Easton Historical Stuff

[RoverNation05]

Couple regular season notes before we head into the playoffs.

Dorian Thomas finished the regular season with 1,201 yards, which places him 7th on the single regular season season rushing list. The top ten:
1. Nysir Minney-Gratz, 2015: 1,715
2. Nahjee Adams, 2019: 1,651
3. Shane Simpson, 2014: 1,535
4. Eric Thompson, 1993: 1,407
5. Juan Gaddy, 1992: 1,384
6. Juan Gaddy, 1991: 1,376
7. Dorian Thomas, 2024: 1,201
8. Brad Piperata, 2003: 1,152
9. Frank Lane, 1986: 1,150
10. Jeff Staton, 1988: 1,148

He's the 16th 1,000 yard regular season for the Rovers. From what I can find, Will Day's 962 yards puts him 19th in single regular season rushing yards. As a duo, I think Thomas and Day have the second highest combined total of 2,163 yards - only Shane Simpson and Dalvyn Reynolds in 2014 have more, with a pretty eye popping 2,450 (1,535 and 915). In terms of total season, Simpson and Reynolds ran for 3,279 yards and Ovid Goulbourne and Brad Piperata in 2003 are next on the list with 2,820 (Ovid missed three regular season games, then had playoff totals of 195, 89, 140, and 157 yards go over 1,000 for the year). Juan Gaddy/Larry Gibson in 1991, and Shane Simpson/Kyle Bambary in 2013 are the other duos to crack 2,000 yards combined.

Easton's current nine game winning streak is the 18th in program history of at least nine games. The school record is 19 straight wins stretching from week 3 in 1986 to the D11 championship game in 1987. Their longest of the state playoff era is a 13 game winning streak, done in 2004 and 1991, where they started 13-0 before falling in the Eastern Final, and stretching from P'burg in 2013 to the D11 championship game in 2014. A D11 title and a win over Philipsburg would match the 13 game streak for this crew. A state championship would put them at 16, tying the stretch from 1916 to 1918 for the second longest win streak in program history. Here's hoping.

For the record, the longest unbeaten streak in school history is 41 straight from 1921 to 1926. The more modern (post WWII) record is a 24 game unbeaten streak starting in 1966 and ending in week 2 of 1969. Obviously modern overtime rules negate further unbeaten streak records.

I said Friday that Thomas's 315 yards (revised) record was second in Cottingham history behind Nysir Minney-Gratz going for 469 against Nazareth in week 10 of the 2015 season. It's the third 300 yard game in school history, joining Minney-Gratz and Juan Gaddy's 314 yard effort agaist P'burg in 1991. Easton's total of 623 yards of total offense didnt' quite catch the 699 they posted in the 2014 Simpson/Barkley shootout, but I think it is only the second time over 600 yards of offense in a game for the Rovers, though they did break the record for single game rushing with 567 yards, topping the 530 from that 2014 game.

 

[RoverNation05]

Easton football: The 2024 Red Rovers have reminded many of past great teams and games, like Nov. 1, 1968

Easton football will host a District 11 Class 6A quarterfinal-round playoff game Friday night. The Red Rovers take on Stroudsburg with an opportunity to win a 10th straight game and advance to the …

www.mcall.com

The southeastern PA crew always gets good traction on this, Keith Groller in the morning call today did a retrospective on the ‘68 Easton-Pennsbury game at Cottingham, when they were the top two teams in the state. That was 56 years ago today. Good quotes from quarterback Barry Snyder and running back Bob Pilz, who scored the winning TD on a reverse in probably the greatest single play in Easton history.

 

[RoverNation05]

Will Day cracked the 1,000 yard barrier last night, now with 1,021 yards. They are the first pair of 1,000 yard backs since Shane Simpson and Dalvyn Reynolds in 2014. Easton has had two 1,000 yard backs four times:
Shane Simpson/Dalvyn Reynolds, 2024: 2,124/1,155
Brad Piperata/Ovid Goulbourne, 2003: 1,775/1,045
Dorian Thomas/Will Day, 2024: 1,288/1,021
Kyle Bambary/Shane Simpson, 2013: 1,196/1,109

Thomas also score his 20th touchdown last night, putting him 11th on the single season touchdowns list.

1. Shane Simpson, 2014: 41
2. Eric Thompson, 1993: 30
3. Nysir Minney-Gratz, 2015: 26
4. Nahjee Adams, 2019: 26
5. Carl Hentzleman, 1917: 24
6. Jeff Staton, 1988: 23
7. Charley Weaver, 1959: 22
8. Juan Gaddy, 1991: 22
9. Brad Piperata, 2003: 21
10. Ovid Goulbourne, 2003: 21
11. Dorian Thomas, 2024: 20
12. Ovid Goulbourne, 2004: 20
13. Jarred Holley, 2006: 20

Day is at 19 touchdowns, and a score next week would have Thomas and Day join Brad Piperata and Ovid Goulbourne in 2003 as the only pair of teammates with 20 touchdowns. The 2003 made it all the way to the PIAA Eastern Final.

Easton is now on a 10 game winning streak, their fourth double digit win streak of the state playoff era, joining runs in 2014, 2004, 2001, and 1991. The 2004 and 1991 teams were also PIAA Eastern Finalists after 13-0 starts.

 

[RoverNation05]

With Easton-Phillipsburg coming up next week, Easton announced their 2024-25 class of football Hall of Famers, who will be inducted Thursday morning at a breakfast ceremony before the game. This tradition began before the 100th game in 2006. Players must be ten years out of school to be eligible. Mike Fleming and Shane Simpson go in on their first year of eligibility. Jason Groller is the fifth player from the 2003 to make the HOF, joining Marcus Millen, Mike Apgar, Kris Bisci, and Ovid Goulbourne. From oldest to youngest.

Jason Groller ‘04, Linebacker/Offensive Tackle
Imposing middle linebacker who teamed with Marcus Millen to lead a fearsome linebacker duo for Easton’s run to the PIAA Eastern Final in 2003. Made 118 tackles and had seven sacks on the season. Key defender in stopping the potent Cumberland Valley Wing-T attack in Easton’s first state playoff win. Named third team all state linebacker by PA Footbal News and was a first team all conference pick on both sides of the ball. Athletic right tackle who helped pave the way for Ovid Goulbourne and Brad Piperata’s combined 2,820 yards and 42 touchdowns on the ground. Also an elite wrestler - he was Easton’s first ever four year starter at heavyweight, and was a District 11 and two-time Northeast Regional champion, who won 121 matches in his career, and was on four straight team state champions. Initially gave up football to wrestle at Shippensburg, but ended up doing both after his freshman year. Was an All PSAC defensive end on the gridiron, and was a Division II All American at heavyweight with a 5th place finish at NCAAs as a junior.

Tyler Greene ‘13 - Center/Defensive Tackle
Three year starter on the offensive and defensive lines who won two conference championships and a D11 title in his time as a starter. Racked up 20.5 sacks for his career, including 9.5 as a senior on his way to LVC Defensive Player of the Year honors and second team All State honors from PA Football News. Made 177 career tackles as an interior defensive lineman. Began his career at center before moving to left tackle as a senior and was an All LVC lineman at both positions. Another standout wrestler, finished 7th and 3rd in his final two years at the PIAA tournament. Three time D11 finalist, D11 champ and two-time Northeast Regional champ who won 129 career matches. Wrestled at Bucknell where he was a four year starter at 184, 197, and heavyweight.

Michael Fleming ‘15 - Offensive Line
The best Easton lineman of the 2000s, Fleming was a first team all state pick by the AP and Pa Football News after paving the way for Shane Simpson and Dalvyn Reynolds combined 3,279 yards as one of the only 2,000/1,000 yard combos in state history. Also blocked for 1,000/1,000 seasons from Simpson and Kyle Barbary as a junior where he was an all conference selection. Excelled at both tackle and center for the Red Rovers. Rovers went 25-5 in his two years as a starter, won two conference championships, and played for a D11 title both years. Four year starter at East Stroudsburg where he was the first four time All PSAC offensive lineman in school history, and earned All American honors as a senior. Currently in his second year back at Easton as the varsity offensive line coach.

Shane Simpson ‘15 - Running Back
Electric playmaker set the Easton touchdown record and is the only 2,000 yard rusher in school history. Ran for 2,124 yards and a state leading 41 touchdowns, as Easton records, as a senior to lead Easton to a 12-0 start, EPC championship, and D11 finals berth. First team all state honors from the AP and PA Football News as a senior, and was famously the EPC Player of the Year over Saquon Barkley. As a junior, ran for 1,109 despite injuries interrupting his season and keeping him out of the playoffs. As a sophomore moved to running back, and set a Cottingham Stadium record in his first start with 289 yards and 5 touchdowns against Pennsbury. Ran for 1,142 yards in eight games as a 10th grader before breaking his leg at the end of the regular season. As a freshman, set D11 freshman records with 39 catches for 642 yards as a tiny slot receiver. Teams went 46-10 in his four years and played in three D11 championship games, and won two conference titles. Set Easton career records for catches, receiving yards, rushing touchdowns and finished second in rushing yards. Single season leader in rushing yards and touchdowns. Simpson and Juan Gaddy are the only two three-time 1,000 yard rushers at Easton. Finished with 4,780 career rushing yards, 1,587 receiving yards, and 85 touchdowns. Also a state finalist in the 100 meter dash. Played at Towson, where he was a two-time All American, leading the country in all purposes yards as a junior. Also missed two seasons with leg injuries, then finished his career as a grad transfer at Virginia, where he returned kicks.