Exeter's new-look offense makes a big splash in win

by Reading EAgles News Staff

Posted on September 3, 2006

On paper it was a match-up of Eagles. In reality it was better suited for ducks, as Exeter started its season with a splash by dominating Bishop Shanahan 37-0 at Don Thomas Stadium in Reiffton.
Exeter, running a new-look Spread Wing-T offense, got moving early in the second quarter with a six-play, 58-yard drive. Halfback Robbie Ford and fullback Brian Ramsey accounted for all the yards, with Ramsey punching it in from the 1 for a 7-0 lead.

The new look to Exeter's offense came soon after. Quarterback Chris Klusewitz, working out of the shotgun most of the night, hooked up with halfback Matt Hartwell on a 58-yard strike to make it 14-0 at halftime.

“We think this style of offense compliments our kids well,” said Exeter coach Dennis Iezzi. “On a sloppy night we executed our offense pretty well, and it was a total team effort in the truest sense.”

The Exeter defense made sure to get in on the act. After holding Shanahan to negative yardage through the first two quarters, it got on the scoreboard in the third. Ramsey, coming from his inside linebacker spot, tackled Tom Shrader in the end zone for a safety and 16-0 lead.

“Our linebackers got great penetration all night long, but that's a credit to our defensive line,” Iezzi said.

The rest of the night belonged to Ford. The senior, healthy for the first time in more than a year, seemed to warm to the new-look offense more than anyone. He finished with 154 yards and a TD on 10 carries and hooked up with Klusewitz on a 38-yard pass-and-run for another score.

“I feel as good as I probably ever felt,” said Ford, who suffered through shoulder injuries last season. “The spread offense gives us a chance to get into more space and run.”

Bob McCool


Bayard Rustin 13, Kutztown 9

At West Chester, an interception late in the second quarter turned the tide for the Golden Knights, who scored 13 unanswered points in rallying for a win in their program's inaugural game.
The Cougars led 9-0 after Tony Akers sacked Taylor Towle for a safety 2:18 before the break. They got the ball back near midfield and had a chance to put it away before halftime. Instead, Towle picked off a Jared Wilson pass and returned it 60 yards for a pivotal TD.

“It was just one big mistake,” Akers said. “I wouldn't say it cost us the game, but it was something that shouldn't have happened. It was a big self-esteem boost for them.”

With the help of a couple big blocks, Towle ran untouched down the left side. He was ill at halftime and missed much of the second half.

“He was throwing up at halftime,” Rustin coach Mike St. Clair said. “After that run, I don't think he had anything left. What he had left, he lost at halftime.”

Energized, the Knights shut out the Cougars in the second half. Kutztown buried itself in the third with a block and a bad snap on consecutive punt attempts.

Early in the fourth Rustin took the lead on Steve Hess' 4-yard dash to the left pylon after driving 62 yards in 10 plays. The Knights drove to the Kutztown 2 on their next drive, where Luke McGreevey turned it over on a fumble with 4:34 to play.

The Cougars only got to their own 23-yard line before turning it over on downs, after which Rustin ran out the clock.

Kutztown scored on its opening drive and looked dominant in the early going. Akers ran for 87 of his game-high 114 yards in the first half, but his team failed to complete a pass in the soggy weather, allowing the Knights to key on the run.

“We have a young team,” Cougars coach Larry Chester said. “A game like this, being a non-league game, is a character-building game. It's an opportunity for us to see if our sophomores are what we think they are.

“Next week against Blue Mountain will be an indicator of that.”

Don Stewart


Central Catholic 58, Scotland 6

At Scotland, Brendan Riley threw three touchdowns to lead the Cardinals over the Cadets.
Tight end Colin Naugle caught a pair of TD passes and three different Cardinals ran for scores to give Central its highest point total since a 61-6 victory over Kutztown in 1998.

The Cardinals opened with five offensive touchdowns to build a 39-0 lead before their defense scored the final three.

“Our kids played really well, considering the (long) bus ride and the (weather) conditions,” said Central coach Tom Hudy. “We scored on almost every possession (in the first half) and there was some good hitting going on on our part.”

Sean Unterkofler had a 20-yard interception return to make it 49-0 at halftime. In the third quarter, Andy Scott had a 35-yard fumble return and Billy Harner a 60-yard fumble return to make it 58-0.

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