Penn State commit Joey Schlaffer opens up after District III championship

If all goes to plan, future Penn State tight end Joey Schlaffer should have plenty of memorable moments on the gridiron in the years to come, but last Friday will also be a night he never forgets.

Entering the District III 5A playoffs, he and his Exeter Township teammates earned the seventh seed following a 6-3 regular season. Not bad, but they left themselves a tough path if they wanted to reach their goal.

Wins over South Western (38-21), Manheim Central (43-27) and Cedar Cliff (42-25) gave them plenty of momentum heading into the championship game against divisional rival Governor Mifflin, but just about everyone considered them the underdog.

Every high school reporter in the region was picking future Penn State RB Nick Singleton and the Mustangs going into the game. Pennlive set the spread at +19 for Exeter Twp. Their score predictions were 41-24, 48-20, 40-18, 45-10 and 42-21, all in Governor Mifflin’s favor. Shoot, I’ll raise my hand, too. I thought Mifflin would win after I attended the regular season matchup between these two. The final score was 54-21 back in October.

Schlaffer and his teammates, who include future Villanova linebacker J.R. Strauss, wanted nothing to do with that. It was clear right from the start that it fueled them, as Exeter Twp. took a 21-14 lead into halftime. That included two touchdowns from Schlaffer, who finished the night with five receptions for 55 yards.

Singleton and Governor Mifflin ultimately took a 28-21 lead in the third quarter, but Exeter came right back, executing a long drive that got them a field goal before recovering a sneaky onside kick that led to a touchdown a few plays later. The final score ended up being 31-28 in Exeter’s favor. High school reporters across the state were talking about it all last weekend.

Penn State fans can watch highlights of both players below. I also have a Q&A with Schlaffer recapping the win, plus a few other topics.

Schlaffer and his Exeter Twp. teammates will now face Penn-Trafford in the PIAA 5A semifinals tomorrow night at Bald Eagle High School, which is about 15 miles from Penn State.

Ryan Snyder: Take me back to last Friday. You guys pulled off one of the biggest upsets in District III in the past decade. Just how much fun was that for you? Recap it for me.

Joey Schlaffer: We lost 54 to 21 to them during the regular season. It was a mercy rule game. So, getting another shot at them in the playoffs was something we really wanted. Honestly, it was a personal thing for us. The year before, they beat us good, too. So, going into the playoffs then, we had a lot of momentum on our side. Our guys really came together and played well. We didn’t want our season to end, obviously, and also had the opportunity to get some revenge on a really good team. We came together and played our best game of the season. No doubt.

Coming out of halftime, we couldn’t wait to get back out there. Having the lead on them, having a half under our belts, where we knew we were the better team during those two quarters, we were possessed. We knew they were getting the ball first, too. Honestly, they came and scored then on us twice, which rattled us a bit, but we put together another real nice drive, then got it right back (onside kick), then scored again. We knew then we had them where we wanted them. We just had to execute.

Snyder: Where have you improved the most this season? 

Schlaffer: I think I improved in a lot of areas. My attention to details, definitely when it comes to route running, was a big thing for me. Also, just playing smart, having that high football IQ. For example, I had two catches to get us first downs at important times, so just knowing where I had to be, things like that. Doing that without looking down, but really having that sense for where I’m at. That’s a big part of my progression this season. 

I also think just being a leader. I really tried to always be engaged on the sidelines. That stuff matters, especially in games against a team like Mifflin. When they were scoring on us, you gotta keep your guys from getting down, especially when they gained some real momentum on us. But really, I would say my football knowledge overall has improved the most.

I’m much more involved in our plans now and the scheme. I started as a freshman, still have a year to go, but I’ve been around long enough now to make that impact that you have to have. Asking those deeper, more impactful questions are important. It helps the whole team.

Snyder: Have you talked to Ty Howle or any of the coaches at Penn State since the win last Friday?

Schlaffer: Right after we got our medals, the first person I called was my brother [Michal Menet]. We were going crazy in the locker room. My brother was loving it and was happy for all of us. He was really proud of me and all the guys. After that, I FaceTimed Coach Howle but he was on FaceTime with my mom actually. I thought that was cool. They had a big game the next day, but he was still paying attention. So, I called him back then after their talk and it was just a great talk we had. I was on such a high at that moment. It still hasn’t completely worn off on us yet. But it was really cool of him to take that time to get in touch with me late on a Friday night before their game the next day.

Snyder: Have you talked to Nick since the game last Friday? I know you guys have a good relationship.

Schlaffer: So, I actually reached out to Nick before the game. Just saying that I wish them all the best, that I hope he stays healthy and that we both have a bigger picture to look towards down the road at Penn State. He didn’t see it until after the game, but he did respond to me on Saturday. He said, ‘congrats to you guys, for real. You guys punched us in the mouth. I hope you guys go get that state title. You guys deserve it.’

It’s always been all love between me and Nick. He was proud of the way we competed and I was always pulling for him in other games and admired how hard of a player he is. You always know Nick Singleton is going to put up a fight, no matter who’s he playing. I think we have a really healthy and competitive relationship and we’re both excited to play together in the years to come up at Penn State. I have a ton of respect for that guy.

Snyder: I didn’t get to speak with you after James Franklin announced that he was extending his contract at Penn State. How excited were you when you learned about that?

Schlaffer: I wouldn’t want anyone else at the helm. My brother had complete faith and trust in Coach Franklin during his five years there, and he did everything he could to help my brother succeed. I have no reason to ever think Coach Franklin isn’t going to do the same for me and all the guys in my class and the 2022 class, all of us. I was so happy when he told all of us what was happening and that he would be there long-term. I’m happy for him, too. He’s done a lot of good for Penn State.

Snyder: Last question. Just curious: were other schools trying to get a foot in the door with you after you committed and all the Franklin rumors were swirling? What was that like?

Schlaffer: Well, as you know, one of the big things at Penn State is that, when you commit, you’re committed. They’re all-in on me and I’m all-in on them. I love that. They’re fine with guys taking their time, don’t rush it, but when you are ready, stick to your word and we all build together. So, did I receive a few text messages from other schools, phone calls, edits, all of that since I committed? Yeah, I did. But I want fans to know I didn’t respond to a single one of them. I’m all the way in on Penn State and that’s never going to change.