was tipped at the line of scrimmage and he returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Palange, along with Kyle Lash, had several punishing tackles to spearhead a very strong defensive performance by the Eagles.
On Exeter’s next possession, senior Richie Karstein accounted for 53 of the 67 yards on the five-play scoring drive to put the Eagles ahead 21-0. Karstein (12 carries for 136 yards) hit the holes with an explosive velocity level a step up from his usual hard, blue-collar, running style.
On the Eagles’ next possession, Penn State commit Joey Schlaffer (four catches for 72 yards) continued his fine play by catching a 53-yard touchdown pass from Rotelli to put the Eagles up 28-0.
After a Nigel Meekins interception the Eagles went 47 yards in five plays, with Zach Zandier (three catches for 34 yards) going the final 15 yards on a pass from Rotelli to make it 35-0.
Rotelli wasn’t finished. With one minute left in the first half he connected with sophomore running back Carter Redding on a 30-yard touchdown to make it 41-0 at the half.
Karstein capped the Exeter scoring with a 7-yard blast midway through the fourth quarter.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Warwick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Exeter | 21 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 47 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Exeter | Rotelli, 76 run (Skipper kick) | 11:10 |
| 1 | Exeter | Palange, 35 interception return (kick failed) | 7:40 |
| 1 | Exeter | Karstein, 14 run (Rotelli run) | 3:34 |
| 2 | Exeter | Schlaffer, 53 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 11:50 |
| 2 | Exeter | Zandier, 15 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick)) | 5:19 |
| 2 | Exeter | Redding,30 pass from Rotelli (run failed) | 1:00 |
| 3 | Exeter | Karstein, 7 run (kick failed) | 6:57 |
| 4 | Warwick | Winter, 2 run (Jerchau kick) | 5:46 |
Team statistics
| Warwick | Exeter | |
| First downs | 12 | 11 |
| Rushes-yards | 20-80 | 26-233 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 134 |
| Total yards | 211 | 367 |
| Passes | 21-35-2 | 9-9-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Punts-average | 4-28 | 2-29 |
| Penalties-yards | 6-40 | 7-50 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Warwick: Sanchez 4-36, McClure 4-32, Winters 7-16, Reed 5- (-4).
Exeter: Karstein 12-136, Rotelli 4-74, Paschall 4-40, Miller 1-2, Martinez 1-2, Team 1-(-2), Caceres 3-(-19).
PASSING
Warwick: Reed 21-35-2-131.
Exeter: Rotelli 9-9-0-134.
RECEIVING
Warwick: Snyder 6-40, Loraw 3-23, Jeans 3-8, Winters 3-7, Christophel 2-29, Evans 2-9, Cedeno 1-9, Mc Clure 1-6.
Exeter: Schlaffer 4-72, Zandier 3-34, Redding 1-30, Choy 1- (-2).
INTERCEPTIONS
Exeter: Palange, Meekins.
