Berks Sports Report Paul Roberts
The football doesn’t end up in the air too much when Gov. Mifflin is on offense. The Mustangs have had a lot of success with their triple-option attack. In Week 1, they ran the ball 44 times and attempted just four passes. Senior quarterback Lebron Leaf is willing to do whatever it takes to win. “I’m originally a running back so I bring a running back style to the quarterback room. At the end of the day, I can do both,” he replied. Leaf ran 13 times for 68 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-20 victory at Pleasant Valley. “That result was a show of our hard work this offseason and pushing ourselves to the limit. That was a big win,” said Leaf. Gov. Mifflin rumbled for 280 yards on the ground. Senior fullback Nick Kalis had 68 yards and a score on 13 carries. Pat Steuer added 52 rushing yards and a touchdown. The 5’8, 140-pound junior also took a kickoff 84 yards to the house. Tight end Derek Dinatale, wide receiver Joe Murray, and running back Cam Overley are some other skill position players who should make an impact this fall in Shillington.
The Mustangs only returned three starters on offense and five on defense in Nick Morrissey’s second year as head coach. “We lost a lot of key parts of our offensive line last year, but a lot of young guys are stepping up,” noted Leaf. The right side of the line includes Noah Viruet at tackle and Dylan Worley at guard. Both seniors start on defense as well. Viruet stands 6’1 and tips the scale at 336 pounds. Worley (6’, 243) was voted a first team guard and second team linebacker in Section 2 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League last season. Leaf described him as “very strong, very physical, very scrappy.”
Leaf is an all-around athlete and terrific leader. The 6’2, 197-pound senior missed the entire basketball season due to a shoulder injury that he suffered while playing football last fall. Leaf was named a second team safety in Section 2 after making 50 tackles and an interception. He carried a 3.6 GPA during his junior year. The Mustangs are looking to improve upon their (5-6, 3-3) mark in 2024. They moved up to Class 6A and ran into Cumberland Valley in the first round of the District 3 playoffs. Gov. Mifflin fell to the eighth-seeded Eagles 44-12.
The Mustangs are preparing for their home opener against Perkiomen Valley. The Vikings defeated Gov. Mifflin 31-14 a season ago. As for the keys to this Friday’s matchup, Leaf said, “controlling the ball, being smart with the ball, not turning over the ball, and doing the little things right.” He added, “If we all do our jobs and we execute, we’re gonna come out and dominate. They’re a great team. We just gotta stick to our game plan.” Leaf will be a big part of the game plan in Shillington this year.