Two Section 2 L-L League teams found themselves in a battle for a chance to play in the PIAA Class 5A football finals next week.

Exeter senior Jayden Zandier rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns to help lead the Exeter Eagles over the Conestoga Valley Buckskins 48-14.

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After falling victim to last-second heartbreak earlier in the regular season to Conestoga Valley, Exeter found the revenge it was looking for Friday night at Conestoga Valley.

In commanding fashion, the eighth-seeded Eagles (12-1) defeated the No. 4 Buckskins 48-14 in a District 3 Class 5A football semifinal to avenge a 28-27 loss to Conestoga Valley (11-1) in Week 9 that ultimately cost Exeter the Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 title.

The Eagles outscored their three opponents since Week 9 by a combined 151-24, which included a 56-3 win over No. 9 South Western and a 24-21 win over top-seeded New Oxford in the district playoffs.

“It means everything because we wanted to set the record straight,” Exeter coach Matt Bauer said. “I felt that these kids deserved it, and these kids went about it the right way. We’re always a one week at a time type of team, and we put our noses to the grindstone.

“We got South Western, then we came in and took care of New Oxford, and then finally, we were able to harness all that energy this week. And it really wasn’t hard to get these guys ready to play. They couldn’t wait to play.”

The Eagles will play No. 6 Bishop McDevitt for the district title next week. McDevitt beat Mechanicsburg 26-14 in the other semifinal.

PIAA 5A Football Bracket:

L-L League Finals Standings Football 2024 Season: