Mustangs eager to get after it against Eagles after being sidelined last week
GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
As if Exeter didn’t have enough to contend with already in its annual Berks Football League Section 1 showdown against Gov. Mifflin, the Eagles face the unbeaten Mustangs Friday on full rest.
Mifflin got an unplanned week off when Reading High had to cancel its Week 6 game, and league-opener, at Shillington due to COVID issues.
Mifflin coach Jeff Lang wasn’t thrilled about it initially but he knows the time off could pay dividends down what is expected to be a long road. The Mustangs are ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A and expect to play their final game at Hersheypark Stadium in December.
They used last week as a chance to get back to basics, fine-tune individual skills and sharpen up a few plays they haven’t used their first five weeks. After two straight weeks of inner-squad workouts Lang said his guys are chomping at the bit to get back to business.
“They’re tired of hitting each other,” he said. “The kids are definitely ready to hit somebody else.”
That would be the Exeter Eagles (1-0, 4-2) Friday at 7 in the GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week at Don Thomas Stadium.
The Eagles have played a rugged schedule, facing District 3 Class 6A contenders Central York, Wilson and Hempfield. They haven’t faced anything quite like the Mustangs (5-0), however.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that they’re very good, very physical and very quick,” said Exeter coach Matt Bauer. “They’re a totally different type of team (than we’ve faced). It’s tough to adjust to their speed. Hopefully we’re up for the challenge.”
The Mustangs have speed throughout their lineup but none moreso than at tailback, where Nick Singleton is averaging 13.1 yards per carry. He has 20 touchdowns on 78 carries, and a Berks-leading 22 scores.
The Eagles haven’t come close to stopping him the past two seasons. He went off for 248 yards on 13 carries last season as the Mustangs raced to leads of 28-0 and 49-7.
A year earlier the Penn State recruit went for 191 yards and three TDs in Mifflin’s 33-27 victory.
“He’s definitely one of the fastest kids I’ve ever seen play,” Bauer said. “I’m sure he hasn’t lost any of his speed, and I’m sure he’s a lot stronger.”
Opponents who focus too much on Singleton end up getting burned by quarterbacks Eden Johnson and Delsin McNeil, fullback Trey Rock or end Ayden Martin, who is averaging 31.0 yards on his three receptions, two of which went for scores.
The Mustangs are averaging 309 rushing yards and 50.2 points per game; they have mercy-ruled each of their opponents.
“They haven’t shown much vulnerability the first five weeks, that’s for sure,” Bauer said. “I challenged (our players) to play assignment football, especially defensively, because as soon as you have a breakdown that’s when they really bust you for a long one.
“That’s not an easy thing to do 60 to 70 plays in a row. We’ve had a great week of practice and the kids are excited to go out and play.”
This is certainly one of Exeter’s most talented teams. It beat Wilson for the first time in program history and took Central York, which played for a state title last season and remains unbeaten, to the wire. Linebacker J.R. Strauss has committed to Villanove; Ty Yocum, who lines up next to him inside, has an offer from Merrimack College. Joey Schlaffer, the 6-6 wide receiver, has multiple Division I offers.
“They are very strong and physical,” Lang said. “They’ve got a big line, and their (inside) linebackers are definitely a force to be reckoned with. Both those guys are doing a lot on offense. Schlaffer is a big, tall athletic receiver; being able to cover him, that’s going to present a challenge of its own.
“The quarterback (Colin Payne) is athletic; their linemen are athletic. They’ve got a pretty good package there.”