It was a complete 180 from last year to this year in the 2024 regular season finale.

Last season, the Emmaus High School football team earned a 27-0 victory against rival Parkland to clinch the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference’s Lehigh Division. But in 2025, it was the Trojans that stood tall and beat the Hornets 34-13 last Friday night to win the division at Parkland School District Stadium.

Parkland finished off an undefeated 10-0 regular season and earned the two seed in the District 11 6A Tournament. Emmaus ended 4-6 and secured the final bid in districts as the eighth seed with help from Pocono Mountain East defeating Pocono Mountain West in the season finale.

Trojans running back TJ Lawrence won the Battle of Cedar Crest Boulevard offensive player of the game honors with 141 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Liam Spang had seven total tackles and was named Parkland’s defensive player of the game.

For Emmaus, running back Jay Santos scored two touchdowns and ran for 68 yards to earn offensive player of the game and Robert Edwards was named defensive player of the game with seven tackles.

Emmaus jumped out in front early, getting the first of two touchdown runs by Santos from 27 yards away to go up 6-0. But the Trojans responded with 27 unanswered points.

“We knew we were going to need to play perfectly in order to get this one because they’re a great football team,” said Hornet head coach Fairclough. “We know that. I also know that we fight when it comes to this game. There’s no backing down. The kids didn’t back down. They showed up tonight. We just didn’t make enough plays, but the effort was there, the fight was there.”

Quarterback Jerek Cooper finished with 127 yards through the air. Kai Jefferson-Rushing, playing in just his second game after suffering a broken collarbone just before the season started, helped setup his team’s opening score with a long 32-yard catch.

“Kai takes the top off the defense with his speed, and he does a great job at corner,” Fairclough said. “So, when he went down, we lost a big piece. We’re just happy to get him back and get him out here. It’s good to see him running around and making some plays.”

The Hornet defense kept the Trojans off the scoreboard through the first quarter, but the hosts responded with 21 points on three touchdowns in the second quarter, including two TD runs by Lawrence and a four-yard pass from Finn Coen to Jaren Sanchez. Lawrence added his third score in the third quarter and Blake Nassry caught a 14-yard TD pass from Coen in the fourth to cap off the scoring.

Emmaus was outgained 317-211 in total yards. Jamaad Sanders caught two passes for 65 yards.

Parkland now leads the all-time series 45-21-2. Since 2016, the Hornets and Trojans had split 12 meetings entering Friday’s game.

Emmaus qualified for the District 11 Class 6A playoffs as the No. 8 seed. They will take on top-seeded Easton (10-0) Friday night at Cottingham Stadium.