The special teams and defense got it started for the Hornets last Thursday. The offense kept it going in a 58-0 season opening win over Allen at East Penn School District Stadium.

“We came into the game with the goal of not giving up any first downs and keeping the shut out and that’s what we did,” said Emmaus linebacker Connor Carter. “I’m super happy with our special teams too. We did a really good job getting a safety as the first points of the year. That helped us get our momentum and get our feet under us.”

Carter, who had eight tackles in the game, including two for loss, led a defense that allowed just 31 yards and held the Canaries to just one first down through most of the game.

Allen was unable to move the ball past midfield until its last possession of the game.

“It’s great to get a shut out week one,” said Hornet head coach Harold Fairclough. “That’s awesome. We’re capable of playing downhill, fast, smart and aggressive.”

Emmaus started the scoring when Aiden Dougherty came off the edge to block an Allen punt that rolled out of the end zone for a safety.

After the ensuing free kick, Brandon Camire took a first-down handoff up the middle for a 62-yard touchdown and a 9-0 with 6:53 left in the first quarter.

The Hornets scored on each of their next five possessions to take a 44-0 halftime lead.

Camire scored three more times in the first half and once more in the second half. He scored on runs of eight and 36 yards and caught TD passes from quarterback Jake Fotta for a 6-yard touchdown late in the first half and a 56-yard score early in the second half.

“We performed very well,” said Camire about the win. “There’s definitely stuff we can clean up and definitely stuff I can clean up personally.”

Fotta added a 38-yard touchdown run and Jared Groller scampered in from six yards out in a second quarter that saw Emmaus put up 28 points and stretch it’s lead to 44-0 at halftime.

Talik Jarvis capped Emmaus’s scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Hornet kicker Alex Orlando went 7-for-7 on extra point kicks in the game and David Iobst booted the final extra point through in the fourth quarter.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” said Fairclough. “We have a young team with a young quarterback and young guys up front on both sides of the ball. I thought we did a good job offensively spreading the ball around a little bit. It’s a good start.”

After months of uncertainty, the teams were happy to be out on the field playing a game. It was the first regular season varsity game on the new turf field that the school district and Lehigh Valley Health Network provided for the athletes.

“It was awesome,” said Fairclough. “They were happy to be here, happy to be out on the turf. It was a good night overall.”