Elco picks off win

Ephrata shredded Elco’s pass defense most of the night, with junior quarterback Caden Keefer completing 18 of 32 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. But the Raiders were the ones who made the big plays on defense, coming up with three interceptions to secure a 21-18 [boxscore] win Friday at Ephrata’s War Memorial Stadium.

The biggest of the three picks came early in the fourth quarter, with Keefer on the sidelines getting an injured ankle taped. After sophomore backup signal-caller Miracle Wratto came on and converted a fourth-and-goal at the 1 to pull the Mountaineers to within two, 14-12, Ephrata had a chance to go ahead when Elco fumbled the ball away at its own 26 on the very next play.

But on third-and-8, and Keefer ready to come back in on the next play, Wratto tried to escape the Elco pass rush and threw the ball just as he was being hit. The pass traveled about 3 yards, right into the hands of Elco defensive lineman Hunter Hockley, who returned it 70 yards for what proved to be the winning touchdown.

The win keeps Elco (4-1 L-L, 5-1 overall) one game back of unbeaten Lancaster Catholic in the Section Three race and should help the Raiders solidify their hold on a spot in the District Three Class 4A playoffs. Ephrata falls to 2-3, 2-4.

Turning point: Early in the second quarter of a scoreless game, Ephrata had a touchdown pass called back because Keefer was past the line of scrimmage when he threw the ball. The Mountaineers ended up missing a 32-yard field goal and Elco put together an 80-yard scoring drive to take a 6-0 lead.

Star of the game: Elco wide receiver/defensive back Angel Zeiders had the Raiders’ first interception, and helped seal the win with a big hit on Ephrata wideout Samuel Knowles to knock the ball loose and into the hands of Elco’s Luke Williams for an interception on the Mounts’ final possession to seal the win. He also hauled in a key 29-yard pass from Braden Bohannon to key Elco’s second touchdown drive.

Key statistic: In his first game back after missing two due to injury, Bohannon ran 24 times for 80 yards and a touchdown, and completed 4 of 6 passes for 97 yards and another score.

Quotable: “He was under pressure and he tried to roll out and use his athleticism to make a play. It just didn’t work out,” Ephrata coach Kris Miller said of Wratto’s intercepted pass.

Up next: Ephrata travels to Columbia Friday while Elco will host Donegal.