The Emmaus football (6-0, 5-0 EPC) juggernaut continued its march toward the postseason with a resounding 51-14 victory over Stroudsburg (3-3) last Friday night at East Penn School District Stadium.

In a galaxy of offensive stars, the brightest on this night was quarterback Jake Fotta. The Green Hornet gunslinger was firing and firing on target, hitting 15-of-23 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for another score. The third of his touchdown passes - a 38-yarder to brother Chase Fotta - forged a 35-0 lead in the second quarter.

“That’s something I know they’ve been waiting to do,” Fairclough said of the brother combination. “It’s been a long time in coming.”

Emmaus has no doubt established they are an EPC and District 11 powerhouse this season. This game further cemented that statement, as coach Harold Fairclough’s squad destroyed the Mounties in every football category. Emmaus has been a consistent winner under Fairclough and every year has been in the mix for a district title. If anything was missing from past teams it may have been in the trenches.

Not anymore. The ‘22 Hornets rarely get pushed around to compliment the usual skill position talent. The combination has made Emmaus deadly.

“I’m pleased with our offensive production,” Fairclough said. “We’re doing a real good job of spreading the ball around.”

Last Friday night the Hornets slammed Stroudsburg, gaining 469 yards of total offense while surrendering just 142. The Hornets jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the opening stanza, as Jake Fotta hit Chase Fotta from 25 yards out for the first of their two scoring connections. After a Tylik Jarvis 21-yard touchdown run, Jake Fotta found Jackson Lake for a six-yard score.

In the second quarter, Jarvis again found the end zone, this time on a nifty 33-yard run for a 28-0 advantage. Jarvis has to be considered one of the top EPC runners. In this game he was completely unstoppable, gaining 93 yards on only six carries with the two scores. Dylan Darville led all receivers with four catches for 71 yards.

While the Hornet offense was going wild, the defense was working over the Mountaineers’ offense.

In addition to technique, defensive football is about responsiveness and intensity. The ability to shed blocks requires training, strategy and skill. But diagnosing the play and then having the desire to pop somebody is what defensive football is about. Emmaus’ defense has displayed these characteristics during their superlative ‘22 campaign. Aidan Garrett led the team with seven tackles, while Ryan DeJohn and John Wassel registered four each.