Joey Schlaffer has been quite a catch for the Eagles
Mason Rotelli knows other quarterbacks must be jealous of him having a target such as 6-7 Joey Schlaffer.
“It’s something you see and say, ‘I wish had him,’ ” the Exeter quarterback said. “There’s not many of him.”
Schlaffer is one of the most productive receivers in Berks football history.
He became Berks’ all-time receiving yardage leader last week after catching five passes for 129 yards in a 38-10 win over Conestoga Valley.
Earlier this month, in a win over Muhlenberg, Schlaffer set the Berks record for touchdown catches with his 28th. He added a 29th last week.
He’s a four-year starter, at wide receiver or tight end, and is leading the Eagles in receptions and receiving yards, with 29 and 646, respectively, for the third straight season.
“It’s cool to leave a mark in that way, a lasting impression,” Schlaffer said of the records.
Schlaffer wasn’t thinking about those records before the season. He was focused on competing for the starting quarterback’s job. Had he opened the season behind center Twin Valley’s Trey Freeman would still have the all-time yardage record and Reading High’s Tony Hardy would still own the touchdowns mark.
“I knew (those records) would be out of the question if I did (play quarterback),” Schlaffer said, “but it wasn’t (a factor). I would play quarterback in a heartbeat if that’s what they said I had to do.”
When Rotelli showed he could handle the quarterback spot it freed Schaffler to return to receiver and tight end. He’s expected to play the latter when he reports to Penn State in January. He committed to the Nittany Lions last fall.
The move has worked out pretty well for the Eagles. Rotelli is the top-rated passer in the Lancaster-Lebanon League and Exeter is unbeaten as its heads to Manheim Central Friday night to play for the Section 2 championhip.
The 6-7 Schlaffer will play a big part in the outcome, no doubt. He’ll have Barons defensive backs working hard to keep up with him. Because of his size and athleticism he’s a mismatch waiting to happen anytime he steps on the field.
“Theres a reason he’s going to Penn State,” said Manheim coach Dave Hahn. “The kid is long, he’s athletic, he runs very well. He’s not your typical (tall) kid; he’s fluid. The quarterback can throw the ball up there and nine times out of 10 he’s coming down with the jump ball.”
Rotelli knows that all too well. All those extra yards after the catch — Schlaffer’s averaging 22.3 yards per reception — have fattened up his passer efficiency rating.
“He’s made my job so much better,” Rotelli said. “Anything that touches his hands are sticking to it. He’s a great receiver.”
The receiving yardage record had been on the books for 20 years before Freeman broke it last season. Wyomissing’s Nolan McCready set it in 2001, when he became the first Berks receiver to top 2,000 career yards.
The touchdown receptions record had been on the books even longer. Hardy, part of the “Air Jet” era at Reading High — when Jet Johnston was the head coach — set it in 1991.
Schlaffer ranks eighth all-time in career receptions with 112. Even though the Eagles figure to play a lot more games — at least four if they return to the District 3 Class 5A championship game, as many as six if they reach the PIAA title game — Schlaffer will have trouble catching all-time leader Nate Ottaviani. The Schuylkill Valley wide receiver had 165 receptions.
He would need 54 more to catch that record.
“That might be a stretch,” Schlaffer said with a laugh.
Schlaffer had 48 receptions as a junior, tying Alex Javier’s single-season program record. He topped Javier’s marks for career receptions and receiving yards earlier this season. He needs 294 yards to top Javier’s single-season yardage mark of 939. He had 822 last season in 14 games.
| Berks career receiving leaders | School | Yards | Seasons |
| Joey Schlaffer | Exeter | 2,262 | 2019-22 |
| Trey Freeman | Twin Valley | 2,250 | 2018-21 |
| Nolan McCready | Wyomissing | 2,110 | 1999-01 |
| Aanjay Feliciano | Conrad Weiser | 2,055 | 2019-21 |
| Alex Javier | Exeter | 1,950 | 2017-19 |
| Zach Keeley | Daniel Boone | 1,942 | 2007-08 |
| Ian Firestone | Wilson | 1,907 | 1998-01 |
| Tony Hardy | Reading High | 1,893 | 1989-91 |
| Nate Ottaviani | Schuylkill Valley | 1,888 | 1998-01 |
| Ernie Wolfe | Schuylkill Valley | 1,877 | 1997-99 |
| Berks career TD receptions leaders | School | TDs | Seasons |
| Joey Schlaffer | Exeter | 29 | 2019-22 |
| Tony Hardy | Reading High | 27 | 1989-91 |
| Vaughn Carraway | Muhlenberg | 25 | 2005-07 |
| Nolan McCready | Wyomissing | 24 | 1999-01 |
| Aanjay Feliciano | Conrad Weiser | 23 | 2019-21 |
| Josh Smith | Wilson | 23 | 2004-06 |
| Alex Javier | Exeter | 21 | 2017-19 |
| Zach Keeley | Daniel Boone | 21 | 2007-09 |
| Andy Lehatto | Wilson | 21 | 2000-02 |
| Andy Roland | Wilson | 21 | 1998-00 |
| Charlie Randall | Reading High | 21 | 1991-93 |
| Berks career receptions leaders | School | Receptions | Seasons |
| Nate Ottaviani | Schuylkill Valley | 165 | 1998-01 |
| Ernie Woolf | Schuylkill Valley | 157 | 1997-99 |
| Zach Keeley | Daniel Boone | 136 | 2007-08 |
| Ian Firestone | Wilson | 134 | 1998-01 |
| Brett Harbach | Wilson | 133 | 1997-00 |
| Trey Freeman | Twin Valley | 116 | 2018-21 |
| Josh Smith | Wilson | 116 | 2004-06 |
| Joey Schlaffer | Exeter | 112 | 1999-02 |
| Charlie Randall | Reading High | 111 | 1991-93 |
| Aanjay Feliciano | Conrad Weiser | 107 | 2019-21 |
| Nolan McCready | Wyomissing | 107 | 1999-01 |
