This year the Emmaus backfield has a 1-2 punch.

The past few years the Hornets relied almost solely on one running back to carry the load. This year, sophomores Sone Ntoh and Lubens Myers share the ball and the spotlight. They combined for six touchdowns in last week’s 62-6 win over Pocono Mountain West.

“They’re two young humble kids,” said Emmaus head coach Harold Fairclough. “What I enjoy most is that they don’t care who’s getting the ball. When their number is called they’re going to do their thing. The line is doing a great job blocking for both of them. It’s a great dynamic seeing two young kids competing like that and making our team better.”

Ntoh ran for 148 yards and four touchdowns Friday against the Panthers. Myers had 31 yards and a pair of scores.

Myers ran for the Hornets’ first touchdown Friday, a 6-yard scamper on the Hornets’ first possession. Then he watched his friend run for three in a row before addding a fourth in the second half. Myers likes the two-back system even if it means fewer carries.

“It keeps us fresh,” said Myers. “He scores and I cheer for him.”

Ntoh then scored on three of Emmaus’ next five possession as the Hornets took a 27-6 lead with 8:33 left in the first half.

The two backs are close friends who work out together and compete in practice.

“Me and Lubens love it,” said Ntoh. “We use it to get better each week. If it was just one back it wouldn’t work like it does now.”

Ntoh is just happy to be on the field as a young player.

“I wasn’t even supposed to be here,” he said. “Most people don’t touch the varsity field until they’re a senior. To get this opportunity as a sophomore is just a blessing.”

Myers got his second touchdown of the game with 5:26 left in the first half on a 16-yard run. Emmaus capped the first-half scoring with a Derek Sheaffer touchdown pass to Josh Artis to make it 41-6 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.

Ntoh capped his night with a 52-yard run for a touchdown that made it 48-6 with 5:35 left in the third quarter.

The Hornets ran for 343 yards just a week after being held to just 75 yards on 29 attempts against Bethlehem Catholic.

“Last week we did not have a good game up front,” said Fairclough. “After we watched the film the linemen agreed they probably played one of their worst games last week.

“They came out and had a really tough practice this week. Coach [Keith] Brader and coach [Peter] Kreisher got on them and they responded.”

Emmaus average d 9.8 yards per carry against the Panthers while holding them to just 37 yards on 23 attempts.

The Hornets gave up 123 passing yards, but most of that came on one 80-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.

“I’m really pleased with where we’re at, not satisfied,” said Fairclough of the team’s defense. “One lapse can lead to [giving up a big play]. We just have to keep being consistent, being physical and taking pride in what we do.

Emmaus got a pair of late touchdowns from Allen Doelue and Mekhi Flannigan. Doelue scored on a 16-yard run and Flanningan sprinted 42 yards with 44 seconds left before the final buzzer.

Sheaffer went 9-for-17 with 84 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions against the Panthers. He also rushed for 56 yards.

The win leaves Emmaus as the last undefeated team left in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference and District 11 Class 6A.

The Hornets have winless Northampton next week before facing a stretch of games against Freedom, Nazareth, Liberty, Easton and Parkland.

Emmaus’ first five opponents currently have a combined record of 7-13. Their last five have a record of 12-8 right now.

“I talked to the kids about our schedule,” said Fairclough. “I usually don’t like to do that. I’m a guy who does not like to do that at all. But our kids are a bright bunch of kids. They know what we’re doing now will effect down the road. We have to clean things up. We have to get better. We just have to keep moving forward.”

The Hornet players got the message. And if they forget the message, they’re reminded often.

“Fairclough drills that into us,” said Ntoh. “We use every day at practice to get better and we look at every game as a one-week season.”