Exeter entered Friday’s Berks Football League Section 1 game at Veterans Memorial Stadium with an unbeaten record and one of the nation’s leading recruits, senior lineman Michal Menet, who will be playing for Penn State next season.
But the 24-7 victory over Pottsville did not come easily for the high-flying Eagles.
“We always expect their best,” Exeter head coach Matt Bauer said of the Crimson Tide. “And we’ve pretty much gotten their best, too.”
Yet, as in many of the Tide’s 15 straight losses preceding Friday’s setback, mistakes eventually cost Pottsville (0-5, 0-1 Berks I) a victory.
In addition to three pass interceptions by Exeter (5-0, 1-0), Pottsville was flagged 11 times for 90 yards, including a critical call in the third quarter.
Trailing 17-7, Pottsville drove 14 plays from its 31-yard line to Exeter’s 5 on its first possession of the quarter. On second-and-goal, the Tide were assessed 10 yards on a holding call.
On the next play, Pottsville quarterback Eric Wapinsky’s pass was picked off by LeRoy Longenecker, who returned it 54 yards.
“We come out and we score on that third-and-4 instead of getting that holding call, it’s 17-14. It looks like we had some momentum,” Pottsville coach Tom McGeoy said. “But we threw a pick and it kind of changed everything. We were playing catch-up from there.”
Pottsville did catch up once in the game.
Exeter quarterback Brandon Unterkoefler guided the Eagles on a 49-yard drive in the first quarter and connected with Gabe Schappell on a 27-yard touchdown pass to give the Eagles the lead.
But Pottsville answered two series later with a 66-yard drive helped by a personal-foul call against Exeter. Wapinsky tossed a right flat pass to Ian Murhon, who dove into two tacklers and the pylon for the tying touchdown with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Exeter came right back with a 58-yard drive started by Unterkoefler, but finished by backup quarterback Mike Stout.
During the drive, Unterkoefler was dragged down with a horse-collar tackle along Pottsville’s bench at the Tide’s 24-yard line. Limping, Unterkoefler left the game.
Helped by the personal-foul penalty, Stout finished the march on a 2-yard touchdown run by sophomore Nick Sarangoulis, who finished with 137 yards on 16 carries.
Pottsville then lost the ball on downs with 2:29 left in the first half to put Exeter at its 30. It was enough time for the Eagles to do more damage.
Exeter’s Chris Scott ran 62 yards on the first play to eventually set up Nick Bentz’s 21-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the half for the 17-7 margin.
“I wish he could have finished the run, but I was happy because it definitely turned the tide for us a little bit,” Bauer said.
McGeoy was happy the Tide defense held the Eagles out of the end zone.
“That was great hustle to hold them to three (points) there,” McGeoy said.
The Tide also forced Exeter into back-to-back punts in the third quarter, but Longenecker’s second interception of the game and 37-yard return set up Exeter’s final scoring drive.
Horse-collar and face mask penalties against Pottsville on back-to-back plays late in the march set up Sarangoulis’ second touchdown, a 3-yard run with 8:41 remaining.
That drive was managed by Unterkoefler, who returned to direct the Eagles despite the limp.
“That’s a really great effort by a kid with a pretty bad ankle,” McGeoy said.
Exeter ended one of Pottsville’s final two possessions with Jason Schramm’s interception, but lost a final scoring opportunity when Bentz’s 34-yard field goal bid hit the left upright.
McGeoy was still heartened by his team’s effort, including a 16-12 edge in first downs.
“Unfortunately, a mistake here and a dropped ball here and there, and the score could have been different,” McGeoy said.
Game Summary
Exeter (5-0, 1-0) 7 10 0 7 — 24
Pot (0-5, 0-2) 0 7 0 0 — 7
Ex — Schappell 27 pass from Unterkoefler (Bentz kick)
Pot — Murhon 11 pass from Wapinsky (Kol. Kleckner kick)
Ex — Sarangoulis 2 run (Bentz kick)
Ex — Bentz 21 FG
Ex — Sarangoulis 3 run (Bentz kick)
Ex Pot
First Downs 12 16
Rushes-Yards 33-225 40-134
Passes 3-10-0 6-21-3
Passing Yards 51 60
Total Yards 276 194
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0
Penalties 9-95 11-90
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Exeter — Sarangoulis 16-137, Scott 10-79, Unterkoefler 3-7, Longenecker 1-5, Beltran 1-1, Stout 1-(-2), Team 1-(-3). Pottsville — Jacoby 18-67, Wapinsky 12-42, Futchko 2-13, Murhon 6-11, Ondeck 2-1.
PASSING: Exeter — Unterkoefler 3-9-0, 51; Stout 0-1-0, 0. Pottsville — Wapinsky 5-20-3, 40, Jacoby 1-1-0, 20.
RECEIVING: Exeter — Longenecker 2-24, Schappell 1-27. Pottsville — Murhon 3-35, Angelichio 1-20, Heckler 1-8, Jacoby 1-(-3).
INTERCEPTIONS: Exeter — Longenecker 2, Schramm.