Barons sharpen their game in Ephrata
- 04 October 2008
It was a rough and tumble first five weeks for Manheim Central.The Barons got a bit of a reprieve Friday at winless Ephrata, coasting to a 61-14 win behind Jeremy Knosp's 226 yards through the air on 13-for-15 passing, and Dan Trafford's four touchdowns.
Central, which met the likes of Lancaster-Lebanon League Section One power Wilson, Section Two contender Cocalico and Section Three power Lancaster Catholic in the first five weeks, improved to 4-2 and remained unbeaten at 3-0 in Section Two. Ephrata fell to 0-6, 0-3.
"We wanted to try to run the ball a little bit; we had a dismal performance last week, rushing for only 40 yards," said Manheim Central coach Mike Williams, whose team had 227 yards on the ground and 509 total yards.
"(Ephrata is) just struggling, they're rebuilding. I think (coach Jim Vieland) is doing a great job. They're just green and they're too young."
Knosp directed an offense that rolled up 41 points by halftime, throwing a touchdown to Casey Ebersole (four catches, 70 yards) and completing seven of his passes to Dakota Royer for 129 yards.
"I just went out there and read their defense and (saw) the open guy," said Knosp. "The line was giving me great time."
Knosp's passing set up Trafford, who punched in TDs from 2 and 1 yards out in the first half, including the first score of the game at the 5:50 mark of the first quarter. Taylor Groff kicked the first of his seven PATs.
Trafford also picked off a pass and raced 50 yards for a score at the end of the first quarter, making it 20-0 after the PAT was blocked. His second TD run made it 27-0 and Joe Gruber made it 34-0 on a 1-yard run with 3:15 remaining until halftime.
Justin Gorman ended the half with another TD run, picking up a bad snap on a 27-yard field goal attempt and running for a 10-yard score.
Gorman, replacing Knosp at QB, scooted 18 yards on a keeper with 9:38 in the third period and Trafford capped his night with a 64-yarder with 3:47 on the clock, giving him 83 yards rushing on the night and making the score 55-0.
Ephrata, held to 40 yards in the first half and 105 for the game, finally broke through late in the third quarter. Zach Sandoe set up the score with a 61-yard kickoff return to the Central 33. Five plays later the Mounts were facing a 2nd and 3 from the 6 yard line, which prompted the disreputable Mike Williams to hurry his first team back on the field to prevent an Ephrata score, but alas his ego would take a slight hit on this night, as Lance Kopp hit Greg Forstater from 6 yards out.
The Mountaineers added their second TD just over a minute and a half later when Joel Wells scooped up a fumble and rambled 46 yards untouched into the end zone.
We here at www.ephratamounts.com are proud sponsors of the Dodgeball for Diabetes tournament.