Easton (PA) HS Football Juggernaut

[ngineer]

Last night in Easton's venerable Cottingham Stadium, the Easton Red Rovers rolled up 704 yards of offense, (537 rushing), to beat a strong and undefeated Whitehall HS team, 63-49! I never saw so much offense in a 48 minute high school game. The game, as played from the LOS, was a mismatch; however, Whitehall scored three TDs on kickoff returns and one on a defensive fumble return. Whitehall, who had stunned perennial power Parkland the week before, was lead by Saquon Barkley, a recent commit to Penn State. He was 'held' to 113 yards. His counterpart in Easton, Shane Simpson, rushed for 277 on just 21 carries and caught 60 yards of passes while scoring 7 TDs. No word on whether he college bound, but what a performance. If you get a chance to see the video of this game I strongly recommend. Highly entertaining. Was on RCN cable TV and is being re-run today and/or tomorrow.

[melloware13]

But due to the Zephyrs getting 49 points, they're no longer the best defense in the EPC. However, Stroudsburg is aided by the rest of the old MVC schools being terrible.

[ngineer]

But due to the Zephyrs getting 49 points, they're no longer the best defense in the EPC. However, Stroudsburg is aided by the rest of the old MVC schools being terrible.

Not sure about that. Depends on how you measure defense. Zephs scored only 21 points against the 'defense'. Special teams scored 21 points, and the defense scored 7 points on the offense. Based on how much better Easton held Whitehall's offense, having seen Parkland shredded the week before, I am not sure who is better.

[ngineer]

Easton still rolling undefeated at 8-0. Shane Simpson with 246 yards rushing, another 500+ yards of offense. Bethlehem Freedom up next at 7-1.

[ngineer]

Rovers continue to roll...over 7-1 (now 7-2) Bethlehem Freedom, 47-27 and not that close as the fourth quarter resulted in Easton's second/third string playing most of the quarter and giving up 21 points in the last 8 minutes. Shane Simpson continued his routine with 235 yards on 24 carries...right on his 9.9 yards/carry this season. Easton had almost 400 yards on the ground! Last regular season game next week against backyard rival Nazareth before District Playoffs begin.

[ngineer]

Rovers finish undefeated with 53-14 trampling of backyard rival Nazareth. Now await PA District playoffs hosting Pleasant Valley Friday. Mercy rule was in effect in the second quarter.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Is there any hope they beat one of the Philly Catholic schools in the state playoffs? It's amazing how little success Easton has had in the state playoffs (I know their game against P-Burg hurts). I still remember their team in the early 90's that was led by Juan Gaddy (who went to Temple). That team was ridiculously good iirc. I'm pretty sure they lost a state playoff game at Lehigh...

[ngineer]

Is there any hope they beat one of the Philly Catholic schools in the state playoffs? It's amazing how little success Easton has had in the state playoffs (I know their game against P-Burg hurts). I still remember their team in the early 90's that was led by Juan Gaddy (who went to Temple). That team was ridiculously good iirc. I'm pretty sure they lost a state playoff game at Lehigh...

Yes, that is always the problem having to play 3 games in 8 days. The bane of the PA state playoffs and be damned about the old Thanksgiving traditional games. Easton refuses to do away with the traditional game, but it's asking an awful lot of the kids. I am still against the playoffs. In a state as big as PA, playoffs are meaningless. The participants still get in based upon polls and 'formulas'. And Phillipsburg, NJ is a very good team as well. This Easton team is better, imo, than the Gaddy-led Rovers of the '90's. More balance. They have several kids who can run, their passing game is decent, and the OL is formidable. PL schools looking at a couple --center and tackle. TB can't get admitted to a PL school, but he's a great runner. Defense has been fairly stout over the year. "held" Barkley of Whitehall to 125 yards--lowest production of his great season.

- - - Updated - - -


Is there any hope they beat one of the Philly Catholic schools in the state playoffs? It's amazing how little success Easton has had in the state playoffs (I know their game against P-Burg hurts). I still remember their team in the early 90's that was led by Juan Gaddy (who went to Temple). That team was ridiculously good iirc. I'm pretty sure they lost a state playoff game at Lehigh...

Yes, that is always the problem having to play 3 games in 8 days. The bane of the PA state playoffs and be damned about the old Thanksgiving traditional games. Easton refuses to do away with the traditional game, but it's asking an awful lot of the kids. I am still against the playoffs. In a state as big as PA, playoffs are meaningless. The participants still get in based upon polls and 'formulas'. And Phillipsburg, NJ is a very good team as well. This Easton team is better, imo, than the Gaddy-led Rovers of the '90's. More balance. They have several kids who can run, their passing game is decent, and the OL is formidable. PL schools looking at a couple --center and tackle. TB can't get admitted to a PL school, but he's a great runner. Defense has been fairly stout over the year. "held" Barkley of Whitehall to 125 yards--lowest production of his great season.

[ngineer]

It continues as the Red Rovers dominated Bethlehem Freedom, 28-0, in the District XI semi-finals. Beat the Patriots 47-27 in the regular season. Simpson, again, with over 200 yards on the ground, now with almost 1,900 for the season. Easton, now 12-0, faces Parkland (9-2), again, in the District Finals next Saturday at Easton's Cottingham Stadium. Disappointing crowd at Cottingham on behalf of Bethlehem. Their first appearance in the playoffs since 2009 and the visitor stands were half empty. SMH.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Easton lost to Parkland 13-10 tonight in the opening round of state playoffs. Easton for all their success really struggles when it matters. They might be the most "unclutch" high school football program in the state.....

[MR. CHICKEN]

20114.........THUD!

[OhioHen]

Now they can focus on the game that REALLY matters - Phillipsburg on Thanksgiving Day.

[ngineer]

Now they can focus on the game that REALLY matters - Phillipsburg on Thanksgiving Day.

There may be something to that, though I think the major problem is having to play a very tough Parkland team a second time. Parkland was the only team to 'push' Easton in the regular season, losing 28-21. The conference is very tough and one team does not typically dominate the way Easton did this year. Even in the District Championship game with Parkland they had three times as many yards, but couldn't make "the" play when it mattered. Both schools' coaches are very seasoned and have been around for years, and the low scoring result was not unexpected. Having beaten Parkland earlier in the year, with Phillipsburg on the Turkey horizon, may have affected the kids focus, regardless the amount of preaching the coaches can do. 15-18 year old kids are unpredictable. This is a very talented team with a number of kids being recruited. Too bad an excellent season, will not be the 'special' season everyone hoped.