Cumberland Valley is one of the outstanding football programs in District Three history. Their (12) championships and (24) appearances are more than any other team in District 3 history.
Exeter Twp is a program on the rise. The Eagles have made the playoffs for five straight seasons. Following a perfect regular season, there were high expectations for this years post season. On Friday night, Cumberland Valley took advantage of Exeter’s turnovers and ended the Eagles’ season 35-17.
Nick Rhodes and Cole Kline led the way for Cumberland Valley. Rhodes scored on an eight-yard run and his 48 yard interception return TD as time was running down in the first half was a key point in the game.
Kline led Cumberland Valley in rushing and had an interception on defense. Cole also had a sparkling 67 yard TD run to turn momentum back in CV’s favor early in the second half.
Cumberland Valley Head Coach Michael Whitehead had high praise for his team, “They are a very resilient group and have a lot of good senior leaders….we preach to play as a team and that is what they did tonight.”
Exeter took the opening kick and mounted a drive deep into CV territory. Cole Kline ended the Exeter drive with an interception. CV then drove 61 yards and took a 7-0 led on a Nick Rhodes six-yard score.
Another Exeter miscue led to CV points in quarter one. A CV punt took a crazy bounce hitting an Exeter player. CV took advantage again. Mac Warren’s first reception of the year was a 12 yard score. With 10:46 until half, CV led 14-0.
Exeter came right back. A productive drive stalled but Nick Benz’s 23 yard field goal got Township on the board and it was 14-3 with 4:50 to go until halftime.
Exeter’s Defense stiffened and with time winding down in the first half Exeter was moving down the field. Suddenly, CV’s Nick Rhodes stepped in front of an Exeter pass to race 48 yards for a score. We went into halftime with Cumberland Valley holding a comfortable 21-3 advantage.
Exeter came out fired up after halftime. The Eagles’ defense stopped the CV opening drive. Nate Webber blocked a CV punt, and Michael Menet made the scoop and score. It was now a 21-10 game early in the 3rd.
CV turned the momentum back their way quickly. On their first offensive play after the blocked punt, Cole Kline raced 67 yards for a touchdown. CV moved out to a 28-10 advantage with 9:30 left in quarter three.
There was no quit in Exeter. The Eagles marched right down the field. QB Gabe Schappell’s three-yard TD made it 28-17 with 4:33 left in the third. For the remainder of the third quarter and into the final quarter both defenses held firm. A desperation try on fourth down failed for Exeter. It led to a CV TD with 3:01 left to ice game for Cumberland Valley.
In an odd turn of events, Cumberland Valley will host a semi-final district three playoff game next week. The Eagles will play Central Dauphin East who upset the second seed Wilson West Lawn.
One Response
CV had 3 interceptions and now has 21 on the year. CV allowed just one offensive TD. Exeter had thrown only one interception the whole year before last night. The CV defense held the Exeter QB to 4 of 21 for 60 yards while intercepting 3. Exeter managed 184 rushing yards while CV rushed for 239 and added another 56 through the air with one passing TD. All everything athlete Conner Long left with a leg (thigh) injury early in the second quarter. He is expected back next week.