The Lehighton Indians came into Friday night’s matchup with Governor Mifflin as an undefeated team, but with a feeling that the Indians were the team with everything to prove. They were matched up against the only 4A team on thier schedule and against the team that won convincingly 35-13 last year on thier home field. Clearly the Indians had this matchup circled on the calender all off season and played that way in Shillington. In a hard fought, brusing battle, Lehighton defeated Governor Mifflin 7-6 .
“This was the biggest win of my entire football career,” said Indians RB Wyatt Clements. Clements scored what proved to be the winning TD from eight yards out with 9:33 to play. Clements was the offensive star for Lehighton. He led the Indians in rushing with 139 yards and ran the offense in the second half from the “wildcat” formation. Lehighton also outgained Governor Mifflin in total yards 325-149.
Despite the low score each team had several excellent chances to put points on the board. The first quarter was played mostly in the Mifflin end of the field Lehighton mounted three drives in the first quarter that caused the Mustang defense to bend but stopped the Indians deep in Mifflin territory. Mifflin could mount no offense whatsoever. The Mustangs best weapon most of the night was punter Hunter Reeser. Reeser was able to keep the field position battle at a stalemate by averaging 45 yards per kick for the contest.
Mifflin finally put a drive together in the second quarter. Mifflin drove the ball down to the Indians 17. The Indians D stiffened and Mifflin turned the ball over on downs at the Indians 17. It was a hard hitting first half that ended scoreless.
The entire third quarter was a repeat of the first half. Productive Indian drives would stall in Mifflin territory. The Mifflin offense could not mount a drive and after a good Mustang punt we would start all over again. Following a 58 yard punt by Mifflin, Lehighton took over on thier own seven and things began to change. Wyatt Clement’s bulldozing runs and his flawless execution running the “wildcat” offense finally paid dividends. Clements capped the 93 yard drive with an eight yard TD run and Lehighton was on top 7-0 with 9:30 left.
Mifflin took the kickoff and mounted a drive of their own. Following two fourth down conversions, QB Hunter Reeser hit Dylan Harr from 33 yards for a Mifflin score. On the all important PAT the Indians’ defense crashed through the Mustang line for the block. It was 7-6 with 4:56 left.
After a failed on-side attempt by Mifflin, it was the Wyatt Clements’ show once again for Lehighton. Clements steamrolled his way through the Mifflin defense to run out the clock and preserve the hard fought 7-6 win for the Indians.
Lehighton moves on to play at Marion Catholic next week. Governor Mifflin hosts Pottsville.
