Javien Pletz scores four TDs, leads Gov. Mifflin over Carlisle
2023 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
(This story will be updated later tonight with additional details and postgame reaction.)
By Sean McBryan — MikeDragoSports.com correspondent
Gov. Mifflin junior quarterback Javien Pletz accounted for four touchdowns — two on the ground and two through the air — as the Mustangs picked up their first win by holding off Carlisle 28-21 Friday night in a non-league game at Shillington.
Pletz scored on a 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, then hit Lebron Leaf on a 16-yard TD pass with 7:34 left in the half. Leaf made an incredible catch on the play, collecting the ball with one hand and quickly securing it before he hit the ground.
Pletz then hit Derek Dinatale for a 14-yard touchdown with 2:27 left in the first half as the Mustangs (1-1) took a 21-0 lead.
Carlisle senior quarterback Lucas Smith hit wideout Carson Swartz for a 90-yard touchdown on the Thundering Herd’s first play of the next drive to draw within two scores.
On Carlisle’s first drive of the second half, Marquise Miller dashed 53 yards for another big-play score to make it 21-14.
Carlisle forced a punt on the next drive, but Mifflin pinned it at its own 5.
No matter, Smith hit Swartz again for a 95-yard score on the next play to tie it up; the teams were even heading to the fourth.
The Thundering Herd (1-1) stopped Mifflin’s 15-play, 70-yard drive, forced a turnover on downs, and took over at their own 5 with under 9:00 left in the game.
The Mustangs then forced a punt and took seven plays to go 47 yards before Pletz scored the game-winning touchdown from 9 yards out with 4:29 remaining.
Carlisle reached the Mifflin’s 29 on its final drive, but the Mustangs eventually forced a turnover on downs and kneeled to drain the clock.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final | |
| Carlisle | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Gov. Mifflin | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Scoring summary
| 2 | Gov. Mifflin | Pletz, 1 run (Koenig kick) | 11:56 |
| 2 | Gov. Mifflin | Leaf, 16 pass from Pletz (Koenig kick) | 7:34 |
| 2 | Gov. Mifflin | Dinatale, 14 pass from Pletz (Koenig kick) | 2:27 |
| 2 | Carlisle | Swartz, 90 pass from Smith (Crim kick) | 2:02 |
| 3 | Carlisle | Miller, 53 run (Crim kick) | 10:36 |
| 3 | Carlisle | Swartz, 95 pass from Smith (Crim kick) | 5:33 |
| 4 | Gov. Mifflin | Pletz, 9 run (Koenig kick) | 4:29 |
Team statistics
| Carlisle | Gov. Mifflin | |
| First downs | 9 | 21 |
| Rushes-yards | 21-122 | 58-286 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 38 |
| Total yards | 363 | 324 |
| Passes | 9-23-1 | 3-8-0 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Punts-average | 3-18.3 | 2-35.5 |
| Penalties-yards | 11-95 | 4-30 |
Individual statistics
RUSHING
Carlisle: Miller 7-85, Bonner 7-32, Smith 2-10, Pretopapa 2-5, Hargrove 1-5, Swartz 1-2, Team 1-(-17).
Gov. Mifflin: Garner 22-102, Pletz 19-85, Jones 9-70, Huber 2-22, Hohl 4-7, Alvarez 1-0, Jenkins 1-0.
PASSING
Carlisle: Smith 9-23-1—241.
Gov. Mifflin: Pletz 3-8-0—38.
RECEIVING
Carlisle: Swartz 5-220, Stroud 2-9, Barclay 1-11, Bonner 1-1.
Gov. Mifflin: Leaf 1-16, Dinatale 1-14, Huber 1-8.
INTERCEPTIONS
Gov. Mifflin: Leaf.
