Wilson-Gov. Mifflin

Rivalries make sports great. Army vs. Navy, Michigan vs. Ohio State, North Carolina vs. Duke, and the Yankees vs. the Red Sox come to mind immediately. These matchups always get plenty of hype. There’s a buzz in the air when these teams square off. In Berks County, Wilson vs. Gov. Mifflin is a rivalry that needs no introduction. West Lawn and Shillington are separated by just a few miles. Bragging rights will be on the line once again this Friday night at John Gurski Stadium. The 68th meeting between the Bulldogs and Mustangs is set for 7pm.

The rivalry kicked off in 1954 with Wilson shutting out Gov. Mifflin 27-0. The Bulldogs lead the overall series (40-27). Wilson has taken 11 of the past 14 contests. The Bulldogs won 43-20 in Shillington last year. Madyx Gruber had a performance for the ages. The All-State selection tied a school record with five touchdown passes. Gruber went 15-of-20 for 232 yards. He also ran for a career-high 204 yards on 19 carries.

Gov. Mifflin put together a 12-game winning streak against Wilson from 1955-66. The Bulldogs won six straight in the rivalry from 1976-81. The 1981 team finished a perfect (11-0). From 1987-2003, Wilson dominated the series with the Mustangs. The Bulldogs won 12 of the 13 matchups by an average margin of 30 points. After not playing in 2004 and 2005, Gov. Mifflin bounced back with three wins in a row. An incredible crowd showed up for the District 3 semifinal in 2006. They saw the Mustangs roll over the Bulldogs 47-13. Dustin Manz ran for 176 yards and five touchdowns.

Penn State running back Nick Singleton made an imprint on this rivalry. In 2020, Singleton piled up 160 yards and 4TD in a 48-7 rout. Singleton ran for 137 yards and 3TD the following season as Gov. Mifflin defeated Wilson 42-14. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year after his senior campaign.

The Bulldogs are considered the favorite this season. They’ve won four of their first five games. Mason Young is completing 68% of his passes in his first year at quarterback. He’s thrown for 905 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Mike Glover, an All-State tight end, leads Wilson with 20 catches for 256 yards and three scores. The 6’3, 223-pound junior has added three sacks at defensive end. Senior running back Correll Akings has reached the end zone nine times. The Bulldogs’ defense is led by E.J. Brownback. The 5’11, 218-pound junior linebacker has already returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Brownback has a team-high 42 tackles. He made ten stops and had a sack against Gov. Mifflin last year.

Meanwhile, the (2-3) Mustangs have lost their last two contests. They allowed 78 points combined at Exeter and Muhlenberg. Gov. Mifflin is averaging just 225 total yards per game. Lebron Leaf is the Mustangs’ most dangerous weapon. The 6’2, 197-pound senior made the switch to quarterback this season. Leaf has 204 rushing yards and 6TD in their triple-option offense. He’s 26-of-54 through the air for 270 yards and two touchdowns.

I’ll be in West Lawn on Friday with live updates and postgame reaction.