It has been quite some time since the Governor Mifflin Mustangs traveled north to face a District 11 opponent. On Friday night, Mifflin made the long trek into the football lions’ den of Carbon county to face Lehighton for the very first time.
In a hard fought game. Governor Mifflin started fast and then made the key plays down the stretch to come out on top over the Lehighton Indians 35-13.
Mifflin now (4-1) on the year, took the opening kick off and in their dominant ground attack fashion went 65 yards in five plays to score. Wilson Fontanez scored one yard TD. The next Mifflin possession ended with a QB Jan Johnson one yard TD. The first quarter ended with Mifflin in control of the game 14-0. The complexion of the game changed in the second quarter. The Indians began to experience some offensive success. Governor Mifflin’s defense needed an Eliseo Ortiz interception of an Indian pass in the end zone to stop the scoring threat. Mifflin took advantage of the turnover. QB Jan Johnson marched the Mifflin offense down the field to make the score 21-0 going into half time.
Lehighton received the second half kick and moved down the field. Leighton’s QB Tyler Cann tossed a 51 yard TD to make the score 21-6 Mifflin at the 8:29 mark of the 3rd. It was Gov. Mifflin big-play time once again. The ensuing kick off was returned 84 yards for a TD by Evan Pollack and Mifflin pushed the lead back to 28-6. The balance of the third quarter was a defensive stalemate. Give credit to the Indians. Lehighton played hard, never backed down, and kept the pressure on the favored Mustangs. Mifflin’s defense needed to make two fourth quarter end zone interceptions to thwart Indian drives. Lehighton held the Mifflin ground attack in check for most of the 2nd half. Mifflin finally did gain some 2nd half offensive success in the air to sustain a drive. With 1:25 left in the game, QB Jan Johnson scored his 3rd TD of the night to extend the Mustang lead to 35-6. A late Indian TD made the final score, Gov. Mifflin 35 Lehighton 13.
Mifflin coach Mick Vecchio was proud of his team’s performance, ” We sucked it up and did what we had to do.” QB Jan Johnson had 116 rushing yards, three rushing TD’s, a 69 yard punt and an interception on defense to lead the Mustangs. Other key performances were turned in by Evan Pollack (84 yard kick off return, interception) and Eliseo Ortiz contributions on offense and two interceptions on defense.
Mifflin’s September road trip continues at Pottsville next week. (3-2) Lehighton now moves on to face Marion Catholic
