Here’s a replay the Exeter Eagles can’t wait to watch

By Mike Drago Last updated Nov 16, 2024

Exeter players celebrate, thinking they've taken the lead against Conestoga Valley. (Purdon Photo/Brad Drey)

2024 Berks football coverage presented by

Utilities Employees Credit Union

Carter Redding was in disbelief. One moment he and his Exeter teammates were celebrating a go-ahead score in the final minute against Conestoga Valley . . . the next they had the rugged pulled out from under them, their perfect season flipped upside down.

“I watched the film a couple times,” the senior wide receiver said. “(I) hated every time I watched it.”

The video replay never changes: Jayden Zandier dives over the goal line for a two-point conversion. The officials didn’t see it. They ruled he didn’t score and Conestoga Valley’s 28-27 lead held up.

Now it’s time for the replay that really counts: A District 3 Class 5A semifinal rematch, Friday at Witmer. A win will send the eighth-seeded Eagles (11-1) onto the championship, and with redemption.

To get here Exeter had to win a pair of playoff games, the second 24-21 at top-seeded New Oxford that was not being decided until Jake Franek’s field goal as time expired.

They won’t be lacking in confidence or incentive when they take the field against the fourth-seeded Buckskins (11-0).

“We’re very, very, very excited for this opportunity,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer.

That triple-adverb phrase tells you everything about the Eagles’ state of mind. They well could be – believe they should be – unbeaten, the higher seed, and playing one last game at home.

They twice battled back from two-touchdown deficits in their Week 9 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 showdown against the Bucks. They put together a drive over the final 1:23 that covered 82 yards and ended on Jayden Ware’s 15-yard TD reception with 7.8 seconds left.

They played the second half without their top two-way lineman, Naval Academy recruit Logan Wegman, who was injured during the game. They played the entire game without their starting quarterback, Riley Martinez, who suffered a broken leg in Week 7 and hasn’t played since.

Exeter players celebrate, thinking they had taken the lead in final seconds against Conestoga Valley.
(Purdon Photo/Brad Drey)

And now here they are, positioned to address the only stain on their record. Safe to say Bauer hasn’t had to say much to get his guys excited.

“I don’t think (the circumstances of the first game) needs to be played up,” he said. “Ever since that game ended, that’s been in the forefront (of the players’ thoughts) no matter how much I tried to dissuade it.”

Wegman returned in Week 10 and it appears Martinez will be out there Friday night. He returned to practice last week and was cleared to play against New Oxford, though he didn’t. Bauer won’t say what the plan is for Friday but it appears Martinez be part of the game plan after going through full workouts all week.

“Having Riley back (on the field) is a good sight,” said Zandier.

Martinez was the league’s top-rated passer when he went out midway through a Week 7 win against Muhlenberg. Since then the Eagles have patched together an offense that has seen Zandier utilized as a Wildcat quarterback and more recently junior Jake Hafer getting most of the snaps at quarterback. The two combined to throw nine touchdowns over the past 5 ½ games and the Exeter offense seemingly hasn’t missed a beat.

The Eagles are the highest-scoring team in District 3, averaging 44.7 points. In the five games without Martinez they have averaged 42.8 points (a figure boosted by a 71-point outburst vs. Elizabethtown).

“It shows that we have more than one weapon,” said the record-setting Zandier, who leads the league with 30 touchdowns. “We have weapons at every position: receiver (with) Carter and Jayden Ware, tight end (with) Genuine Stutzman, Tyler Flanders, Aidan Dauble. . . everyone gets a part.”

“Carter and Genuine and Jayden Ware, they would be the primary stars on almost anyone else’s team,” Bauer said, “and our line all year has answered the call no matter who’s running the ball.”

Having Martinez back will allow Zandier, the All-State tailback, to concentrate on what he does best.

He’s averaging 11.9 yards per carry – second-highest in the league — and is on the verge of a 2,000-yard season.

If the Eagles win they will match the program record for victories in a season and play for a district championship for the third time in four years.

“We took it game by game from the beginning,” Redding said. “Get through South Western (in the first round). Get through New Oxford. (Now we) have an opportunity to make a comeback and play (Conestoga Valley) again. When we beat New Oxford and it was official, we were juiced.”