Eagles take out frustrations on Bears in 56-8 win (updated)
The Exeter Eagles had to vent their frustrations after a heartbreaking season-opening loss.
The Boyertown Bears were the ones to take the brunt of that.
Colin Payne ran for a score and threw for two and the Eagles scored touchdowns on seven of their first eight possessions in a 56-8 non-league win Friday at Boyertown .
The Eagles (1-1) scored five TDs in the second quarter and led 49-0 at halftime.
“I’m very pleased with the way our kids came out and played,” said Exeter coach Matt Bauer. “They were very disheartened with the way things turned out last Saturday (against Central York). We challenged them, and they took their frustration out on somebody else. They came out and met the challenge, for sure.”
The Eagles lost to Central York 35-28; they were inside the 10 in the final minute, and they threw into the end zone on the final play, but the pass was incomplete.
There were no such issues Friday.
Junior Messiah Robinson, getting his first extended chance at running back, scored on a 45-yard TD less than two minutes into the game. He finished with 96 yards on 13 carries.
Senior Cabraun Woody rushed for a game-high 113 yards on 12 carries, and scored on a 35-yard run.
They were taking over for lead back Eric Nangle, who was kept out with a sore shoulder.
Exeter piled up 495 total yards, 271 on the ground. They averaged 7.1 yards per carry.
“Our offensive line is definitely the heart and soul of our unit,” said Bauer. “If we can control the line of scrimmage we have a pretty good chance of being successful.”
Payne completed 6-of-8 passes for 224 yards; he went 16 yards for a score on his only carry. He threw a 65-yard TD to Jacob Wolfe and an 88-yarder to J.R. Strauss.
Payne has thrown for 517 yards and five touchdowns in two games.
“It’s wonderful to see him becoming more comfortable in the role,” said Bauer. “The kids really rally around him. His decision-making’s getting better and better. It’s just really a good feeling to see him have some success for all the time and patience he’s put in.”
Ty Yocum had a pair of first-half TDs for the Eagles, on runs of 4 and 5 yards.
Mikey Moser was good on all eight PAT attempts.
Leo Egbe led the Bears (1-1) with 91 rushing yards on 10 carries.
Anthony Panarello scored on a 12-yard run and added the two-point conversion for the Bears’ only scores, midway through the final quarter.
The Bears are at state-ranked Wyomissing next Saturday at 1:30.
Things get a little tougher for the Eagles next week when they play Wilson for the first time.
“They’re a great football team, with a storied history,” Bauer said. “We’re excited to have this opportunity. Obviously they’re going to come out ready to avenge what happened to them last night and try to take it out on us. We have to be up to the challenge.”