Huskies hang tough early, falls late Greyhounds

By Kenny Varner Jr.
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Updated: September 20, 2024

By Kenny Varner

LEWISTOWN – The MIfflin County football team kept pace with Shippensburg early in their contest against undefeated Shippensburg.

However, the Greyhounds outscored the Huskies 28-7 in the second half to take the 42-13 victory.

One of the bright spots for the Huskies on the evening was the offensive and special teams play by Cyrell Green. Green had a touchdown on a reverse, for a 25-yard touchdown and a catch of 34-yards as well as a 60-yard kick return to put his team in Shippensburg territory.

MIfflin County gave a golden effort Friday night as they played the Shippensburg tough in the first half, keeping them within striking distance as the two teams went into the second half.

Defensively, the Huskies gave a scrappy effort in their second game at legendary Mitchell Field this season.

“The coach (Shippensburg) complimented us after the game saying that we got them out of their game a little bit in the first half and took them out of their stuff ,” said Mifflin County head coach Shane Breon. “We just started to late on offense. Our defense was holding us in there and we scored there before halftime. I thought the defense played as well as they could. They are a big football team and they come right at you. I am very proud of our guys for the way they played tonight.

The Greyhounds opened the contest scoring on their first possession of the game. Shippensburg debuted using their running game.

Starting at their own 30, Shippensburg rolled down the field on a 5-play drive.

But the Huskies forced the Greyhounds into a 4th down and 11 on the MIfflin County 35.

Shippensburg went to their passing game as Brady Maciejewski found Jaden Hines on 35-yards TD reception. With the Seth Taylor kick at 9:33, the Greyhounds led 7-0.

Mifflin County’s offense started slow but would warm up later in the half as the two went into the second quarter with the same 7-0 score.

With the clock dropping under five minutes in the half, Shippensburg was driving again.

With a 2nd and goal on the one, Maciejewski muscled his way into the end zone on the yard run.

With 4:27 left in the half, the visitors jumped ahead 14-0.

But the Huskies would not be denied in the final minutes of the half.

The Huskies rolled down the field highlighted by a Fletcher Wilson hook up with Cyrell Green for 34-yard catch putting the ball down to the Greyhounds three.

However, the Shippensburg defense held, getting the ball back at their own nine.

Again, the defense made the play they needed when Reese Christine picked off the Shippensburg pass and was tackle just a yard short with 37 seconds left in the half.

The Huskies handed the ball to Brice Rishel. Rishel muscled the ball in one a 1-yard run. With the Brandon Noerr Kick the Huskies were back within striking distance 14-7.

In the second half, the Shippensburg running game started to build some steam.

After forcing Mifflin County to a three-and-out, the Greyhounds got the ball deep into Huskies territory culminating on a Jayne Statem 1-yard run at 5:58.

After a MIfflin County turnover, Mark Carothers notched his first touchdown of the night finishing a drive on a 1-yard run and Taylor kick 1:10 left in the third.

In the final stanza, Mifflin County refused to go down without a fight.

Green took the ball on a reverse and finished the drive off courtesy of a 25-yard run. Unfortunately for the Huskies, the kick failed, making it a 35-13 game at 11:49 left in the final stanza.

The Greyhounds would get a final score late, sending them home the victors of a 42-13 Greyhounds win.

Next week MIfflin County travels to Palmyra.

Shippensburg 42, MIfflin County 13

Shippensburg 7 7 14 14 – 42

Mifflin County 0 7 0 6 – 13

First Quarter

SH – Brady Maciejewski to Jaden Hines 35-yards TD reception (Seth Taylor kick),9:33

Second Quarter

SH – Maciejewski 1-yard run (Taylor),4:27.

MC – Brice Rishel 1-yard run (Brandon Noerr Kick),19.3

Third Quarter

SH – Jayne Statem 1-yard run (Taylor kick), 5:58.

SH – Mark Carothers 1-yard run, (Taylor Kick)1:10.

Fourth Quarter

MC – Green 25-yard run (kick failed), 11:49.

SH – Carothers 6-yards run (Taylor kick), 4:40.

SH – Carothers 53-yard run (Taylor kick), 2:36.

TEAM STATISTICS SH MC

First downs 18 6

Total Yards 438 156

Rushes-yards. 362 76

Yards passing 76 80

Passing (comp.-att.-int.) 5-8-1 3-12-1

Fumbles-lost 0. 0

Penalties-yards 5-35 7-55

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING: SH – Jayne Statum 19-74, Jaden Hines 10-55, Mark Carothers 20-154, Brady Macijewski 5-13, Bryson Negley 1-0, Chase Holtey 3-17, Mike Severe 2-19.

MC – Fletcher Wilson 3-2, Brice Rishel 9-24, Cyrell Green 2-26, Jaxon Strohecker 6-16, Chase Hartung 3-2, Joel Beamer 1-6.

PASSING: SH – Macijewski 5-8 76

MC – Fletcher Wilson 2-8-59, Chase Hartung 1-4 21.

RECEIVING : SH – Aiden Mentzer 3-39, Carothers 1-2, Hines 1-35.

MC – Green 2-55, Landon Haigh 1-25.