Football notes: Muhls enjoying many happy returns; Eagles’ defense soaring

Like most high school football coaches in America, Muhlenberg’s John Lorchak wishes he had more time each week to spend on special teams.

Unlike most, he hasn’t needed it this season — at least in the kick return game.

In their past three games the Muhls have returned three kickoffs for touchdowns — by three different players. That’s a rare feat for a full season, much less the opening month of the season.

“Fortunately, we have three guys back there capable of producing a long return or going the full distance,” said Lorchak, who has watched Michael Miller, Jermicky Gumby and Gio Cavanna each take a kickoff to the house.

Miller, a freshman, returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown against Reading High in Week 2; Gumby, a senior, took one 91 yards against Daniel Boone in Week 3; Cavanna, a senior, returned one 90 yards last week against Lebanon.

“We’re fortunate that we’ve just got three athletes back there,” Lorchak said. “They’re just tremendous athletes.”

The three rotate along the back line throughout the game.

Some teams have a dominant return specialist who does most of the damage. Wilson has Cam Jones, who took three kickoffs back for TDs last season; in years past, Conrad Weiser had Danny Sanchez and Aidan Brosius, each of whom returned three kickoffs for scores in a season.

To have a three-headed monster? That’s rare. During the 2000’s only two other Berks teams have had three different players take kickoffs back for scores in the same season.

Reading High, in 2014, had Dante Owens, K.J. Boston and Khary Mauras (Owens returned two).

Last season Wyomissing had three: Amory Thompson, Drew Eisenhower and Charlie McIntyre.

The Spartans, of course, played 16 games; the Muhls have played four.

During the 2000’s only two Berks teams have had more than three kickoff return TDs in a season: Conrad Weiser, in 2013, and Reading in 2014.

“Special teams is such a big part of the game,” Lorchak said. “(Former Reading High player and coach) Tommy Miller used to call it hidden yardage. You don’t realize how much you gain or lose in the special teams game.”

Eagles have become birds of prey

Exeter is usually known more for its offensive prowess than its defense, due in part because it has produced a string of top quarterbacks such as Colin Payne, Gavin McCusker, Kolby Haag and the Yocum brothers, Kyle and Chase.

This year it’s the defense that’s hogging the spotlight at Exeter.

The Eagles have posted a pair of shutouts and their first-string defense has yielded just one touchdown; that didn’t come until the third quarter last week in a 36-6 win at Gov. Mifflin.

“They’re definitely right up there,” said Eagles coach Matt Bauer, comparing this defensive unit to some of the best he’s coached in his 14 seasons. “They’re continuing to improve from week to week. Obviously, Friday was a huge victory for us, (due) largely (to the defense).”

Exeter is allowing 6.7 points per game, second-lowest among all teams in District 3. West Perry is allowing 6.5.

The Eagles are ranked third overall in the Lancaster-Lebanon League in total defense, allowing 197 yards per game. Only Lampeter-Strasburg and Wyomissing have allowed less.

Mason running down records

Iggy Reynoso’s Hamburg record of 24 touchdowns in a season is in grave jeopardy.

Pierce Mason has scored a Lancaster-Lebanon League-leading 16 TDs in four games for the unbeaten Hawks. He had five last week at Annville-Cleona to match a program record shared by Reynoso, Vreeland Wood and Bryan Wagner.

Diohnny Ruiz’s program rushing record of 1,313 yards, set last season, is in danger, too. Mason has rushed for 727 yards in four games. He’s averaging 13.7 yards per carry.

Spartans nearing another mark

Wyomissing can tie the Berks record for consecutive regular season wins with a victory at Elco Friday.

The Spartans have won 29 straight, one short of Wilson’s record, set from 2012-15. Berks Catholic won 29 straight from 2013-15.

Wyomissing didn’t lose a regular season game in any of the past three seasons and might not this year, either. It’s toughest test figures to come in Week 10 against Lampeter-Strasburg, which has outscored its last three opponents 124-7.

The Spartans are 40-3 since the start of the 2019 season.

Schlaffer a big catch for Exeter

Joey Schlaffer became Exeter’s all-time receptions last week, his four catches in a 36-6 win at Gov. Mifflin giving him 97 in his career.

That topped the mark of 95, set by Alex Javier in 2019.

Schlaffer had a touchdown catch last week, adding to his career record, now at 25; the previous mark was 21, by Javier.

He’s closing in on Javier’s career receiving yardage record of 1,950; Schlaffer now stands at 1,902.

Mustangs’ playoff run begins now

Gov. Mifflin’s streak of 18 straight District 3 playoff appearances is in jeopardy after a 1-3 start.

The Mustangs have left themselves with little margin for error to crack the 12-team Class 5A field. They would need to win five of their final six games to finish above .500, a tough chore what with Wilson ahead in Week 6, Manheim Central in Week 9 and Warwick in Week 10.

Mifflin is 20th in the district power ratings going into its game Friday at Muhlenberg.

Key Section 1 clash looms

Hempfield and Manheim Township meet in a key early season Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1 game Friday at Landisville.

Township and Wilson are considered the favorites in Section 1 but Hempfield’s a top challenger and is off to a 3-1 start. It’s only loss came in Week 3, 30-20 against Central York.

Township lost its opener 31-27 at Cumberland Valley but gained a lot of attention with a 24-20 win at Harrisburg in Week 3, scoring the go-ahead TD in the final minute. It edged Spring-Ford 17-14 last week.

Hempfield won 17-14 last season at Township.

Warriors’ streak in jeopardy

Warwick will be hard-pressed to extend its winning streak to five games over Manheim Central. The two meet Friday at Manheim in a key Section 2 game.

The Barons, as usual, are putting up big offensive numbers; they’re No. 2 in the league in total offense, behind only Elizabethtown.

Warwick and Manheim shared the Section 2 title last season with Cocalico.