Mistakes costly as Exeter loses to Manheim Central in Section 2 finale

By Mike Mitchell Jr. Last updated Oct 29, 2023

Exeter's Zack Zandier tackles Manheim Central's Michael Torres. (Susan L. Angstadt photo)

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By Mike Mitchell Jr. — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent

The Exeter Eagles were their own worst enemies in a 42-14 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 loss to Manheim Central Friday night at Don Thomas Stadium. It was a game that was much closer than the final score indicated.

The Eagles (4-2, 6-2) committed 10 penalties for 94 yards in a loss that allowed the Barons (6-0, 9-1) to clinch the section title. Exeter could have shared the title with a win.

Exeter had a first-and-goal at the Manheim Central 5-yard line early in a scoreless game. A penalty on third down made it third-and-goal from the 10. Quarterback Riley Martinez hit Genuine Stutzman for an apparent 10-yard touchdown. However, a pass interference penalty negated the touchdown. The Eagles did not end up scoring on the drive.

“We’ve got to stop committing penalties at key times,” lamented Exeter coach Matt Bauer.

Exeter appeared to gain momentum on a beautiful pass from Martinez to the speedy Nathan Pashley that netted 94 yards and a touchdown to put the Eagles up 14-7 with 2:10 to go in the first half.

Manheim Central quarterback Zac Hahn, who went 22-for-29 for 296 yards and four touchdowns, had other ideas. He led the Barons on a 75-yard scoring drive, all through the air. He hit Bode Sipel, who had eight catches for 85 yards, with a 16-yard touchdown pass with 55 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles again hurt themselves with a miscue backed up in their own territory with the score tied 14-14 early in the third quarter. Martinez went back to pass under heavy pressure. He got hit as he threw the ball and his pass was picked off by linebacker Owen Eichelberger, who returned it 14 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

“Turnovers at key times hurt us tonight,” said Bauer.

Hahn and the Manheim Central defense went on to control the remainder of the game. Hahn threw two more touchdown passes (43 yards to Aaron Enterline and 13 yards to Xander Kolk). Manheim Central held Exeter to just 76 total yards in the second half.

Jayden Zandier continued his torrid season by rushing for 176 yards on 19 carries, including a dazzling 57-yard touchdown run.

Despite the loss, Bauer had high praise for his team.

“We got an outstanding effort from our kids,” he said. “This one is on me. When you get your kids to play that hard and you come up short, it’s on me.”

The loss likely cost the Eagles a chance to open the District 3 Class 5A playoffs at home game. They are unofficially No. 9 in the power rankings; the top eight teams open at home.

Eagles’ Jayden Zandier breaks free against Barons. (Susan L. Angstadt photo)

	1	2	3	4	Final
Manheim Central	7	7	14	14	42
Exeter	7	7	0	0	14

Scoring summary

1	Manheim Central	Enterline, 29 pass from Hahn (White kick)	2:55
1	Exeter	J. Zandier, 57 run (Gaston kick)	1:19
2	Exeter	Pashley, 94 pass from Martinez (Gaston kick)	2:10
2	Manheim Central	Sipel, 16 pass from Hahn (Greiner kick)	0:55
3	Manheim Central	Eichelberger, 14 intersection return (White kick)	7:56
3	Manheim Central	Enterline, 43 pass from Hahn (Greiner kick)	1:30
4	Manheim Central	Kolk, 13 pass from Hahn (White kick)	4:47
4	Manheim Central	Callahan, 3 run (Greiner kick)	0:16

Team statistics

	Manheim Central	Exeter
First downs	19	12
Rushes-yards	27 – 136	28 – 178
Passing yards	296	148
Total yards	432	326
Passes	22-29-0	8-21-2
Fumbles-lost	0-0	1-0
Punts-average	5 – 37	7 – 28
Penalties-yards	12 – 109	10 – 94