Delsin McNeil, Mifflin check off win against Muhlenberg

By Mike Mitchell Jr. Last updated Sep 26, 2022

Mifflin quarterback Delsin McNeil takes off for the end zone. (Susan L. Angstadt photo)

By Mike Mitchell Jr. — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent

Senior quarterback Delsin McNeil ran for three touchdowns and threw for another, leading Gov. Mifflin to a 42-8 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 victory over Muhlenberg Friday night at Laureldale.

McNeil accounted for 103 of Mifflin’s 267 total yards.

“Delsin did a really nice job tonight,” Mifflin coach Jeff Lang said. “He called many audibles at the line that led to big plays. He had some great, great checks. He is really growing into the role. He’s putting in the work, listening to the coaching staff, and watching film. He’s extremely coachable.”

“I just get up to the line and read what the defense is doing,” McNeil said. “Then I call the play that should work against the defensive alignment. The coaches do a great job of getting us prepared for what we will see on defense.

“Tonight, our offensive line and our running backs did a great job of blocking. It made my job of running the ball very easy. All the credit in the world tonight goes to the offensive line and the running backs for their blocking.”

A low snap on a punt on Muhlenberg’s first possession led to a poor punt and excellent field position for the Mustangs (1-1, 2-3). With Mifflin taking over at the Muhlenberg 15, McNeil took the first snap and went the distance for his first touchdown.

After a three-and-out for the Muhls (1-1, 2-3), junior running back Brandon Jones broke out for a 43-yard touchdown run. Jackson Schools connected on the extra point to make it 14-0.

On Mifflin’s next possession, McNeil scored his second touchdown on an 8-yard run.

The Mustangs special teams unit then came up with a huge play on the ensuing kickoff. A perfectly executed pooch kick by Schools was recovered by Chase Rapp at the Muhlenberg 30.

“Our special teams did a great job tonight,” Lang said. “We tried to take advantage of the wind. We called some timeouts to keep the wind at our back and it worked out.

“I wished we had gotten the first kick as well. But overall that was a huge play in the game for us to recover that kick.”

Senior running back Brayden Reis scored from the 5. Tynan Harter ran the 2-point conversion untouched into the end zone to give the Mustangs a 28-0 lead.

The stingy Mifflin defense then forced another three-and-out.

Mifflin’s Brandon Jones takes down Muhlenberg’s Tito Cruz. (Susan L. Angstadt photo)

“Our defense has played well all year,” Lang said. “In some of the games that we have gotten beat soundly, it wasn’t our defense. It was basically the lack of execution of our offense. This defense has done a solid job. The defensive line was really solid tonight against a strong running team in Muhlenberg.”

Mifflin took over at the Muhls 39, where Reis rambled for 21 yards. McNeil then had a nifty 17-yard run to the 1 before sneaking it in for his third touchdown of the half.

Mifflin came out throwing in the second half. McNeil completed two passes (29 and 16 yards) to junior tight end Aidyn Cannon, the second resulting in the final Mustangs touchdown and a 42-0 lead early in the third quarter.

“It’s tough not to throw a lot,” said McNeil. “But that’s not who we are. My job is to make the passes when called upon to do so. All I want to do is win.”

Muhlenberg got on the board later in the quarter behind the strong, gutsy running of Gio Cavanna He gained 42 yards on the touchdown drive, taking it the final 25 yards for the score. Isaiah Dodson ran in the two-point conversion.

Although the game was lopsided, Lang was quick to point out the progress Muhlenberg has made under head coach John Lorchak.

”It’s evident their program is headed in the right direction,” Lang said. “They are a very good football team that does a lot of things well. I have tremendous respect for Coach Lorchak, his staff, and the job they are doing.”

The Mustangs will look to make it two in a row next Saturday at 1 when they take on their archrival Wilson at Mustang Stadium.

“Oh, it’s definitely a bigger game,” McNeil said. “They are our rival. But we just have to stay focused, properly prepare, and do our assignments.”

Mustangs’ Braden Reis. (Susan L. Angstadt photo)

	1	2	3	4	Final
Gov. Mifflin	14	21	7	0	42
Muhlenberg	0	0	8	0	8

Scoring summary

1	Team	Scoring	Time
1	Gov. Mifflin	D. McNeil, 15 run (Schools kick)	5:27
1	Gov. Mifflin	Jones, 43 run (Schools kick)	2:27
2	Gov. Mifflin	D. McNeil, 1 run (kick failed)	10:54
2	Gov. Mifflin	Reis, 5 run (Harter run)	7:48
2	Gov. Mifflin	D. McNeil, 1 run (Schools kick)	5:01
3	Gov. Mifflin	Cannon, 16 pass from D. McNeil (Schools kick)	7:40
3	Muhlenberg	Cavanna, 25 run (Dodson run)	3:14

Team statistics

	Gov. Mifflin	Muhlenberg
First downs	11	6
Rushes-yards	34-222	29-126
Passing yards	45	25
Total yards	267	151
Passes	2-3-0	5-9-1
Fumbles-lost	2-0	2-0
Punts-average	2-45	5-14.2
Penalties-yards	6-36	8-40