The proud football program at Pottsville is currently in rebuilding mode. The PA AAA runner up a few short years ago, faced off against Gov. Mifflin for the final time as conference foes Friday Night. And in a predictable result, Gov. Mifflin trounced the Crimson Tide at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pottsville 44-6. This was the 27th straight conference victory for the Mustangs.
The Gov. Mifflin defense got things started early, like on the second play from scrimmage early. Matt Klusewitz picked off Pottsville QB Patrick Keating’s pass and took it in from 28 yards for a 7-0 Mifflin lead. After some sloppy play by both teams and an exchange of turnovers, Mifflin’s Tucker Garner is credited with a safety and the Mustangs were up 9-0, with 4:29 left in the first quarter. Following the free kick, Mifflin’s offense got on the board. A six-play, 40 yard drive was capped by a Wilson Fontanez TD. Mifflin started to pull away leading 16-0 as the first quarter ended. Mifflin kept on rolling. Another Fontanez TD at the 9:24 mark of quarter two got the score to 23-0.
Fontanez scored his third TD with 2:54 till half to make it 30-0 Mustangs. The Mifflin defense forced another Crimson Tide turnover with just 40 seconds in the first half at mid field. Gov. Mifflin QB Jan Johnson had just enough time. On the last play of the first half, a 40-yard hail mary landed in the arms of Eric Dupel, and Mifflin was cruising 37-0 at half.
Mifflin received the second half kick. Jan Johnson drove the ‘Stangs down the field and tossed his second TD
DSC_0029 (2)pass of the night to Phillip Henry from 21 yards. The score moved to 44-0 with 6:47 left in the third. Pottsville added a fourth quarter score to make the final Mifflin 44 Pottsville 6.
Gov. Mifflin was once again led by Wilson Fontanez. Wilson scored three touchdowns and rushed for 105 yards in just over two quarters of action. QB Jan Johnson had just three pass completions, but averaged 28 yards per completion, two of which were scores. Mifflins defense led by Junior Tucker Garner, forced five Pottsville turnovers, and made numerous tackles for loss.
It is crunch time now for Gov. Mifflin (5-1). Conference foe Daniel Boone, arch rival Muhlenberg, talented Exeter and Conrad Weiser stand in there way of another Berks one title for the Mustangs. Clearly Pottsville is looking forward to next year. The Crimson Tide has a lot of young talent. The addition of Pottsville to the Anthracite League next year is going to make the Anthracite one of the premier conferences in eastern PA.
Photo Credit: Terry Schlegal
