Governor Mifflin sent the message early in its Berks League Section I football clash with Pottsville on Friday night at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Mustangs scored two plays into the game on an interception return and were never threatened, cruising to a 44-6 victory over the Crimson Tide.
“That just broke their backs right off the bat,” Governor Mifflin head coach Mick Vecchio said about the pass interception. “You know, kids are not stupid these days. Their kids knew coming in that we’re a good football team and, to have that happen right off the bat, it was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ ”
On its second play from scrimmage, Pottsville (0-6, 0-3 Berks I) found itself trailing when quarterback Patrick Keating’s first pass of the night was tipped by the Mustangs’ Jacob Klahr and picked off by linebacker Matt Klusewitz. Klusewitz returned the ball 28 yards to the end zone, giving Governor Mifflin a 7-0 lead just 49 seconds into the game.
The play led to a first half of mistakes for the Crimson Tide, who trailed 37-0 at intermission of the school’s homecoming game. Pottsville head coach Tom McGeoy said those mistakes spoiled a better effort from the Tide defense.
“I think we played better physically against Mifflin than I thought we would,” McGeoy said. “They’re big and strong, and I don’t think they pushed us around the field like we were earlier in the year. And we’re getting better. Each week, and I know it’s tough to say when it’s 44-6, the turnovers were the big difference.”
The Tide’s three turnovers, all interceptions, gave the Mustangs (5-1, 2-0) short fields to work with, though one of those drives ended when a botched handoff allowed Pottsville’s Steve Drum to recover a fumble at the Pottsville 15.
The Tide fell back to the 12, and Keating, looking for a receiver, was tackled in the end zone by Klahr for a safety to give Governor Mifflin a 9-0 lead.
When the Mustangs took the ensuing free kick, they only had to advance 40 yards and scored on Wilson Fontanez’s 1-yard plunge.
Governor Mifflin then scored on all three of its possessions in the second period. Fontanez, who rushed for 104 yards in the game, ran 1 yard for one touchdown and sped 33 yards to score his third TD of the half.
Then, when Keating’s pass was picked off by Jan Johnson at Governor Mifflin’s 9-yard line and returned 51 yards to Pottsville’s 40, the Mustangs took a timeout with 4 seconds left. Johnson, who has committed to a collegiate football career at Akron, rolled left and threw back across the field to wide-open Aric Dupell for a touchdown.
Johnson completed a 22-yard scoring pass to Phillip Henry in the third period as the edge grew to 44-0.
After that, Pottsville drove 66 yards in 13 plays. Running back Hunter Futchko, who ran for 77 of Pottsville’s 147 yards from scrimmage, helped the Tide convert three third downs and a fourth down. Fullback Chase Alisauckas then scored from 9 yards out.
The game was delayed 16 minutes after the extra-point play when Governor Mifflin’s Austin Arroyo suffered a leg injury that required a trip off the field by ambulance to the hospital.
Game Summary
GM (5-1, 2-0) 16 21 7 0 — 44 Pot (0-6, 0-3) 0 0 0 6 — 6
GM —Klusewitz 28 interception return (Johnson kick)
GM —Safety, Keating tackled in end zone
GM —Fontanez 1 run (Johnson kick)
GM — Fontanez 1 run (Johnson kick)
GM —Fontanez 33 run (Johnson kick)
GM —Dupell 40 pass from Johnson (Johnson kick)
GM —Henry 22 pass from Johnson (Bingaman kick)
P —Alisauckas 9 run (kick failed)
GM Pot
First Downs 15 9
Rushes-Yards 37-231 29-96
Passes 3-7-0 5-17-3
Passing Yards 80 51
Total Yards 311 147
Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-0
Penalties 2-10 4-29
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
RUSHING: Governor Mifflin — Fontanez 14-104, Johnson 6-52, Ortiz 4-34, Dunnick 3-18, Dupell 1-9, Sczepkowski 1-8, Reeser 5-8, Grill 1-2, Hardy 1-(-2), Team 1-(-2). Pottsville — Futchko 18-77, Keating 9-14, Alisauckas 1-9, Wapinsky 1-(-4).
PASSING: Governor Mifflin — Johnson 3-7-0,80; Pottsville — Keating 5-17-3, 51.
RECEIVING: Governor Mifflin — Dupell 1-40, Henry 1-22, Bortz 1-18. Pottsville — Heckler 3-41, Hunt 1-6, Angelichio 1-4.
INTERCEPTIONS: Governor Mifflin — Johnson, Pollock, Klusewitz.