Week 4 Glance: Exeter expecting big challenge from Mifflin in Section 2 opener
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It’s nice to be 3-0, says Exeter coach Matt Bauer, but it would even better if his football team had been challenged just a little before it opens Lancaster-Lebanon League play Friday.
“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Bauer said of a commanding start that has seen the Eagles outscore their opponents 106-7 in the first half and 134-7 overall.
The blessing part comes in the fact that Bauer hasn’t had to leave his starters on the field much; they head to Mifflin Stadium Friday for a Section 2 opener relatively healthy.
The downside of a schedule that has included Daniel Boone, Boyertown, and Pleasant Valley – teams that have combined to go 0-9 this season and 4-35 over the past two seasons – is that the Eagles haven’t been pushed one iota.
They’ve led by 35 or more points in the second quarter in each game.
“We haven’t faced much adversity yet,” Bauer said.
He knows that is coming, likely as soon as this week against the rival Mustangs (2-1), a team off to a strong start themselves. Hempfield couldn’t stop fullback Grady Garner last week as he rumbled for 207 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-23 win.
The Mustangs are coming off a 5-6 season but returned a lot of key pieces, including a strong front line that includes guards Presley Rinker and Dylan Worley and center Gavin Kelly. They have given Garner room to run for 395 yards and score a league-leading 10 touchdowns.
“They’re big, they’re physical and they run the ball,” Bauer said of the Mustangs. “I love their fullback. He’s a hard-nosed kid who loves to play the game. They play with a lot of emotion and intensity.”
The Eagles were the preseason favorite in Section 2 but expect to be challenged by Conestoga Valley, the Section 2 runner-up last season, and Ephrata, which shared the Section 3 title. The Mustangs were considered a dark-horse pick in the section; they have a chance to show their mettle when they meet their old Berks League rival for the 30th time.
League play kicks off in each of the five sections this week. Among other games of note:
- Wilson (2-1) and Reading High (1-2) meet in a Section 1 opener at Shirk Stadium. Twenty years ago, when the Red Knights knocked off Chad Henne and the Bulldogs twice in a three-year stretch, this was the hottest rivalry going in Berks. Things have cooled noticeably since: Wilson has won 12 straight and Reading hasn’t won in the series since 2003.
- Conrad Weiser (3-0) and Fleetwood (2-1), considered outsiders in the Section 3 race a month ago, are each off to strong starts. They’ll meet at Tiger Stadium.
- Berks Catholic (1-2) makes its Section 5 debut at home against Pequea Valley (2-1), a team that has already matched its win total of last season. The Saints, who played in Section 4 their first two years in the league, should be able to challenge the top teams in this section.
- In another key battle of Section 5 contenders Hamburg (1-1) travels to Annville-Cleona (1-2). The Hawks haven’t played in two weeks, since a 41-7 win at Midd-West. Fairfield forfeited last week’s game to Hamburg. The Dutchmen shared the Section 5 title last year but graduated most of their top players.
Exeter graduated five all-league first-team picks from an 8-3 team but the Eagles continue to re-load each year and are expected to be even better than a year ago. They are headed to their 14th straight winning season and looking for their second Section 2 crown in three seasons.
All-State running back Jayden Zandier has picked it up a notch from last season. He has six touchdowns on just 19 carries and is averaging 19.3 yards per carry.
Junior quarterback Riley Martinez has been much more efficient than last season, his first as a starter. He’s completing 71.4 percent of his passes, with six touchdowns.
“He’s making very good decisions,” Bauer said. “Last year we refined the offense, to keep it a little bit smaller for him. We’ve definitely been able to open things up and he’s been able to handle that and process through it at a fast rate.”
The Eagles are averaging 346 yards per game, tops in Section 2 and No. 6 overall in the league.
The Mustangs have been consistent and efficient on offense. They’re rushing for 251 yards per game, fifth-best in the 37-team league. The best thing they’re doing is protecting the football: They have just one turnover and share the Berks lead with a plus-6 turnover differential.
That, said Bauer, will be one of the keys to the game. The Eagles have forced a Berks-leading nine turnovers.
“We need to clean things up (with penalties),” he said, “and protect the football.”