The 2026 regular season had been a roller coaster ride for the Emmaus High School football team through the first six weeks.

That trend continued this past week for the Hornets as they lost in heartbreaking fashion on a last second touchdown, falling to Whitehall 28-27 last Friday night in an Eastern Pennsylvania Conference Lehigh Division game at East Penn School District Stadium.

After dropping the first two games of the regular season, Emmaus responded by winning its next two. But the Hornets then fell in their next two contests.

The latest one, last Friday night, was of the most heartbreaking fashion as the Zephyrs (6-1 overall, 4-0 EPC) completed a six-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone on third down with just a couple of seconds remaining.

Emmaus started off fast and outscored Whitehall 14-7 in the opening quarter.

The teams each scored touchdowns and converted extra points in the second quarter as the Hornets led 21-14 at halftime, but the Zephyrs added a touchdown in the third quarter and kept the hosts off the scoreboard to tie the score after three. Both teams would find the endzone in the fourth quarter, once each, but after the Emmaus touchdown, the extra point attempt would fail. That loomed large as after Whitehall converted that late touchdown, it was successful on the try.

Kellen Hafner threw for 74 yards and a touchdown, the pass going to Anthony Attar. Attar also rushed for 67 yards and a score. Javier

Santos had the big night for the hosts, rushing for 166 yards on 17 carries and tallied two touchdowns.

Defensively, Legend Vasquez led the unit with 11 tackles. Shane Leyden tallied seven tackles and Mason Lenig had six.

Emmaus, which is now 2-5 overall and 1-3 in the conference, plays Dieruff at J Birney Crum Stadium this Thursday. There are three games left in the regular season and the Hornets have to win all three to qualify for the District 11 tournament. The other two games are against Allen and Parkland.