The Emmaus football team utilized a prodigious running attack and zealous defense to overwhelm the Liberty Hurricanes 35-0 last Friday night at Bethlehem Area School District Stadium.

The victory - Emmaus’ third shutout of the season - improved the Hornets’ record to 6-1 in the East Penn Conference and overall, and keeps hopes of an EPC South Division title a realistic goal. Liberty dropped to 1-5 in league and overall play.

“Getting a win in this league is tough,” said Emmaus coach Harold Fairclough. “We’ll take it, but there are a few things we have to clean up.”

Emmaus smashed its way to 427 yards of total offense, with 228 of those coming on 38 rushes producing four of the team’s five touchdowns.

Quarterback Josiah Williams opened the scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 Emmaus lead in the first period. Williams had another good night passing, completing half of his tosses (8-of-16) for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Hornets’ next score came courtesy of Jared Groller, who is “someone who can definitely play at the next level,” according to Fairclough. Groller’s score came after an Emmaus drive featuring several Groller runs. At the Liberty 32, Groller took a Williams handoff, took a step toward the middle of the line and quickly broke to his right following a pulling guard off right tackle and a fullback providing wedge blocking. Groller then did some nifty running and carried a few Hurricane defenders before he was hauled down at the Liberty 16.

Two plays later Groller again carried the mail from the Liberty 13. On this play Groller took a handoff from Williams and darted around left end. Showing acceleration and strength, Groller was tackled after a seven-yard gain at the Liberty six.

The scoring run displayed Groller’s cut-back ability. Following two pulling guards to his right, Groller saw daylight at the scrimmage line, cut to his left and exploded straight ahead, breaking an arm tackle at the one-yard line as he fell into the end zone. After a successful point after try, Emmaus led 14-0 as the first quarter ended.

Sam Moratori was next to put his name in the score sheet when he scored a touchdown on a 50-yard run for a 21-0 second quarter lead, which remained the same at halftime.

Groller wasn’t finished for the night and lodged the next Hornet touchdown, this one a two-yard run in the third quarter for a 28-0 lead. This touchdown run was one of strength. This time Liberty’s defense penetrated into the Emmaus backfield and hit Groller at the three. Groller would not be denied and broke the tackle and plowed straight ahead. Thanks to just enough blocking and his own momentum, Groller managed to make it into the end zone.

The final touchdown came in the fourth quarter on a 51-yard pass from Williams to Jaiden Robinson.

Defensively, Emmaus kept the Liberty offense stuck in neutral all game. The Hurricanes ran just 35 offensive plays, accumulating a paltry 115 yards and amassing just seven passing yards.

“They’re doing a great job, but there’s room for improvement,” said Fairclough.