Mustangs dominate Bears up front, unleash powerful running game (updated)
2025 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
By Frank D. Burns — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
BRODHEADSVILLE — Twin Valley had its way against Gov. Mifflin in a scrimmage last week but Mustangs coach Nick Morrissey was encouraged by the fight he saw from his guys.
| Final | |
| Gov. Mifflin | 35 |
| Pleasant Valley | 20 |
“They didn’t just maul us up and down the field, especially up front,” he said. “So that gave me a lot of hope.”
Morrissey saw that same fight Friday night in the season opener, especially from his offensive line which allowed the Mustangs to control the game with their rushing attack and post a 35-20 win over the Bears.
“We controlled the line of scrimmage the entire game,” said Morrissey, who saw his offense produce 280 rushing yards on 46 carries. “We really did a nice job up front. The offensive line just built on that (scrimmage) and improved this week and came out tonight and dominated the game.”
Lebron Leaf and Patrick Steuer each scored a pair of touchdowns and Nick Kalis ran for one for the Mustangs, who built a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter.
Leaf, making his first starter at quarterback, scored on a 7-yard run in the fourth quarter to put the game away. He finished a long scoring drive after the Bears had pulled within 28-20.
Steuer sparked the Mustangs with an 84-yard kickoff return in the first quarter to erase Pleasant Valley’s early 7-0 lead.
“That was huge,” Morrissey said. “That hour, forty-minute drive, it’s real. The kids looked half asleep (when they got off the bus). That (touchdown) was a great wake-up call for us to get us going in the game.”
Pleasant Valley went up 7-0 when McGregor Edward recovered a fumble at the 43 and Chris Ward followed with a 20-yard scoring run.
Nine seconds later Steuer answered with his kickoff return.
The Mustangs went ahead for good when Leaf led a 10-play, 52-yard scoring drive that he capped with a 5-yard run.
After Mifflin’s defense forced a turnover on downs, Leaf led an 11-play scoring drive, 10 of the plays on the ground. The last was an 11-yard run by Steuer with 19 seconds left in the half.
The Bears pulled within 28-20 on Niko Payan’s 28-yard TD run with 1:26 left in the third period.
The win was the second straight for the Mustangs over Bears; Mifflin won 35-0 last year in Shillington.
Leaf, Nick Kalis and Anjay Rodriguez each rushed for 68 yards; Steuer ran for 52 yards.
Leaf attempted just four passes, completing one for 12 yards.
Dylon Worley had a team-high seven tackles for Mifflin. David Facey had a sack, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Governor Mifflin | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Pleasant Valley | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
Scoring summary
| 1 | Pleasant Valley | Ward, 20 run (Duran kick) |
| 1 | Gov. Mifflin | Steuer, 84 kickoff return (Koenig kick) |
| 2 | Gov. Mifflin | Leaf, 5 run (Koenig kick) |
| 2 | Gov. Mifflin | Steuer, 11 run (Koenig kick) |
| 3 | Gov. Mifflin | Kalis, 8 run (Koenig kick) |
| 3 | Pleasant Valley | Ward, 57 run (Duran kick) |
| 3 | Pleasant Valley | Payan, 28 run (kick failed) |
| 4 | Gov. Mifflin | Leaf, 1 run (Koenig kick) |
Team statistics
| GOV. MIFFLIN | PLEASANT VALLEY | |
| Rushes-yards | 46-280 | 25-187 |
| Passing yards | 12 | 103 |
| Total yards | 292 | 290 |
| Passes | 1-4-0 | 8-12-0 |
| Fumbles | 2-2 | 1-1 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Governor Mifflin: Leaf 13-68, Rodriguez 7-68, Kalis 13-68, Steuer 9-52 Overley 2-24.
Pleasant Valley: Ward 6-112, Payan 4-33, Westerman 6-22, Haines 7-18, George 2-2.
PASSING
Governor Mifflin: Leaf 1-4-0-12.
Pleasant Valley: Haines 8-12-0–103.
RECEIVING
Governor Mifflin: Campitelli 1-12.
Pleasant Valley: Solt 4-49, Breuer 2-30, Ward 2-24.
