The Ephrata Mountaineers will challenge the Exeter Township Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Friday, Ephrata didn't have too much breathing room in their game against Elizabethtown, but they still walked away with a 20-14 victory. The Mountaineers haven't had any issues with the Bears recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Ephrata's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Malachi Knowles led the charge by rushing for 68 yards and one touchdown, while also throwing for 60 yards and one TD. Knowles showed off some serious burst, turning on the afterburners on one carry for 51 yards. Bentley Rearich was another key rusher, rushing for 102 yards and one score.
Meanwhile, Exeter Township blew past Lebanon, posting a 64-6 victory. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won four contests by 28 points or more so far this season.
Exeter Township had a senior duo take command as Leomar Brown rushed for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only five carries and Jacob Hafer threw for 168 yards and three TDs while completing 83.3% of his passes. Brown's rushing production has been exceptional recently as that marked his fourth straight game with at least 122 rushing yards. Dylan Donate made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Exeter Township was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 242 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 207 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Ephrata's win bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Exeter Township, their victory bumped their record up to 5-0.
Friday's match might be decided on the ground. Ephrata has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 174.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Exeter Township struggles in that department as they've been averaging 244.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Ephrata was taken down by Exeter Township 43-6 when the teams last played back in September of 2024. Will the Mountaineers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
