LEWISTOWN - Mifflin County's game plan against Williamsport was simple: run the ball.
In the suspended game against the Millionaires Friday night, the Huskies amassed 210 yards on the ground through the first 16 minutes of play. And then the lightning came with the Huskies up 27-6.
In Monday's completion of the game, Mifflin County went to a new strategy as Williamsport changed up its defense. It paid off. The Huskies went to the air more often and continued pounding the football en route to a 41-13 badgering of the visiting Millionaires.
Tim Beck ran for his second 100-yard game with 107 and a touchdown. Kyle Kahley finished the game with 86 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Mifflin County had a total of 374 yards to Williamsport's 241.
"We knew we could throw," Mifflin County coach George Miskinis said. "But we really didn't need to throw up 21."
Williamsport (0-2)?dropped its second straight game to open the season. Running back Devin Miller had a 68-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 70-yarder in the fourth to finish the game with 203 yards.
"We came back and made some adjustments," Williamsport coach Kevin Choate said. "What people need to realize is that we're dotted with sophomores and freshman outside of the skill positions and we need to get better."
Mifflin County's Shane Whalen connected with John Michael Maclay in the third quarter for the Huskies first touchdown through the air on the young season. Maclay's day wasn't finished with that touchdown. The Husky junior was around the ball all game and made an interception late in the third which led Beck's 11-yard score.
"The running game was working so we had to stick with it," Maclay said. "When we had to we went with the play-action pass and that worked for us."
This game pitted a pair of teams that like to run the ball. Mifflin County didn't attempt a pass Friday, but got to that as the game progressed Monday.
Williamsport, after giving up chunks of yardage against Mifflin County Friday, switched its defense in the hope of corralling the Mifflin County backs. The Millionaires brought their safety up to add another player in the box. It worked.
It was evident that Mifflin County had a little more trouble with the new look from the Millionaires.
"They switched up on us," Miskinis said of the defense. "They brought that extra guy down and made it a little tougher. But that's what Central Mountain does so we were able to get a look at that."
No points were scored in the second quarter when the two teams resumed action.
After Mifflin County forced a three-and-out from Williamsport to open the action with 8:30 left in the second quarter, the Huskies went to work quickly. After seven plays, the Huskies were quickly inside the Millionaire 30. Then on a fourth down, Kyle Kahley fumbled and gave Williamsport the ball back.
Williamsport got into the Mifflin County red zone late in the second quarter looking to tighten up the game. But a fumble, recovered by Mifflin County's Mason Sweitzer, ended the drive.
The Millionaires opened the second half with another three-and-out this time botching a punt attempt to give Mifflin County the ball at the 23 going in.
This is when the passing game came into play.
Misdirection was working all game for Mifflin County. Then the Huskies decided to add the pass to the misdirection. Whalen faked a hand off left to Beck and then rolled to his right. Maclay ran to the corner and received a perfect pass from Whalen to put the Huskies up 33-6.
"Shane threw a great ball and I was able to get wide open in the end zone," Maclay said.
Mifflin County added a safety to the total with 10:18 left in the fourth quarter to make the score 41-6. Miller's 70-yard touchdown finished off the scoring with 4:35 left in the game.
Williamsport ran 21 plays in the second half. Miller's 37-yard scamper and 70-yard touchdown resulted in most of the yardage.
"Devin has the ability to break it any time he gets the ball - catches or runs," Choate said.
Williamsport 6-0-0-7- 13
Mifflin County 14-13-12-2- 41
First quarter
MC- Kyle Kahley 1 run (Tucker Bachman kick good), 9:36.
W- Devin Miller 68 run (Kick failed), 8:42.
MC- Kahley 33 run (Bachman kick good), 0:42.
Second quarter
MC- Jordan Treaster punt block recovered in end zone (Kick failed), 11:47.
MC- Kahley 10 run (Bachman kick good), 8:30.
Third quarter
MC- John Michael Maclay 33 pass from Shane Whalen (Kick failed), 9:08.
MC- Tim Beck 11 run (Conversion failed), 4:09.
Fourth quarter
MC- Safety, 10:15.
W- Miller 70 run (Austin Robinson kick good), 4:35.
TEAM STATISTICSWMC
First downs417
Rushes-yards24-22950-335
Comp.-att.-int.4-11-13-6-0
Yards passing1239
Total yards241374
Fumbles-lost1-12-0
Penalties-yards4-253-20
Punts-avg.4-35.04-37.3
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Williamsport- Devin Miller 13-203 2TD, Caleb Belle 10-24, Terrel Pittinger 1-2. Mifflin County Tim Beck 14-107 TD, Kyle Kahley 9-86 3 TD, Heath Hidlay 9-63, Shane Whalen 4-34, Chase Pitts 8-32, Curtis Jerzerick 2-7, Anthony Elliot 2-8, Jared Pennepacker 1-1, Gage Reesman 1-(-3).
PASSING: Williamsport- Owen Lukens 0-3-1-0, Dale Berkheimer 4-8-0-12. Mifflin County- Shane Whalen 3-6-0-39 TD.
RECEIVING: Williamsport- Belle 1-6, Tyler Gardner 1-6. Mifflin County- John Michael Maclay 2-34 TD, Kahley 1-5.
INTERCEPTIONS: Mifflin County- Aaron Michaels, John Michael Maclay.
