LEWISBURG – With a potential boost in playoff seeding on the line for Lewisburg Friday night, the team didn’t waste any time jumping out to the lead at Christy Matthewson Memorial Stadium.
In its yearly regular season finale against the Union County rival Mifflinburg Wildcats, Lewisburg jumped ahead 28-0 early in the second quarter, eventually hanging 42 points on the scoreboard in the opening half of play in a 56-18 drubbing of the Wildcats.
“We needed this one,” Lewisburg coach Marc Persing said. “Mifflinburg showed us a front we’ve never seen before. They covered everybody and played two linebackers. We had to change our game plan on the fly, but the kids responded well.”
The Green Dragons took advantage of turnovers, as the Lewisburg offense only outgained Mifflinburg by 65 total offensive yards in the game.
“Our defense really helped pick up our offense early on,” Lewisburg star running back Max Moyers stated. “We started slow out of the gate offensively.”
The visiting Wildcats turned the ball over to the Green Dragons on five occasions in the game, compared to just one turnover by the Lewisburg offense.
“When we win the turnover battle we’re typically in the game, if not winning the game.” Persing said.
It only took Lewisburg until its second possession to open the game’s scoring. On a 1st-and-5 at the Mifflinburg 41-yard line following an encroachment penalty, Lewisburg quarterback Nick Shedleski connected with Davidson-bound senior Dylan Farronato for a 37-yard gain that eventually set up a 1-yard plunge into the endzone by Shedleski to put Lewisburg up 7-0.
The catch came in Farronato’s first action since a knee injury in a week three loss to Mount Carmel.
Though clearly not 100 percent back from the injury, Farronato still impacted the game.
“It helps the offense when you get a player the caliber of Dylan (Farronato) back,” Persing said. “Its not just loading the box to stop Max (Moyers) anymore. You have to respect the pass. We’re getting healthy at the right time.”
Lewisburg then took advantage of three Wildcat turnovers, scoring on all three possessions following the turnovers.
After an interception by Draven Doebler, Shedleski unleashed a deep ball down the near sideline that was hauled in by Coleman Witherite for a 59-yard score on 3rd-and-26.
On Mifflinburg’s next possession, a fumble following a completed pass gave Lewisburg great field position again. This time Lewisburg struck on its first offensive play on a 19-yard end-around by Ethan Dominick.
Following another interception – this time by Ronnie Lentz – the Green Dragons scored yet again to open a 28-0 lead. This time it was the star running back Moyers who carried the ball 20 yards for a score.
Before the game, Moyers was recognized for breaking the Lewisburg single-season rushing record in last week’s game. The sophomore back entered Friday night with 1,606 rushing yards on the season and was able to tack on 187 more in the contest.
Moyers looks to reach 2,000 yards on the ground in the playoffs next week. He’ll need 207 yards to do so.
Moyers found the endzone on three more occasions in the game, picking up scores on a 66-yard reception, a 65-yard run and a 19-yard run.
With Lewisburg leading 28-0 in the second quarter, Mifflinburg finally found some offensive momentum. After a Lewisburg roughing the passer penalty kept the drive alive, Wildcat quarterback Gary DeGroat hit Nate Rosen for a 39-yard gain. The Wildcats finished off the drive when Mason Breed crashed into the endzone from six yards out.
Mifflinburg scored again following a fumble recovery on a Lewisburg botched snap. It was DeGroat connecting with Rosen again on a 50-yard catch and run. Rosen made quite a play on the ball, fighting off a defensive pass interference penalty to haul in the reception and trot into the endzone.
Rosen finished the night with five catches for 105 yards and a touchdown to lead all receivers in the game.
In the second half the Lewisburg defense cashed in on a score. Backup Mifflinburg quarterback Jacob Reitz flipped a bubble screen out to running back Mason Breed, but defensive end Dakotah Snyder got a hand on the pass deflecting the ball into the backfield. The pass was ruled a backwards lateral and Ethan Spaulding scooped it up and ran in for a 41-yard fumble return for a score.
Spaulding recovered another fumble in the second half and returned the ball 77 yards to set up the Green Dragons’ final score of the game.
Lewisburg (6-4) will await to find out its playoff opponent for next week. Mifflinburg (2-8) is done for the season.
“This win feels good,” Moyers said. “It definitely gives our team lots of confidence moving forward. I’m proud of our guys tonight. We all did a really good job.”
At halftime, Lewisburg accepted its 11th-consecutive Little Brown Jug trophy by defeating Mifflinburg in 20 of 29 head-to-head events in 2017.
“Any time you win a rivalry game its huge for the community,” Persing said. “Its great to beat your neighbor. We’re going to enjoy it tonight and start focusing on the playoffs tomorrow.”
Lewisburg 56, Mifflinburg 18
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Mifflinburg 0 12 0 6 — 18
Lewisburg 14 28 7 7 — 56
First Quarter
L—Nick Shedleski 1-yard run (Jack Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 6:11.
L—Coleman Witherite 59-yard reception from Shedleski (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 0:11
Second Quarter
L—Ethan Dominick 19-yard run (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 11:06.
L—Max Moyers 20-yard run (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 9:00
M—Mason Breed 6-yard run (PAT No Good), 7:24
M—Nate Rosen 50-yard reception from Gary DeGroat (2 pt. conversion No Good), 4:19
L—Moyers 66-yard reception from Shedleski (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 3:00
L—Moyers 65-yard run (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 1:31
Third Quarter
L—Ethan Spaulding 41-yard fumble return (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 7:44
Fourth Quarter
L—Moyers 19-yard run (Dieffenderfer PAT Good), 11:19
M—Michael Warren 20-yard run (PAT No Good), 5:29.
TEAM STATISTICSML
First downs 16 9
Total yards 328 393
Rushes-yards 37-158 34-235
Yards passing 170 158
Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 13-25-23-8-0
Fumbles-lost 6-3 1-1
Penalties-yards 7-65 6-80
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Mifflinburg: Breed 15-81 TD, Warren 11-76 TD, DeGroat 9-4, Rylee Stahl 1-3, Robby Foltz 1-(-6). Lewisburg: Moyers 17-187 3TD, Dominick 3-41 TD, Kaden Wuerdeman 4-23, Dante Simms 2-3, Jack Landis 1-3, Shedleski 4-(-11), TEAM 3-(-11).
PASSING—Mifflinburg: DeGroat 11-19, 155 yds, TD, 2INT, Jacob Reitz 2-6, 15 yds. Lewisburg: Shedleski 3-8, 158yds, 2TD.
RECEIVING—Mifflinburg: Rosen 5-105 TD, Warren 4-30, Stahl 2-21, Breed 2-14. Lewisburg: Moyers 1-66 TD, Witherite 1-59 TD, Dylan Farronato 1-37.
