Friday, March 29, 2024
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Mounts dropped by Buckskins


The season-opening football contest between Ephrata and Conestoga Valley featured two new coaches - so to speak.

Gerad Novak returned to his former head coaching role with the Buckskins after being away for several years. Meanwhile, across the field, Kris Miller took over the helm for Ephrata. As could be expected, both were nervous before the game started.

"Since I don't teach, I don't know the kids that well," Novak said.

Meanwhile, Miller has the task of rebuilding a team that has gone winless for the past three seasons.

"Yeah, I'm nervous," he said. "I'm nervous and I don't know what to expect, but if they play the way they're capable of, anything can happen."

In the end, though, the Buckskins were too big and strong, and beat the Mounts 54-7 [boxscore].

Senior quarterback Grant Stoltzfus went 6 of 8 passing for 212 yards and four touchdowns, and the Buckskins rushed for 288 yards en route to the victory for Novak.

Ephrata's lone score came on an 81-yard pass hauled in by Tyler Mentzer after the ball had sailed through the hands of two other receivers - as well as a couple defenders. But Mentzer came up with the ball and outraced everyone to the endzone.

Turning points: Stoltzus hit Jose Barbon for a 55 yard pass. On the Buckskins' next possession he connected with Zach Mowrer on an 83-yard bomb, and Ephrata couldn't find an answer for the CV passing game.

*Quotable: *"You never know what to expect. After all, they're just kids," Miller said.