In a game of big plays, the Emmaus football team made more than the Whitehall Zephyrs and earned a 38-28 win last Friday night at E.P.S.D. Stadium The victory kept Emmaus (4-0) undefeated, while Whitehall dropped to 2-3.

Emmaus was pushed by an opponent for the first time this season and handled the adversity well. The frisky Zephyrs came back twice during the contest and held a 28-23 third-quarter lead before Emmaus captured the momentum thanks to a diving, but controversial, interception by Tanner Ritter.

Taking over on their own 24-yard line, the Hornets’ Jake Fotta tossed a screen pass to Brandon Camire, who once again proved why he’s a cut above almost any runner in the East Penn Conference. Camire took the pass down the sideline 76 yards for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Camire put the game away with a 5-yard touchdown run.

Ritter was a star on this night, registering the third-quarter interception and another in the fourth quarter to set up the final touchdown drive. While the ending turned out well for Emmaus, the first half left something to be desired, Ritter said. The Hornets trailed at halftime 21-16.

“We just knew it was on us as to why we were losing,” said Ritter. “We were just shooting ourselves in the foot.”

Emmaus hit the mark early when Jaiden Robinson caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Fotta and the Hornets successfully completed the two-point conversion for an 8-0 advantage in the first period. Whitehall cut the lead to 8-7 on its ensuing drive, but Camire made Whitehall pay for its moment of glory when he returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a score. Another two-pointer put the Hornets up 16-7.

But Whitehall would not easily take defeat. The Zephyr offense created several big plays responded with a beautiful 79-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Quinn Wentling to Ryan Kovalchik to cut the lead to 16-14 late in the first period. The Zephyrs took the lead in the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Damonte Foreman for their five-point halftime advantage.

In the third quarter, Camire stung Whitehall again, this time on a 38-yard touchdown run to put Emmaus up 23-21. Once again, Whitehall refused to pack it in. A nice Zephyr drive culminated in a Wentling to Bryce Bayshore TD pass of 32 yards to give Whitehall a 28-23 lead before Emmaus stepped up.

“The second half we made big plays,” said Ritter.

Statistics did not favor Emmaus. Whitehall dominated Emmaus in offensive plays from scrimmage (79-48), total yards (433-273) and held a slight advantage in first downs (17-15). For his part, Wentling played a solid football game. He fired his rifle 38 times, completing 20 for a formidable 322 yards and three touchdowns.

But stats don’t always show the better team. To their credit, the Hornets proved poised and tough when needed. Camire scored three times in the second half in addition to his first-half kickoff return. Fotta was a proficient 12-of-21 for 142 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. In fact, Emmaus committed only one turnover, compared to three for Whitehall.

Further, the Zephyr running attack sputtered all night thanks to a solid Emmaus defense. Whitehall gained just 82 yards on 33 carries.

“I’m just happy the team came out with the win,” Ritter said.