Coming into the season, the Emmaus football team faced a number of challenges in replacing a senior-laden class from a year ago.

Things didn't get any easier throughout 2014, as a number of injuries and off-the-field issues to a few key playmakers made the uphill battle even more difficult.

But with a 63-man roster that head coach Randy Cuthbert estimates has over 50 underclassmen, the Hornets showed resilience in their postseason run. After qualifying for the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Hornets advanced to the championship game before coming up a touchdown and a two-point conversion short against Liberty last Friday.

"We ended up being the youngest team I ever had," Cuthbert said. "We're going to have almost 30 returning letterman next year. We were really, really young. All things considered, our kids worked hard and improved.

"They kind of developed a toughness, and they kept fighting. We were really forced to adapt to what we were doing, especially on offense, because of the skills of the kids we had."

The biggest adjustment on offense was out of the backfield, as the Hornets implemented a rhino package that featured fullback Andy Davidson. That switch came midway through the season in the midst of those injuries, and the Hornets never looked backed.

Week after week, Davidson added to his staggering rushing total to finish the season with 2,042 yards on 318 attempts. He averaged 6.4 yards per carry and scored 26 touchdowns.

"He was playing great all year," Cuthbert said. "But when we lost all of our tailbacks, we put Andy in and two other fullbacks into the backfield, and we just started giving them the ball.

"Once we got the ball in his [Davidson's] hands, he was a natural. There are so many great players in our league, but I don't think anybody meant more to their team than he did, just because of everything he did."

On defense, Davidson recorded 94 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.

While Davidson got virtually all of the scoring opportunities, the Hornets' offensive line, which had to replace five seniors from last year, began to thrive in the final half of the season.

Center Brett Poling, guards Eric Miller and Richie Roman, and tackles Zach Muller and Jared Romig put together a strong performance to end 2014, as did the team's tight ends, Kyle Carraher and Tom Wagner.

"Those are the guys you don't read about," Cuthbert said. "The front for us on offense was a big plus for us. The fact that so many of those guys are back, I think it's going to help us a lot next year."

Featured in the rhino package with Davidson were Sal Pagano, Alex Minnich and Daniel Velasco. While each had his own opportunities out of the backfield, their main obligation was to open up seems up front for Davidson, last season's Co-Defensive Most Valuable Player in the Lehigh Valley Conference.

Pagano ran for 160 yards on 30 carries. Minnich added 107 on 23 touches. Kyle Boney ran for 436 and five touchdowns before being sidelined with an injury. Tailback Wyl Miller was second on the Hornets in carries (74), yards (712) and rushing scores (9) before he was dismissed from the team.

"Those guys [Pagano and Minnich] were both up backs in our rhino package blocking for Andy," Cuthbert said. "It was kind of an unheralded position, but they did a great job."