In a 20-19 game with 20 seconds remaining, the largest and most energetic crowd of the 2024 District 11 football season rose to its feet with top-seeded Easton needing three yards to keep its dream season alive. Two timeouts and one schematical adjustment later, Emmaus’ defense rose to the occasion and denied the Red Rovers two-point attempt to escape Cottingham Stadium with a 20-19 win in Friday night’s District 11 6A semifinal matchup. “We wanted to take a look at what they were doing and we had one [timeout] left, thank God, and then we made an adjustment,” Emmaus coach Harold Fairclough said.
“He didn’t have any place to go with it.” Easton quarterback Cole Ordway rolled to his right and had no receivers open as the Green Hornets maintained outside leverage in coverage and the junior quarterback had to force up a pass toward Jasir Frutchey, who couldn’t come down with it as Emmaus celebrated its dramatic victory. The two-point conversion came on the back end of an unbelievable two-minute drill executed by the Red Rovers with Frutchey hauling in what was essentially a 28-yard Hail Mary into the corner of the end zone.
On a play that lasted over 10 seconds, the 6-3 senior set his feet and outjumped Emmaus cornerback Jah’Khi Daves for a touchdown that sent Cottingham into a complete frenzy. The Red Rovers took over on their own 25 with just 1:29 remaining and completed an eight-play touchdown drive with one of the plays of the season. A play that could’ve.
