The Huskies are looking to close out this season at historic Mitchell Field.
LEWISTOWN, Pa. — Kickoff is fast approaching for the Mifflin County Huskies.
While the younger students are looking to prove they have what it takes to play under the lights on a Friday night, the upperclassmen know they have months to solidify their credentials at Lewistown.
But the 2024 season will also be the last for another mainstay of the program.
“We’re very proud to be probably the last team to play on this field,” Mifflin County senior quarterback Fletcher Wilson said, “and it means a lot. I’ve been playing there since I was in the ninth grade, so even when I played in the Pee Wees and Midget leagues, the championship games were played there, so it really brings back a lot of memories.”
Huskies head coach Shane Breon called Mitchell Field home during his playing days, but so did his father and grandfather when they put on the pads.
“There were houses overlooking the away field where people would party or sit on their balconies and watch the game,” Breon recalls. “I remember we were lined up two or three deep around the fence. It was an easy place to get to for the townsfolk. You could walk to the game. It was really fun to see the supporters hopping on buses and driving down the street.”
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This stadium has a lot of history, and it looks like it has a lot of history too.
“I’ve played there my whole life,” Mifflin County senior tight end/linebacker Avery Orlando said, “It’s not great. It’s not in ideal condition. The locker rooms are dilapidated. It’s worn out. It’s time for a new stadium in Mifflin County.”
So while the football team prepares for the new season, a state-of-the-art turf stadium is being constructed just outside the high school.
“It would level the playing field, not just for football but other sports,” Breon argued, “so it would be great for all of Mifflin County. It would be great for local businesses because we could potentially host playoff games and things like that.”
“I know he’ll be a big part of it because he’s got a little brother on the team,” Orlando added. “So I’m really looking forward to him and I’m really looking forward to the rest of the guys.”
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The campaign began with local businesses making donations, and then others in the community pitched in to help with the effort.
“I think that’s what makes it so special, that everybody in the community wanted this and everybody pitched in,” Orlando said. “The facilities help create a safer playing environment for the players, because a lot of these facilities have kids who play and they want to be safer. It was time to upgrade.”
As teams across the state move forward with their seasons one day at a time, the stadium is inching closer to becoming the new home for the Huskies. While the construction will serve as a transitional period, it has also created a special bond with this year’s team.
“We don’t have a practice field, so we talked a lot about where we’re going to practice, where we’re going to do this, and that’s what brought us together as a team,” Fletcher said. “It doesn’t matter where we practice, we’re going to work hard.”
Mifflin County opens the season with a trip to Central Mountain on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. The Huskies’ final home opener at Mitchell Field will be on Sept. 6 against Mechanicsburg at 7 p.m.
