Gov. Mifflin to meet Warwick in GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week

GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week

District 3 Class 5A quarterfinal

No. 1 Gov. Mifflin (8-0) vs. No. 8 Warwick

Kick: Friday, 7, at Mifflin Stadium.

Series: Mustangs lead 7-1.

Last meeting: The Mustangs beat the Warriors in the 1999 season finale at Lititz, 34-14, completing an 8-2 season.

District 3 Class 6A bracket: Click here.

Mustangs update: Ranked No. 1 in state in Class 5A. . . Have mercy-ruled six of eight opponents. . . Beat Exeter by 33 and Berks Catholic by 29. . . Have outscored opponents 138-0 in the first quarter and 235-20 in the first half. . . Have won 16 of last 17 games. . . Averaging 49.5 points. . . Allowing 11.6 per game. . . Nick Singleton leads Berks with 1,502 yards and 32 TDs in eight games. . . . Had season lows of 108 yards and two TDs in regular season finale vs. Berks Catholic. . . Aiden Gallen stepped in at FB and rushed for 213 yards vs. Saints. . . Singleton needs 288 yards to top Isaac Ruoss’ program record 1,789 yards, set in 2017. . . Starting QB Eden Johnson has attempted nine passes all season. . . Defense has held opposing rushers to 3.3 yards per carry and a 41.7 percent completion rate. . . Trey Rock leads team with 76 tackles. . .Opposing QBs have a 71.5 passing efficiency rating. . . Have played three games in last six weeks, due to COVID-related cancellations by Reading High and Daniel Boone, and a first-round bye last week.

Looking ahead: Gov. Mifflin and Warwick will be paired in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League next season, along with Exeter, Muhlenberg, Manheim Central, Conestoga Valley and Lebanon. The Mustangs and Warriors are scheduled to meet in Week 10.

Warriors update: Advanced with 44-14 win over Gettysburg. . . Not quite the same powerhouse from a year ago, when they went unbeaten and had what’s considered the best team in program history. . . Scored a big win last month beating Manheim Central 35-28, ruining the Barons’ perfect season. . . . Shared Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 crown with Manheim and Cocalico. . . Have won four of their last five after a 2-3 start . . . They’ve got another good quarterback in Jack Reed, who has thrown for over 2,200 yards and 17 TDs. . . He had 300-yard passing games against both Manheim Central and Lampeter-Strasuburg, both playoff teams. . . They have a 1,000-yard receiver in Cooper Eckert and a 1,000-yard rusher in Christian Royer. . . Eckert leads the league with 67 receptions, and has had six 100-yard games. . . He had 14 catches against Manheim Central. . . Royer has 21 TDs; four came last week. . . Top-ranked offense in Section 2.

Fast fact: Warwick went unbeaten last season and had five seniors named to the Pennsylvania Sportswriters Class 5A All-State team: Offensive lineman Nolan Rucci, quarterback Joey McCracken, running back Colton Miller, tight end Thatcher Miller and wide receiver Caleb Schmitz. Rucci is now playing at Wisconsin; Schmitz is at the University of Cincinnati; McCracken is playing for Maine.

Did you know? The Warriors and Mustangs were scheduled to play for the District 3 Class 5A championship last season but Warwick had to forfeit due to a coronavirus outbreak at the school. The Mustangs were crowned district champs for the first time.

Mustangs playoff history: Appearing in districts for 16th straight season. . . Have won at least one game in each of the last five seasons. . . First championship came last year, via forfeit by Warwick. . . Have played for championship three times, losing each: To State College in 2006, Harrisburg in 2007 and Manheim Central in 2017. . . Overall, 22-15. . . 16-5 at home.

Warriors playoff history: Earned first district win in 2018, beating Palmyra 64-0 in 5A. . . Advanced to semifinals for first time in 2019, beating Mechanicsburg and Manheim Central in 5A. . . Beat New Oxford 14-12 last year in 5A semifinal before forfeiting championship game. . . 4-8 overall.

Winner gets: No. 4 Spring Grove (9-1) or No. 5 Waynesboro (9-2), Nov. 19, at site of higher-seeded team.