Governor Mifflin runs past Muhlenberg 49-20
SHILLINGTON>> With a huge dance looming with Exeter in a week’s time, Governor Mifflin could have been excused had it taken its eye off the ball during Friday’s home clash with Muhlenberg, if even for a quarter.
That never happened. The Mustangs played their most complete game of season with a 49-20 thrashing of the Muhls in a Berks Section 1 clash that wasn’t that close.
Mifflin’s first-team display, ahead of Exeter, was frighteningly dominant and clean as a whistle. The Mustangs had five first-half possessions and scored touchdowns on all of them.
Governor Mifflin (5-3, 4-0) rolled up 301 yards rushing against Muhlenberg (3-5, 2-2) and got three bolts of electricity from senior running back Shavan Prince. Prince had the football in his hands four times Friday night and scored touchdowns on three of them — runs of 43 and 12 yards from scrimmage and a slick, sideline tightrope 57-yard punt return.
Teammate Aaron Grill mixed in a sidestepping, tackle-breaking, cutback-against-the grain 41-yard scamper to the paint that may be the highlight run of the season for head coach Mick Vecchio’s crew.
There were no turnovers and no penalties while the first-teamers were in there, a time that amounted to 24 whole minutes when Vecchio pulled the plug at halftime sitting on a 42-6 lead.
“I think we just executed very well and we didn’t make any mistakes and it was just a good day for Mifflin,” Vecchio, the veteran head coach now in his 26th season, said. “Because (Muhlenberg) is a pretty good football team. And our kids just played well. ”
The visiting Muhls — who mirror Mifflin’s veer option attack — actually struck first, on the opening drive of the game.
Running back Kevens Duffault finished off a seven-play, 70-yard march with a 26-yard rushing touchdown. Quarterback Cody Fidler came out hot, hitting on four of his first five pass attempts for 45 yards, including a 27-yarder to brother Brady Fidler on the game’s second snap that sent shivers down Vecchio’s spine when he saw it unfold.
“It was a trick play, that we have, that I knew it was coming,” Vecchio said. “It’s in our book, yes. It was like ‘oh my God, they did it.’ I was so upset. That set the tone for the whole first half for me.”
Vecchio talked up the defense, the unit responded, and Fidler completed 2 of 8 passes the rest of the way for 18 yards.
A 10-yard punt gave the Mustangs the ball at the Muhls’ 47 next time out. It took Mifflin four plays to go the distance, capped off by Prince’s 12-yard run to make it 21-6.
A Muhlenberg fumble allowed Mifflin to make it three touchdowns on three drives. Lucas Garner covered 34 of the 40 yards on two snaps, the second of which was a 26-yard rumble to pay dirt.
Prince notched his third and final score on a 43-yard run, pushing the lead to 34-6. Later, quarterback Hunter Reeser helped put the running clock in motion after the break by going in from a yard out four snaps after his only pass of the night was good for 47 yards to Prince, to the Muhls’ 19.
“Shavan had a good night, and the run Grill had was probably one of the neatest ones I’ve ever seen,” Vecchio said. “But it’s just one of those things, guys. We were hot tonight.”
And so now, Exeter awaits. The Eagles, like the Stangs, are 4-0 in the section.
“The kids knew that we played better against Muhlenberg than they did,” Vecchio said. “Of course, Exeter knows that as well. It’s just going to be a real big game. But, we’ll enjoy tonight.”
Muhlenberg – 6 0 7 7 — 20
Governor Mifflin – 14 28 7 — 49
First quarter
M – Kevens Duffault 26 run (kick failed), 8:45
GM – Aaron Grill 41 run (Ben Myers kick), 6:23
GM – Shavan Prince 57 punt return (Myers kick), 5:10
Second quarter
GM – Prince 12 run (Myers kick), 10:49
GM – Lucas Garner 26 run (Myers kick), 7:52
GM – Prince 43 run (Myers kick), 4:59
GM – Reeser 1 run (Myers kick), 1:03
Third quarter
M – Duffault 31 run (Michael McKently kick), 8:37
GM – Jaylen Santiago 1 run (Myers kick), 6:06
Fourth quarter
M – Cody Fidler 10 run (McKently kick), 8:18
