The Governor Mifflin Mustangs entered Friday night action on a four game win streak. Mifflin’s victory over Exteter Twp. last week put the Mustangs in control of Section One of the Berks Football League. Next up was a road non-league game with West York. Some teams might have difficulty in getting up for this type of game, not Governor Mifflin. The Mustangs scored early and often in the first half, and cruised to a 49-20 victory over the West York Bulldogs.
In a game of big plays, Sr. A.J. Sczepkowski’s performance stood out for Governor Mifflin. AJ had 100 yards rushing on four carries. He scored a TD on an 88-yard kickoff return, a 42-yard TD reception and a 35-yard TD run. Aaron Grill had a 14-yard and 48-yard TD reception as well for the Mustangs
Mifflin Head Coach Jeff Lang had his concerns coming into the West York game saying, “It’s a long ways to come and West York has some great athletes. But our defense came in and played a heck of a first half.” Coach Lang said that the Mifflin passing game was able to take advantage of the West York defense stacking the line to stop the run. “We are going to hit the play action pass any time teams play nine or ten in the box.” AJ Sczepkowski also said the Mustang offense took advantage of what the West York defense gave Mifflin “They did not respect the pass and we took advantage.” AJ also felt the key to the game was the effort by the Mustang offensive line saying, “Our offensive line was getting a really big push all night.”
The night did not start as planned for Governor Mifflin. West York took the opening kick and effectively moved the ball down the field The 81-yard opening drive culminated with an Andrew Lemanna TD grab making it 7-0 Bulldogs at the 8:38 mark of quarter one. West York kicked off and the momentum shifted all the way back to Mifflin. AJ Sczepkowski took the kick back 88-yards for a TD and five seconds later we were tied at seven. Mifflin Head Coach Jeff Lang called the kick return TD “…the turning point of the game.”
The Mifflin defense forced a Bulldog punt and Mifflin caught fire. Isaac Ruoss’s 40-yard run put Mifflin in front for good at the 4:20 mark, 14-7 Mustangs. West York then fumbled away the kick off. On the first play, Mifflin scored on an AJ Sczepkowski 42-yard TD reception making it 21-7 Mustangs. Aaron Grill’s 14-TD reception in the next Mifflin drive made it 28-7 Mustangs as quarter one ended.
Governor Mifflin became even more dominant in quarter two. QB Austin Baker’s five-yard TD got the score to 35-7 with 8:15 till halftime. A Sczepkowski 35-yard run made it 42-7 Mifflin with 4:23 until the break. Mifflin got the ball back with under a minute left in the half and again took advantage.
A Baker to Aaron Grill 48-yard score gave the Mustangs a 49-7 advantage at the half.
48yds Austin Baker to Aaron Grill 49-7 @GovMifflinSD over @GoWYBulldogs ;06 ti half @YAIAAscores @EPAFootball @AndyBrackets @DanMoscaritolo pic.twitter.com/IPigGpujm7
— Bruce Badgley (@BadgleyBruce) October 8, 2016
Mifflin could not be stopped in the first half. The Mustangs averaged over 10 yards per carry on the ground and had 378 yards of total offense.
With a running clock in the second half, Mifflin played mostly reserves. West York kept the first team in the entire game. The Bulldogs put up two quick scores in quarter three to keep things somewhat interesting. Governor Mifflin then was able to play a game of keep away down the stretch. The final was Governor Mifflin 49 West York 20.
Governor Mifflin is back in conference next week with a home game with cross town rival Muhlenberg. West York goes on the road against conference foe York Suburban.
