It was another Mid Penn , Berks League District 3 matchup Friday night in Shillington. The #3 seed Central Dauphin Rams met up with the #2 seed Governor Mifflin Mustangs. The Mustangs dominated the game statistics, but Mifflin mistakes and strong special teams play by the Rams, propelled Central Dauphin into the District 3 AAAA title game 16-13.
Central Dauphin got things going early. Rams’ leading rusher Raleigh Sirb scored on a five-yard run on CD’s opening drive to make the score 6-0. Mifflin blocked the extra point. Mifflin’s next drive went 80 yards in eight plays. QB Jan Johnson’s five-yard TD run made the score 6-6 with 5:19 left in the first quarter.
Both defenses played tough for the remainder of the quarter. On the first play of the second quartet the stellar CD special teams took center stage. The Rams blocked a Mifflin punt for a TD. With the extra point, it was 13-6 Rams with 11:51 until halftime. Two Mifflin drives moved deep into CD territory, but penalties and a questionable incomplete end zone pass call kept the game 13-6 Central Dauphin going into the break.
Central Dauphin got the second half kick and mounted their best drive of the night. The Mifflin D held, but once again the Rams’ special teams came up big. Jacob Kershner’s 34-yard field goal made it 16-6 Rams with 7:15 left in quarter three.
Mifflin’s next drive was again productive. The Mustangs drove the ball deep into Rams territory but a Jan Johnson pass was intercepted on the Central Dauphin five. Finally Mifflin mounted an 88-yard TD drive with time winding down in the game. Jan Johnson’s TD and extra point made it 16-13 Rams with 4:42 left.
Central Dauphin now needed to run out the clock. Instead the Mifflin D forced a Rams fumble. It was Mifflin ball on the CD 25 with 3:17 left. Mifflin could not take advantage. The Rams’ defense came up big. A tying field goal attempt by Miflin was no good. A fast and furious last few minutes ended with Central Dauphin hanging on for a 16-13 victory over Governor Mifflin.
Central Dauphin moves on to face Berks County powerhouse, and undefeated #1 seed Wilson for the District 3 AAAA title Saturday in Hershey.
