WAYNESBORO, Pa. – Lightning struck not once, but twice as the Mifflin County Huskies returned two interceptions for touchdowns to spoil Waynesboro’s homecoming game on Friday at Buchanan Automotive Stadium inside the Charles A. “Rip” Engle Sports Complex.
The Indians scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to rally the home team. The Huskies left with a 35-24 Mid-Penn Keystone Division win and left Waynesboro still winless at 0-6.
Mifflin County scored on its first possession of the game midway through the first quarter. Quarterback Noah Wolfkiel tossed a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end Asher Pearce that gave the Huskies a 7-0 lead.
Waynesboro received the kickoff and was moving the ball downfield until MC’s Landon Bowen stepped in front of quarterback Brayden Heimbuch’s pass and returned it from midfield into the end zone and a 14-0 lead.
The Tribe responded this time, driving the ball 66 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Ronan Mencia. Nick Carbaugh’s extra-point kick made it 14-7.
Key plays during the scoring drive were a 16-yard completion from Heimbuch to Trenton Urey, Mason Nickel’s 13-yard catch and a 15-yard run by Mencia.
The Huskies appeared to be putting together another scoring possession, but Waynesboro’s defense clamped down and got some help. Mifflin County had a first down at the 18 but was called for holding. A false start penalty brought the ball back to the 29, and after an incomplete pass, senior defensive end Cayden Lengyel sacked Wolfkiel at the 37 to force a punt.
The Indians made the last offensive series of the first half count and went back to the locker room trailing 14-10 following a Carbaugh field goal as time expired.
The Huskies received the second-half kickoff and wasted no time hitting paydirt. Wolfkiel connected with Pearce for a 56-yard touchdown, and just like that it was 21-10.
Waynesboro couldn’t muster any offense on its initial possession of the third quarter. Then, a bad snap on the punt gave MC a first-and-goal at the five-yard line. On second down, running back Jaxon Strohecker scored from the four and it was 28-10 with 7:36 remaining in the quarter.
There was no further scoring until King Terry returned an interception 25 yards for the Huskies’ final points.
The Indians put together a nice drive that resulted in a touchdown. The drive took 11 plays to cover 82 yards and culminated in a six-yard TD pass from Heimbuch to Brantley Phebus.
During the possession, Heimbuch ran a keeper for 15 yards, threw a 19-yard pass to Dwayne Robinson and another for 36 yards to Robinson.
Robinson was on the receiving end of a 30-yard scoring pass from Heimbuch with 1:16 left to play. Robinson set up the touchdown with a 27-yard reception.
Waynesboro will play at Hershey next Friday.
Photos by Toya McCleary:
