Mustangs can’t stop Perkiomen Valley stampede
2024 Berks football coverage
presented by UECU
By Mike Hennelly — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
COLLEGEVILLE – Gov. Mifflin couldn’t find an answer for Perkiomen Valley’s rushing attack, allowing 202 rushing yards Friday night in a 31-14 non-league loss.
The Mustangs (1-1) were looking to carry the momentum from their 35-0 victory over Pleasant Valley but the Vikings’ offense was too much to handle.
“This was an exceptionally good team,” Mifflin acting head coach Mick Vecchio said. “We couldn’t get enough going on offense, and their offense was so good. Us keeping our defense on the field (for so long), it just killed us. (That’s) the story of the game.”
Perkiomen Valley jumped out to a 17-point lead in the first half while holding the Mustangs’ scoreless heading into the locker rooms.
Grady Garner was the focal point in the Mustangs’ offense for the second straight week. The senior’s 147 scrimmage yards weren’t enough to help Mifflin keep up.
Garner carried 21 times for 85 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown run on the team’s first possession of the second half to make it 17-7. He has five touchdown runs in the first two games.
Garner caught two passes for 62 yards, including a 48-yard catch-and-run touchdown on the third play of the fourth quarter to pull Mifflin within 24-14.
“In our offense, his position has got to carry the load,” Vecchio said. “If it doesn’t, we won’t win. Everything’s built around that. He gave us all he had, and I think everybody did.”
Outside of Garner’s dominance and a 31-yard run by Lebron Leaf the Mustangs’ offense struggled to move the chains. Quarterback Javien Pletz completed just 4-of-14 attempts. He threw an interception on the opening drive, setting up Perkiomen Valley’s first score.
“The problem was their pressure,” Vecchio said. “Their secondary was really, really good. It was a combination of the two, a very good secondary and a lot of pressure.”
Despite causing three turnovers the Mustangs couldn’t stop the Vikings, who piled up 334 yards of total offense.
“We fought hard; we played hard,” Mifflin senior guard Presley Rinker said. “We did the best we could. Some good things happened, but mostly mistakes happened. We just have to learn from it.”
Mifflin’s head coach, Nick Morrissey is expected to return to the sideline next week after serving a two-game administrative suspension.
Vecchio, Mifflin’s all-time winningest coach, will return to his role as Offensive Coordinator.
The Mustangs will try to bounce back against Hempfield next Friday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Gov. Mifflin | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Perkiomen Valley | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Perkiomen Valley | McCabe, 6 run (Corropolese kick) | 9:12 |
| 2 | Perkiomen Valley | Sturges, 19 run (Corropolese kick) | 1:33 |
| 2 | Perkiomen Valley | Corropolese, 22 field goal | 0:06 |
| 3 | Gov. Mifflin | Garner, 9 run (Koenig kick) | 9:27 |
| 3 | Perkiomen Valley | Sturges, 2 run (Corropolese kick) | 0:08 |
| 4 | Gov. Mifflin | Garner, 48 pass from Pletz (Koenig kick) | 11:14 |
| 4 | Perkiomen Valley | McCabe, 1 run (Corropolese kick) | 4:17 |
Team statistics
| GOV. MIFFLIN | PERKIOMEN VALLEY | |
| First downs | 9 | 21 |
| Rushes-yards | 38-152 | 36-202 |
| Passing yards | 69 | 132 |
| Total yards | 221 | 334 |
| Passes | 4-14-1 | 15-22-1 |
| Fumbles-lost | 0-0 | 3-2 |
| Punts-average | 6-34.5 | 2-20.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 9-80 | 5-50 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Gov. Mifflin: Garner 21-85, Leaf 2-25, Hohl 6-17, Jenkins 5-13, No. 89 1-10, Pletz 3-2.
Perkiomen Valley: McCabe 9-93, MacDonald 12-67, Sturges 8-49, Reedy 3-6, Team 4-(-13).
PASSING
Gov. Mifflin: Pletz 4-14-1–69.
Perkiomen Valley: MacDonald 15-21-1–132, McCabe 0-1-0–0.
RECEIVING
Gov. Mifflin: Garner 2-62, Leaf 1-12, Jenkins 1-(-5).
Perkiomen Valley: Boyd 5-74, McCabe 4-26, Stein 4-22, Hollingswroth 2-10.
INTERCEPTIONS
Gov. Mifflin: Hohl.
Perkiomen Valley: Toman.
