I'm going to start running these out. Have been largely absent on this board thanks to a job change and a move, but I hope to provide running updates and commentary throughout playoff season. It's been a weird year in D11, with incredible parity and no real standout team. Whoever wins in 6A is going to be a sacrificial lamb to SJP, but it should be the most wide open playoff in years, so it'll be fun getting there. Up first, Emmaus-Liberty.
The story of the year in the EPC South has been the Emmaus Green Hornets, led by first year head coach Harold Fairclough, who won their first conference championship since splitting the East Penn title with Dieruff and Whitehall in 1981. Fairclough has completely changed the personality of this year, spreading things out on offense (but staying run heavy with read-options) and attacking almost every down with a great front 7 on defense. Emmaus has the best and youngest backfield in the Valley, as sophomores Lubens Myers and Sone Ntoh have combined for 1,818 yards and 30 TDs between the two (with Myers going over 1,000 yards in the regular season and Ntoh likely to break the barrier this week or next). Myers is the home run threat, while Ntoh, at 5’10 190, is the more physical back. Myers has been on fire recently, rushing for 506 yards and 5 TDs in the last three weeks, and has scored a TD in seven straight games. They run behind an athletic and good sized offensive line (240-225-230-230-250), led by tackle Gregory Johnson. The Emmaus passing game has slowed in recent weeks, and senior quarterback Derek Sheaffer was on crutches in the second half of the Parkland game last week. If he can’t go, it’ll be junior Blake Reed. Sheaffer has thrown for 1,228 yards and 12 TDs on the season, so losing him would be a major blow. His primary target is 6’7 wideout Josh Artis. Artis, a Division I basketball recruit, has 33 catches for 538 yards and 3 TDs on the season.
Defensively the Green Hornets have the best linebackers in the conference, with Blake Reed and Noah Breidinger putting up huge numbers in Fairclough’s defense. Breidinger is a contender for conference DPOY, but faces probably the stiffest competition from his teammate, defensive end Kyle Carraher. Carraher, son of former Penn State offensive lineman Scott Carraher, has been on fire in the second half of the season and leads the EPC in sacks. Emmaus is also awesome on special teams, with All State candidate Carson Landis handling the placekicking and punting duties. He’s 8-12 on field goals with a long of 48 on the year.
The last time these two teams met, Emmaus spotted Liberty a 20-3 lead before roaring back in the second half to win 31-20. That comeback really started a downward spiral for the Hurricanes, who have been outscored 111-7 since taking that 20-3 lead. Liberty started the season 3-0, but is just 2-5 since, with their only W’s coming over winless Northampton and 2-8 Dieruff. Hurricane quarterback Todd Erney was dismissed from the team in early October, and seemed to take their offense with him. Running back Gunner Anglovich has 1,000 yards in his sights (he’s at 958 and 13 TDs), but the passing game has gone out the window. Liberty’s best weapon is wide receiver Darian Street (26-513-3), but a nagging ankle injury and uncertainty at the quarterback position has limited him in the back half of the season. Defensively, end Jaohne Duggan’s production has slowed since a monster start, mirroring the team’s fortune.
The last time these teams met, Lubens Myers rushed for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns, all coming in the second half on runs of 81, 80, and 56 yards. Darian Street caught 9 passes for 109 yards, but has just 3 catches for 17 yards since the Emmaus game.
This has all the makings of a big Emmaus win. It is their first home playoff game since hosting Delaware Valley in 2008. The scary thing is, just 6 of their 22 starters are seniors, so this could be just the beginning of a nice run for the Fairclough bunch. Liberty, once again, is staring at an underachieving year with big talent, but a sub .500 record.
The story of the year in the EPC South has been the Emmaus Green Hornets, led by first year head coach Harold Fairclough, who won their first conference championship since splitting the East Penn title with Dieruff and Whitehall in 1981. Fairclough has completely changed the personality of this year, spreading things out on offense (but staying run heavy with read-options) and attacking almost every down with a great front 7 on defense. Emmaus has the best and youngest backfield in the Valley, as sophomores Lubens Myers and Sone Ntoh have combined for 1,818 yards and 30 TDs between the two (with Myers going over 1,000 yards in the regular season and Ntoh likely to break the barrier this week or next). Myers is the home run threat, while Ntoh, at 5’10 190, is the more physical back. Myers has been on fire recently, rushing for 506 yards and 5 TDs in the last three weeks, and has scored a TD in seven straight games. They run behind an athletic and good sized offensive line (240-225-230-230-250), led by tackle Gregory Johnson. The Emmaus passing game has slowed in recent weeks, and senior quarterback Derek Sheaffer was on crutches in the second half of the Parkland game last week. If he can’t go, it’ll be junior Blake Reed. Sheaffer has thrown for 1,228 yards and 12 TDs on the season, so losing him would be a major blow. His primary target is 6’7 wideout Josh Artis. Artis, a Division I basketball recruit, has 33 catches for 538 yards and 3 TDs on the season.
Defensively the Green Hornets have the best linebackers in the conference, with Blake Reed and Noah Breidinger putting up huge numbers in Fairclough’s defense. Breidinger is a contender for conference DPOY, but faces probably the stiffest competition from his teammate, defensive end Kyle Carraher. Carraher, son of former Penn State offensive lineman Scott Carraher, has been on fire in the second half of the season and leads the EPC in sacks. Emmaus is also awesome on special teams, with All State candidate Carson Landis handling the placekicking and punting duties. He’s 8-12 on field goals with a long of 48 on the year.
The last time these two teams met, Emmaus spotted Liberty a 20-3 lead before roaring back in the second half to win 31-20. That comeback really started a downward spiral for the Hurricanes, who have been outscored 111-7 since taking that 20-3 lead. Liberty started the season 3-0, but is just 2-5 since, with their only W’s coming over winless Northampton and 2-8 Dieruff. Hurricane quarterback Todd Erney was dismissed from the team in early October, and seemed to take their offense with him. Running back Gunner Anglovich has 1,000 yards in his sights (he’s at 958 and 13 TDs), but the passing game has gone out the window. Liberty’s best weapon is wide receiver Darian Street (26-513-3), but a nagging ankle injury and uncertainty at the quarterback position has limited him in the back half of the season. Defensively, end Jaohne Duggan’s production has slowed since a monster start, mirroring the team’s fortune.
The last time these teams met, Lubens Myers rushed for 265 yards and 3 touchdowns, all coming in the second half on runs of 81, 80, and 56 yards. Darian Street caught 9 passes for 109 yards, but has just 3 catches for 17 yards since the Emmaus game.
This has all the makings of a big Emmaus win. It is their first home playoff game since hosting Delaware Valley in 2008. The scary thing is, just 6 of their 22 starters are seniors, so this could be just the beginning of a nice run for the Fairclough bunch. Liberty, once again, is staring at an underachieving year with big talent, but a sub .500 record.
