By Kenny Varner
LEWISTOWN- One last miracle at Mitchell Field!
As the MIfflin County Huskies football team said it’s goodbyes to their home for the last 10-plus years as it prepares to open its new stadium in the upcoming season, the “Purple and Black Attack” saved the best for last as they defeated Red Land Friday on a 4th and 8, 55-yard bomb from quarterback Fletcher Wilson to Husky speedster Cyrell Green with 2:37 left to end the season with the 21-18 win over the Patriots.
“It was a hard fought game. We jumped on them. I know those guys, they are good coaches. I knew was going to be a tough game. We were lucky to jump on them early,” said Mifflin County coach Shane Breon. “They have a power running game and I knew they were going to be tough. They have some big kids and their back in a big boy. We hung in there the best we could defensively. It was a Mitchell Field Miracle by Cyrell as he broke the school record for receiving yards on that one.”
Playing in front of a packed house full of mostly Huskies fans, the team found itself holding onto a slight 14-6 advantage as the second half got underway.
Going into the lockeroom scoring on their last possession, Red Land got the ball to start the third quarter.
The Patriots stuck with their running game and feature back Brady Seyler, Seyler grinded out over 100-yards on the ground on the night.
Mifflin County running back Josh Maldonado finished with 65 yards on the ground as the leading rusher for the Huskies.
Starting at their 20, Seyler went to work grinding out short gains and also using up a lot of the clock.
On the 16th play, Seyler scored on a 1-yard run at 5:05 left in the third.
Defense came up huge on the 2-point conversion try when Avery Aurand took down the QB and keeping the Patriots from the successful conversion.
However, the touchdown seemingly gave Red Land the momentum for the first time in the game.
However, it would be the Huskies that would have the lead 14-12 as the final stanza got underway.
Following the Patriots touchdown, Mifflin County’s drive fizzled and they were forced to punt.
Like it did for most of the contest, Seyler continued to get the call as Red Land once again rolled down the field once again.
Driving deep into Husky territory, Seyler got one last hand off and rambled on 9-yards TD run, giving them the 18-14 advantage with 4:20 left in the game. But again, the defense for MIfflin County came up big one more time as for the third time in the game they held Red Land from getting a 2-point conversion.
With time running out on their season, the Huskies got the ball to try one last shot at getting back the lead.
After a strong kick off return by Dupree Reed, putting them at their own 45, Red Land forced the Huskies into one last shot.
Facing a fourth down and 16 at their own 45, quarterback Fletcher Wilson dropped back to pass and launched a missle that teammate Green was able to run under and then blaze his way to the 55-yards TD with just 2:37 left on the clock.
“It was a great way to end it. Fletcher Wilson coming in cold. He only had a couple reps this week,” said Breon. “He’s a senior and he worked his tail off and I’m proud of him. I’m proud of all the guys. It was a rough season. It was up and down. Like I told them you’re going to get knocked down in life but you get back up.”
But the game was t quite done yet.
With a chance to try one more drive, the Huskies defense was able to force Red Land into a crucial 4th and from their 16.
The Patriots went to the air and it was picked off by Green, clinching the contest for the home team, giving their fans one last memorable moment to remember.
In the first quarter, the Huskies wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as they fed the ball to running back Josh Maldonado. Maldonado rushed nine times on the drive capping off a 10-play drive with a hard fought 1-yard touchdown run. With the Brendon Noerr PAT, the Huskies held an early 7-0 lead with 8:12 remaining in the opening stanza.
After forcing the Patriots to punt, the Huskies started its second drive on the 36.
The Huskies ran out the clock in the first quarter and continued its drive as the second period got underway.
The 13-play drive was ended by a 1-yard run by Hartung, upping the Huskies’ lead to 14-0.
But the Patriots had a strong drive of their own.
Starting at their 27-yards line, Red Land mixed passes by Quinlin Shearer and the running game by Brady Seyler.
With just 45.8 left in the first half,
Shearer threw a 7-yard TD pass to Kyle Wonders, cutting it to a 14-6 contest.
On the PAT attempt, the Huskies were able to get through the line and blocked the kick.
The Husky Seniors were honored as well before the game as the last generation of MIfflin County football players to play at Mitchell Field.