Mounts Reject Cocalico
- 12 September 2010
Andrew Burkholder measures in at just 5-feet-6 and 145 pounds.But Ephrata's diminutive junior backup running back was a giant against arch-rival Cocalico Friday night at War Memorial Field.
Burkholder, who earlier tossed a 67-yard halfback option pass for a touchdown, burst through the line with 18 seconds left and blocked a potential 37-yard, game-winning field-goal attempt by Cocalico's Kyle Felpel to preserve a stunning 21-20 [boxscore] victory over the heavily-favored Eagles.
"I was getting close to blocking the extra points all game," Burkholder said. "The coach told me, 'work your hardest, go get it,' and I did."
Burkholder's exploits not only sealed the victory but helped the Mounts capture The Ephrata Review Cup, awarded annually to the winner of this cross-town rivalry game. It also snapped Cocalico's six-game winning streak over the Mounts, who opened the season with a 35-7 loss at Exeter.
"This is huge for us," Ephrata coach Jim Vieland said of the win. "This is validation. This is what we've been talking about since Day One. If you just work hard, do the right things and keep pushing... They finally got it."
Quarterback Jeremy Franck got Ephrata off to the quick start it needed. On the game's second play, Franck carried around right end and outraced the Eagles' pursuit for a 67-yard TD run and a fast 7-0 lead.
"I saw the end crash hard," Franck said of the play. "I was surprised they didn't have a guy on me but as soon as I saw (the corner get blocked) I just saw open green."
Ephrata wasn't finished. The Mounts (1-1) took advantage of two Cocalico turnovers to open up a 21-0 first-half lead. First came Burkholder's 67-yard bomb to a wide-open Evan Weaver, then Franck (2-for-8, 47 yards) connected with Tucker Keefer on an 11-yard pass play and the Mounts were officially smelling upset.
Cocalico (1-1) did get one score back in the second quarter on a 18-yard touchdown run by Austin Hartman (24-128 rushing). Then in the second half, Hartman scored on touchdown runs of 10 and eight yards to pull the Eagles within a single point at 21-20 with 8:56 to play. Wyatt Dungan's crucial PAT attempt on the last score was wide right, however, and Ephrata still led.
That set the stage for Burkholder's heroics. Cocalico, which outgained the Mounts, 258-75 on the ground, got the ball back with 2:23 to play and drove to the Ephrata 20, setting up the final field goal attempt. After the Mounts iced Felpel with a timeout, Burkholder broke through and made the biggest play of his life.
"To beat a great team like Cocalico took a lot of heart, a lot of guts," Burkholder said.
We here at www.ephratamounts.com are proud sponsors of the Dodgeball for Diabetes tournament.