Grady Garner, Mustangs’ Offensive Line Lead The Way As Governor Mifflin Bullies Thier Way Past Hempfield To Score Crucial Nonleague Road Victory As Section Play Awaits

Written by: David Mika on Saturday, September 7th, 2024. Follow David Mika on Twitter.

Upon further thought, maybe this week needs a moniker or something to tag it with. Like, “Separation Weekend,” or something to that effect, yes? Alright, alright. Maybe not. But even so, it doesn’t mean that this particular week of high school football is any less consequential—corny nickname behind it or not.

As crazy as it may seem, we have not only turned the corner on welcoming back football season, but we are now riding on something more akin to a floom rather than a roller coaster considering how this journey is going downhill fast with nothing to stop it in its tracks these next few weeks. In fact, after this week, we’ll already been done with roughly a third of the regular season slate as wild as that may seem given how Labor Day was quite literally just a handful of hours ago if you for whatever measure time in that manner. And in the Lancaster-Lebanon League in particular, Week 3 is usually always one of the most important and influential compared to any of the other nine it happens to share residency with considering the entire regular season campaign. For after this week, there will be just a smattering, a handful of nonleague, nondivisonal contests that will sporadically be thrown into the equation here and there to break up the routine –such as the case for the two opponents meeting up in Landisville on this especially balmy Friday evening later on this season — this is the last foray you could schedule on your own before diving into the deep end of the pool with largely nothing but section contests to take you home the rest of the way. And hey, if you happen to come into this pivotal week, say at 1-1 overall, suffice to say that going into the section play above water as opposed to under it understandably would make all the difference.

For the hosts in this old-school L-L matchup that seemed ripe as if it came right out of the 1990’s –turned Section One versus Section Two opponents in the present day however—the Hempfield Black Knights, 1-1 is likely a correct measure as for how to judge them thus far through two initial weeks. As if to be perfectly encapsulated, consider the slim +2-point differential that Hempfield carried with them following their first pair of outings on the season. Beyond that, the Knights came out of York-Adams play –well, sorta—with that aforementioned 1-1 record in the aftermath of a 28-9 setback on opening night at the hands of Dallastown, before promptly turning right around and knocking off York High with a 27-6 final count. A win no doubt helped spurred on by the special appearance of David Martin-Robinson, a 2018 Hempfield grad, who had just survived the final round of 53-man roster cuts with the Tennessee Titans just a few days prior, who was warmly received by his hometown admirers when introduced to the crowd. Not too bad for an undrafted free agent from outside the “Power 4,” huh?

Ironically, Governor Mifflin probably felt like they too were looking directly into a mirror when trying to describe their own situation coming out of the first pair of contests.

Truthfully though, the new era of Mustangs’ football hit a snag before it even began. Mere days before Mifflin was ready to officially kick off the 2024 campaign, news had broken, first filed by Mike Drago of Mikedragosports.com, that the Mustangs’ new head man, Nick Morrissey, would be forced to miss the first two games of his official tenure as directed and enforced by the Mifflin school district. However, in more lighthearted news that came from Governor Mifflin camp off the field, Mustangs’ 5’6 335lb senior lineman, Ismael Ayala-Vargas, became an overnight internet sensation, literally, as a picture of the Mifflin gap-filler while in uniform during their game against Pleasant Valley on opening night went viral.

On the field though, it has candidly been a bit of a mixed bag thus far from the Mustangs.

Yes, interim head coach Mick Vecchio –hardly to be treated as a seat-filler by any means considering he himself was a victorious head coach 181 times over while pacing the Mifflin sidelines for 26 autumns – was able to guide the Mustangs to an opening night win over Pleasant Valley by a 35-0 final count, Week 2 would tell a much different tale in that Mifflin would this time succumb to a different valley if you will, Perkiomen Valley, in a 31-14 decision their last time out. In some ways, with Morrissey officially in the captain’s chair for the first time this season here against Hempfield, there’d be ample reason to feel as if this night was in some ways the true beginning of Governor Mifflin’s 2024 ride. That, and the even 1-1 record that wasn’t far off from the traditional 0-0 starting block either.

Yet while they ended up making the game a little more exciting heading down the final stretch than it really had to be considering how it felt as if they had been leaning on the Hempfield troops for the duration of all 48 minutes, Governor Mifflin would eventually be awarded for their troubles with a well-earned road win over a fellow conference foe hailing from the Section One rank and file. And who knows, maybe a nice little burst of wind in their sails heading into the meat and potatoes portion of the schedule to boot.

Speaking of hearty dishes, that’s precisely what both squads brought with them to the dinner party on Friday night. Case in point, while the offenses struggled mightily throughout the opening dozen minutes of play against one another with neither being able to muster a remedy that would get them into top gear, conversely, the respective defensive units for both Governor Mifflin and Hempfield headlined the early action with plenty of plastic-popping hits that were sure to result in black and blue marks come Saturday morning. In fact, the shared proficiency of each side’s defense rising to the challenge was especially evident considering how not only did the first quarter end in a stalemate at 0-0, but there was only instance of a team crossing the midfield stripe throughout the first quarter, an honor bestowed upon Governor Mifflin, albeit just three yards past said location on the artificial turf before that drive too would eventually stall out.

Finally, in the game’s second frame, the offenses –well, Governor Mifflin’s to be exact—awoke from their early slumber.

But it didn’t seem that way initially though. At least to start out seeing as how a 53-yard pitch and catch off the bootleg action from Hempfield junior quarterback, Derek Katch, to senior tight end, Philip Krauser, propelled the Black Knights all the way down to the Mifflin 11-yard on what would be one of the final plays of the first stanza. Even still, good field position to begin the brand-new quarter and all, Hempfield would fall not just short of the endzone, but getting points altogether. For that, Mifflin junior safety, Lebron Leaf, deserves plenty of kudos as a tipped ball near the goal line ended in his hands as not only was the existing Hempfield threat evaporated right then and there, but it also allowed the Mustangs to set up shop at the 20-yard once Leaf alertly fell with his prize in the endzone to protect the touchback following the turnover.

This time, mojo and good juju at their back, Governor Mifflin would be able to draw first blood.

If you wanted to find some sort of precursor as to what this game’s eventual narrative would turn in to, look no further than an upcoming 4^th & 2 attempt staring directly at the Mustangs. No panic though. Not when you can rely on that ol’ option-friendly attack of yours that pairs nicely with an absolute bully of a ballcarrier as well. And sure enough, when Mifflin needed to move the sticks when they needed it most, they gave the ball to senior bulldozer aka fullback, Grady Garner, who knew exactly what to do with the rock.

In the scorebook, while Garner’s attempt not only moved the Mifflin attack near the aforementioned 50-yard line in a do-or-die scenario found via fourth and short, it more importantly seemed to serve notice as the first tangible bit of evidence that the earlier body blows authored by the visitors from Shillington were perhaps starting to take their toll. Speaking of which, on another critical down and distance, 3^rd & 1 this time around, Garner continued to be the thief to Hempfield’s joy as a sudden 47-yard touchdown run by Garner that came after bursting through the first initial lines of the Black Knights’ defensive troops helped to open the floodgates with Mifflin possessing the 7-0 cushion following Lance Koenig’s PAT with 7:10 left to play in the first half by that point.

But that certainly wouldn’t be the last instance of Governor Mifflin playing perfect complimentary football in the first half on Friday evening.

Ironically enough, the impetus for the Mustangs’ next foray into the endzone began with another case of mimicking the defense’s earlier heroics. Here too, by way of an interception, this one tallied by senior corner, Stephen Mayo, the Mifflin offense trotted back onto the field at their own 40-yard line following Mayo’s takeaway to halt another would-be Hempfield scoring threat. Then, with their offense already having gotten into a lather by that point, a nice series of dinks and dunks helped to get even Mifflin even more flirtatious with a late score before the first half horn.

First up, after a wonderfully drawn up screen play amid the oncoming Hempfield pursuit lobbed over top by Mustangs’ senior quarterback, Javien Pletz, into the waiting hands of junior tight end, Derek Dinatale, the visitors had suddenly ticked off 40 yards in a flash following their hook up. From there, via the air again ironically enough, a 26-yard strike from Pletz down the sideline to the man who started these very proceedings, Stephen Mayo, put the ball on the Black Knights’ two-yard line with just a fistful of seconds remaining. But that would prove to be more than enough time for Grady Garner to punch his way through and into the endzone as the second Garner touchdown run of the evening, this of the 2-yard variety, helped to send Governor Mifflin into the intermission with an understandable spring in their collective step courtesy of the 14-0 advantage once the final six seconds bled off the second quarter clock in short order.

In the third stanza, while not only did Governor Mifflin largely keep Hempfield at bay for the most part, they also pounced on their opportunities when they saw fit.

Speaking of which, right out the chute to begin the second half of play, “pounce” would seem to be the appropriate word of the day as the most famous man in the whole building, Ismael Ayala-Vargas, tallied a sack on third down to the halt the opening Hempfield possession of the third quarter to nothing more than three quick harmless plays and a punt.

By this stage, considering the seemingly impregnable wall of resistance that the Mifflin starting defense appeared to be presenting throughout the first 24 minutes and then some, Hempfield couldn’t be greedy when it came to making good on auspicious opportunities offensively. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Black Knights would be here on their second series of the third quarter as an ill-timed and unwise unsportsmanlike conduct call not only wiped out the good work of Derek Katch who moments earlier had just zoomed his way down to the Mustangs’ 11-yard line following a 46-yard quarterback keeper around the left side of the line, but the flag became equally devastating as turned a 3^rd & manageable into almost impossible 3^rd & 24 while now marked back at the Mifflin 26-yard line. Yet while a screen pass from Katch to senior wideout, Brayden Charles, would get the hosts down a little bit closer, it would only be closer for Hempfield’s junior kicker, Brady Biscoe, as Biscoe promptly booted his 28-yard field goal through the uprights when called upon as his kick cut the Mifflin lead down to a 14-3 count with 5:44 left in the third.

But that 11-point bulge wouldn’t last very long.

Certainly not when Javien Pletz proceeded to reverse his field while toting the rock on the option keeper as Pletz’s 19-yard heroics got Mifflin out to the Hempfield 47-yard line right off the bat to begin this Mustangs’ series. Later, on 3^rd & 11 from essentially the very locale on the field, a hook-in route from Mifflin junior receiver, Joe Murray, was deemed just good enough right at the sticks as the Pletz to Murray connection just a tick past the chains spelled a fresh set of downs for the Mifflin Mustangs.

Did we mention by now that Grady Garner was in the midst of having himself quite an evening? If we hadn’t, or you perhaps forgot, Garner was right on cue to remind everyone in attendance of his ongoing exploits.

In this instance, after burrowing and bullying his way through first, second, and third contact to give Mifflin yet another first down, this one down to the Hempfield 24-yard line, Garner would just end up setting the table for himself. For on the very next play from scrimmage, Garner’s propensity for trudging into the endzone continued to remain on display as his third touchdown gallop of the ballgame, this time from those 24 yards away, upped the Mifflin lead out to a 21-3 difference which is where things would remain over the course of the final 80 seconds of the penultimate period.

For whatever reason, particularly in recent memory most especially it has seemed, Hempfield has had quite the knack when it comes to completing memorable fourth quarter comebacks inside their home venue. Simply put, while erasing their current 18-point hole wouldn’t necessarily be impossible per se, it certainly didn’t seem all that likely considering how Governor Mifflin had largely been able to suffocate all the air and energy out of the game by dictating the game on their terms. But try the Black Knights certainly would.

In fact, Hempfield didn’t need all of 30 seconds once inside the final act before finding the endzone –albeit the first time all evening at that point—as a 13-yard post route executed from Derek Katch to Cam Margeson helped the Knights close the gap back down to that same 11-point window, 21-10, with 11:32 still to play despite coming on the heels on a lengthy and scary injury timeout which had halted action for the better part of 10-15 minutes in real time.

Need an answer, Mifflin? Chances are that you already know where to go for that.

Sure, while Grady Garner would again reap the spoils of yet another touchdown run to add to his already sensational outing on this ensuing Governor Mifflin offensive possession too, this on what would be his fourth such achievement, it would be another backfield mate who would get this drive in motion. Quite literally in motion too as a 57-yard tote by way of senior slotback, Travis Jenkins, propelled the Mustangs’ offensive attack all the way down to Hempfield 23-yard line on the very first play from scrimmage. But speaking of Garner, his fingerprints would be all over this drive here too, namely in the form of a 7-yard TD run most specifically, for what at the time had felt like the final puncture of air going out of the Hempfield balloon.

Or so it would have appeared.

While they have been tardy when it came to getting to the party in this one, Hempfield’s offense most certainly did their darndest in trying to make up for lost time. On this drive, now staring down the barrel of a sizable 18-point gap, the Black Knights just went right to work nonetheless. And after a series of short, quick jab-like throws against the stingy Mifflin defense to help matriculate the ball down the field, Hempfield looked up and suddenly saw themselves residing inside the red zone. So, while getting their fire lit by way of the aerial attack, it would be the running game that would eventually help Hempfield cross the goal line for a second time on Friday night as a 5-yard quarterback keeper by Derek Katch, equally critical given how it came on a 4^th & 1 attempt, helped the Knights crawl back inside that two-score window once more as Governor Mifflin now owned the 28-17 lead with all of 6:14 remaining to be played.

Now, the spotlight and focus would immediately shift over to the Hempfield defense.

And to their credit, when they needed to bow their necks and rise to the most important challenge of the game when called upon, they would do precisely that for their collective troops. That would never be more evident than on a key Governor Mifflin 4^th & 3 attempt deep inside Hempfield territory. Here, despite having surrendered a smattering of big runs throughout the course of the night up until that point, the Black Knights’ defense stoned Mifflin right at the doorstep on said play as there was suddenly a shift in the air with momentum now starting to favor the home team.

That wind would then turn into the howling wind of a hurricane a few moments later however as a 72-yard flea flicker play on the very first Hempfield play following the Mifflin turnover on downs by way of Cam Margeson to Brayden Charles not only resulted in a touchdown for Hempfield, but it also breathed life into a contest that candidly had felt as if it was nothing more than a formality waiting to be etched into stone. Instead, despite the failed 2-pt try following the trick play, it would nonetheless be a very modest 28-23 Governor Mifflin cushion with 3:46 still left to go.

But all of that could just simply be wiped away if Mifflin just do what they had largely done throughout most of the contest—lean on and punish Hempfield with that infamous Governor Mifflin ground game while also trying to gobble up every precious second of clock left outstanding in the process. And not to spoil the end of the movie here, but that’s precisely what would occur over the final three minutes and change.

Unfortunately, as far as the home patrons were concerned, their team didn’t need to do Mifflin any favors when it came to trying to salt this one away. It was already obvious that the Mustangs could do so on their own accord just fine. However, yet another back-breaking personal foul call tagged against the Knights on the ensuing kickoff, much in the same vein as the key penalty found back in the first half on Friday, was equally detrimental. That said, even when they didn’t receive the unsolicited help extended in their direction, Mifflin would be rather adept when it came to navigating the final few minutes of this one when left to their own devices just the same as a successful quarterback sneak by Javien Pletz on a 3^rd & 1 attempt later in the drive gave the guests a critical batch of downs coupled with Hempfield already out of timeouts by that stage. Lastly, there would be one final olive branch of ill-timed Hempfield gratuity provided to Mifflin in the waning stages of this one as a 3^rd & 4 attempt with time winding down inside of a minute to play didn’t even need to be executed. Instead, the Mustangs would be awarded with the chains moving in their direction one final time as an offsides penalty call against Hempfield allowed Mifflin to set up in the best position in football, the victory formation, as one final kneel down would do the trick for good as Governor Mifflin had successfully come down Route 222 from Berks County to capture what could prove to be an extremely vital 28-23 road win at Hempfield over time to not only move onto the positive side of the .500 bubble heading into league play at 2-1 in the moment, but it would also be memorable in that it would officially christen win numero uno in the Nick Morrissey era at Mifflin. Perhaps the first, but certainly not the last.

NEXT UP: It’s once again regroup time in Hempfield camp this week. And while you never want to put the cart before the horse, especially in the largely unpredictable world of high school football most especially, it would on the surface appear as if the Black Knights can right the ship next week come this time as they welcome McCaskey into town for Hall of Fame night against a Red Tornado squad that is 2-1 on the season yes, but is coming off a combined baker’s dozen in terms of point production their last two weeks out in both the form of a loss and a win ironically enough. After that, perhaps the shiniest beacon of light in all of District 3-6A football given their utter dominance put on tape thus far, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks, await Hempfield’s arrival in the week that follows before another rivalry game against Penn Manor upcoming after that.

As mentioned, this could prove to be a big boon for Governor Mifflin camp in the weeks that follow here. That said, that very notion figures to be put to the test and then some next Friday night when arguably the best high school football operating in Berks County right now, the Exeter Eagles, prepare to match wits with the Mustangs in Shillington for a monster of a curtain-raiser on the L-L Section Two slate next weekend. After that, an up-and-coming Muhlenberg squad awaits on the horizon before what they would rightfully consider to be the ultimate Berks County rivalry series, Governor Mifflin and Wilson, tangle with one another for the final game played in the month of September. Needless to say, while you can’t necessarily pigeon-hole the ebbs and flows of the Mustangs’ upcoming schedule on this Hempfield game alone, it certainly could be seen as a harbinger of things yet to unfold. Simply put, if Mifflin can continue to impose their will and ride that offensive line to holes that will eventually grow wider and wider as the game unfolds akin to what they did here on this night, there’s reason to be fearful of this group of Mustangs in 2024. After all, aside from their brief hiccups down the stretch on Friday night against Hempfield in particular that of course need to –and likely will—get shored up, you have 48 minutes of tape coming out of Landisville to not just back that belief up, but provide you with hard evidence as well.

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