In the regular season finale just over two weeks ago, the Emmaus High School football team couldn’t get much going on either side of the ball in a 41-17 loss at to Parkland.

Two weeks later on the same field, the Green Hornets looked like a different team when they traveled to Parkland School District Stadium last Friday night of the District 11 Class 6A semifinal.

The Hornets had the game tied in the fourth quarter and on their final possession, had a chance to retie the game or win it late, but a turnover ended the game in the Trojans’ favor, 21-14.

Emmaus quarterback Josiah Williams recorded two rushing touchdowns for his team’s lone scores on the night and finished with 62 yards on the ground on 14 carries. He also threw for 31 yards. His 15-yard score with 11:11 left in the second quarter put his team on the scoreboard and tied it up after top-seeded Parkland’s quarterback, Luke Spang, also found the end zone from 15 yards away in the middle of the opening quarter.

The score was 7-7 at halftime.

Once again, the two team’s defenses were on point as there was just one score in the third quarter as well, a 29-yard rush by Trey Tremba to put the Trojans back on top 14-7 with 7:28 to go in the third.

Williams evened the score once again on a six-yard spurt with 9:46 to play.

“He’s just an all-around great kid and a great athlete,” said Emmaus head coach Harold Fairclough of his quarterback. “He had a great game tonight and really kept us in the game, along with our defense. He does whatever we ask of him as coaches and he just wants to do what he can to help us win. It’s the type of kid you always want to coach.”

After Williams’ second score, Tremba returned the ensuing kickoff 47 yards. Two plays later, he took off on a 48-yard touchdown, and made it 21-14 with 9:22 left.

The fifth-seeded Green Hornets got the ball back two more times with chances to score points, but could not. They went three-and-out on their next possession and then, after a defensive stop of Parkland, got the ball back with 0:33 remaining, but Tremba sealed the deal with an interception.

Emmaus ended the 2023 campaign at 6-6 overall and Fairclough, even after a loss, was pleased with how his team played Friday night.

“I’m happy for our kids because we gave a great effort,” said Fairclough. “We played our butts off and just came up short against a good football team. They battled all the way to the end. They did everything we asked them to do this week. They believed they could get it done and played like they could get it done.”

Rafael Terrero had three catches for 18 yards and Cole Moreau tallied two receptions for 27 yards.