For all its formations, strategy and planning, football games are won or lost by executing fundamentals. Sometimes it comes down to winning individual match ups and making fewer mistakes than the other guy.

That’s what the Emmaus offensive line did on their final drive of the game last Friday against Easton, running the clock out with superb blocking on a 13-play, 58-yard drive that consumed 6:42 to run out the clock to preserve a 30-28 win Easton at East Penn School District Stadium. The win kept Emmaus (5-0) as one of only two undefeated teams on the EPC South along with Freedom.

After a 46-yard touchdown pass from Easton quarterback Nate Nimeh to Nahjee Adams that brought the Rovers to within two points. Emmaus coach Harold Fairclough opted to use good old-fashioned smash mouth football to put Easton (4-1) away with a steady diet off guard, off-tackle and sweeps to consistent parcels of football real estate.

Fairclough saw that the Red Rover defense was slowly wearing down and noticed Easton defenders standing out there with their hands on their hips.

“On the sidelines we (the coaching staff) told the kids ‘number one we have to close out,’” said Fairclough. “First we have to slow the tempo down. We kept saying we need to slow the tempo down and close the game out.”

The Emmaus offensive line did just that, pushing the larger Easton defensive line off the line of scrimmage on many of the plays.

“It starts with a mentality that when you step on the field you’re going to be more physical,” Fairclough said. “We wanted to physically beat them up and wear them down.”

Fairclough credits offensive line coach Mark Sicily for preparing his troops. Not only does the offensive line have a tough mentality, the coach says Sicily is a detail-oriented coach who harps on the details and teaches the techniques of blocking each day on the practice field.

“The offensive line just did an awesome job executing,” Fairclough said.

Running back Lubens Myers continued to show why he is one of the best running backs in the Lehigh Valley. He gained 143 yards on 21 rushes and one touchdown, reading his blocks well, using his cutback ability and blazing speed to give Rover defenders problems all night.

The Hornet rushing attack was bolstered by a superlative effort from Brandon Camire, who gained 114 yards on just nine carries and scored what turned out to be the winning touchdown on a 23-yard run in the fourth quarter.

“Lubens is just a physical runner for his size,” Fairclough said, adding that Camire has great speed all the Hornet running back are very unselfish.

The Hornets welcomed back Sone Ntoh for the first time in three weeks after he suffered an injury during the season’s second game. His presence was valuable as it kept Easton defenders unable to key on Myers, Camire or quarterback Ethan Parvel.

Ntoh averaged over five yards per rush on just eight carries

“Sone is our power runner,” Fairclough said.

In total, the Hornet rushing attack gobbled up 346 yards.

Parvel used his passing game sparingly but effectively, the senior quarterback completed nine of 17 passes for 114 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His 64-yard touchdown pass to Izaiah McPherson in the first quarter got Emmaus even at 7-7 after Easton running back Harold Reynolds went over from two yards out to open the scoring.

Reynolds was held to 35 yards on 13 carries thanks to another strong performance from the Emmaus defensive line.

Easton’s passing game was another matter. The Hornets struggled to contain Nimeh, completed 11 of 21 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Dunlap hauled in five passes for 133 yards and one score.

Nimeh tossed up a key second half interception and the Red Rovers also relinquished a fumble in that frame.

Emmaus also played well on special teams. The Hornets recovered two short pop-up kicks which led to 13 points. Fairclough said the Hornets focused on the kicks during the week, and played to the strengths of kicker Alex Orlando, who does not consistently kick the ball to the end zone. Orlando is better at sailing the ball high in the air, and during the week the Green Hornets practiced recovering the ball.

“Coach Keith Brader does a very good job with our special teams,” Fairclough said.