Five TD passes by Mason Rotelli spark Exeter to playoff win over Dover
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Exeter was the lower seed in three of its four games on the path to its first District 3 title last season.
Coming into the playoffs at 6-3 the seventh-seeded Eagles knocked off second-seeded Manheim Central, sixth-seeded Cedar Cliff and heavily favored and undefeated top seed Gov. Mifflin in the district final.
Now as the No. 2 seed and with an unblemished record, the Eagles know they’ll have a target on their backs throughout the rest of these District 3 Class 5A playoffs.
They appear fine in that role after Saturday’s 42-12 lopsided victory over No. 7 Dover in a quarterfinal at Don Thomas Stadium in Reiffton.
“Preparation is not any different,” Penn State commit Joey Schlaffer said. “We’re all aware that we do have a target on our back and that’s exactly where we want to be. Last year we knew we were good enough to be recognized this way, but now we’re up to speed on it. It’s nothing different for us.”
Mason Rotelli, who tied Rod Sarlat’s 1990 program record with five touchdown passes, hit Schlaffer for a 61-yard touchdown on the third play of the game.
The second-seeded Eagles (11-0) relied on their stout linemen, notably Delaware commit Anthony Caccese, who pushed the Dover D-line backward all night. It opened enough holes for Richie Karstien to rush for 213 yards.
Exeter rushed for 276 yards and held Dover to 46; the advantage along the lines was noticeable, as it has been all season.
“It’s really just doing your job,” Caccese said of the offensive line play. “Obviously we’ve got to work together as a whole but when each person does their job and does what they need to do, the holes open up and we make it easier for (Karstien).”
The 6-6, 280-pound Caccese, or the “Big Cheese” as he was called over the loud speaker throughout the night, also had two sacks and made multiple run-stuffing plays on the defensive side.
“I feel like defense is where you really just get to let loose,” Caccese said. “You just go out there flying and try to make a play. It feels a little less technical, you know; you just hit people.”
Karstien scored from the 14 with 8:00 left in the first quarter and Exeter continued to ride the 6-1, 220-pound senior back.
Rotelli hit Isaiah Choy for a 20-yard touchdown, Zach Zandier for an 11-yarder, and Jovan Hollis for an 11-yarder, all in the final 4:29 of the second quarter to build a 35-0 halftime lead.
After Exeter forced a three-and-out on Dover’s first drive of the third quarter Karstien darted 40 yards to the 15 before Rotelli hit Carter Redding for his record-tying fifth touchdown pass. It was also the fourth consecutive pass Rotelli threw that went for a touchdown.
Seventh-seeded Dover (9-3), back in districts for the first time since 2013, scored on a 10-yard pass from Aric Campbell to Gavin Mullins with 6:02 left and then on a 64-yarder from Campbell to Thomas Smyser as time expired.
Exeter will have to get used to being a favorite as it hosts No. 11 Northern York in the semifinals next week. If Saturday was any indication the Eagles will be ready.
“I feel like we just carried over the vibe (this season) from last year,” Caccese said. “Being the underdog and still getting it done. Now we just have the confidence that we need to go into every game and get it done.”
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Dover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
| Exeter | 14 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 42 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Exeter | Schlaffer, 61 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 10:28 |
| 1 | Exeter | Karstien, 14 run (Skipper kick) | 8:00 |
| 2 | Exeter | Choy, 20 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 4:29 |
| 2 | Exeter | Zandier, 11 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 1:19 |
| 2 | Exeter | Hollis, 11 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 0:33 |
| 3 | Exeter | Redding, 15 pass from Rotelli (Skipper kick) | 8:31 |
| 4 | Dover | Mullins, 10 pass from Campbell (Miller kick blocked) | 6:02 |
| 4 | Dover | Smyser, 64 pass from Campbell (no PAT attempted) | 0:00 |
Team statistics
| Dover | Exeter | |
| First downs | 9 | 13 |
| Rushes-yards | 17-46 | 38-276 |
| Passing yards | 192 | 134 |
| Total yards | 238 | 410 |
| Passes | 13-35-1 | 8-13-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 6-24.6 | 2-22.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 4-50 | 6-60 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Dover: Mullins 11-44, Campbell 4-2, Runk 2-0.
Exeter: Karstien 22-213, Rotelli 4-51, Paschall 11-10, Martinez 1-2.
PASSING
Dover: Campbell 13-35-1–192.
Exeter: Rotelli 7-12-1–133, Miller 1-1-0–1.
RECEIVING
Dover: Smyser 5-134, Mullins 3-20, Zirkle 2-12, Shue 1-12, Ford 1-10, Griffin 1-6.
Exeter: Schlaffer 2-72, Hollis 2-15, Choy 1-20, Redding 1-15, Zandier 1-11, Paschall 1-1.
INTERCEPTIONS
Dover: Townsend.
Exeter: Pinero.
MISSED FIELD GOALS
Exeter: Skipper 32.
