Mifflin races past Exeter in Berks I showdown
GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week
(This story will be updated with details and quotes from coaches and players later tonight.)
Nick Singleton rushed for 246 yards and scored four touchdowns as Gov. Mifflin ran past Exeter 54-21 Friday in a Berks Football League Section 1 game at on Thomas Stadium.
Singleton scored on runs of 64, 43, 8 and 28 yards in the GoBigRecruiting.com Game of the Week.
The Mustangs (6-0) raced to a 30-0 lead early in the second quarter, with Singleton scoring twice, Tyler Minnick taking the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and Eden Johnson scoring on a fourth-down run from the 11. They also got a safety when Nate Goodman blocked a punt out the back of the end zone.
The Eagles (1-1, 4-3) closed within 33-7 at the half on the first of two Ty Yocum touchdown runs. Eric Nangle also scored for Exeter.
Trey Rock scored a late TD for the Mustangs.
It was the first game this season that Mifflin, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 5A, did not invoke the mercy rule on its opponent.
“It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that they’re very good, very physical and very quick,” Exeter coach Matt Bauer said earlier in the week. “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 Singleton is averaging 13.1 yards per carry. He had 20 touchdowns on 78 carries, and a Berks-leading 22 scores coming into the game.
The Eagles hadn’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.”
The Mustangs were averaging 309 rushing yards and 50.2 points per game; they had 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.