Tomahawks open new season at Kish Park on Saturday
Trending
Expansion Lehigh Valley visits for 1 p.m. kickoff
LEWISTOWN - Saturday will be a reunion of sorts for the Mifflin County Tomahawks.
After a one-year run in the Pennsylvania Football League, Mifflin County returns to the familiar confines of the Great Eastern Football Association (GEFA) as the 2025 season kicks off against the expansion Lehigh Valley Wolves at 1 p.m. at Kishacoquillas Park in Lewistown.
The Tomahawks finished undefeated and were expecting the PAFL to return in 2025. There was talk of the league expanding to six teams; however, the neighboring Snyder County Spartans folded and the Tomahawks opted to return to the GEFA.
"We are excited to be back into the GEFA with two teams," said Mifflin County head coach and owner Brian Rodgers. "Our GEFA1 team will do our best to compete within that league and would like to make another Keystone Bowl appearance.
"Our GEFA2 team is more of a developmental team and we are in our first year with that," Rodgers added. "I'm so excited for that team and the young men involved in that."
The eight-team GEFA is divided into a four-team Mountain Division with Mifflin County, Bedford County Buffaloes, Indiana County Crusaders and Moshannon Valley Vikings. The Valley Division includes Central Pennsylvania Legends, Lehigh Valley Wolves, Upper Dauphin Comanche and Williamsport Wildcats.
The Tomahawks play 10 Saturday contests, with five at home and five away every other weekend. Including its opener, Mifflin County is scheduled for four home games in its first six contests.
After its opener, Mifflin County hosts perennial-power Moshannon Valley on April 5 before traveling to Bedford County on April 12.
The Tomahawks return home to host Indiana County on April 19 then travel to Indiana County on April 26. The May 3 home game against Upper Dauphin is Mifflin County's last one for more than a month.
The Tomahawks' two-game road trip means games at Williamsport on May 10 and at Indiana County on May 31. Mifflin County has byes on May 17 and 24.
The final home game of the regular season is June 7 against Bedford County. The Tomahawks wrap up the regular season at Moshannon Valley on June 14.
Rodgers is optimistic about the upcoming season, especially with prospects of fielding a ferocious defense.
"The strength of our older team will most likely - as usual - be our defense," he said. "This could be one of the best defenses we have ever had.
"I'm looking forward to seeing rookies, Isaiah Edwards and Brandon Clark both State College High graduates," he added. "We welcome back Rob Albro and his brother, Jamal Albro, who both bring a lot of experience to the team."
Of course, Mifflin County will have some familiar faces with veterans Chase Pitts, Timmy Beck, Hunter Sheaffer and Devin Wileman out there.
This marks the 18th season of Tomahawks football, and the 15th of Rodgers serving as head coach and owning the team.
GEFA2 developmental league
The Tomahawks' entry in the new four-team GEFA2 could sport some familiar faces as Mifflin County High School products Cyrell Green, Braden Shaffer, Tristin Pent and Cody Ort have been recruited by Rodgers.
"I'm so excited for that team and the young men involved in that," Rodgers said. "We have gotten several young guys from Mifflin County High School, and I'm really looking forward to watching them develop."
Mifflin County's GEFA2 season kicks off on April 13 at the NEPA Shock, which is based in Wilkes-Barre. The other two teams in the circuit are the Hazleton Raiders and Upper Dauphin Comanche.
"I will be coaching both, but Charles Pent will be taking the bulk of the responsibilities for the developmental team," Rodgers explained.
There will be a couple of doubleheaders, with the GEFA1 and GEFA2 teams playing back-to-back. The GEFA2 team plays a total of seven games this year.
"I think perhaps the younger guys felt a little intimidated or maybe not quite ready for GEFA1 participation," Rodgers said. "I think this is a great fit for some of those younger guys to get a feel for eight-man football and hopefully transition over a couple years into our GEFA1 team."
The GEFA2 Tomahawks play seven games - six within the GEFA2 and one out of conference game on June 7.
For more information, find them on Facebook.
Schedules
GEFA
Mifflin County Tomahawks
March 29 - Lehigh Valley Wolves
April 5 - Moshannon Valley Vikings
April 12 - at Bedford County Buffaloes
April 19 - Indiana County Crusaders
April 26 - at Central Pennsylvania Legends
May 3 - Upper Dauphin Comanche
May 10 - at Williamsport Wildcats
May 31 - at Indiana County Crusaders
June 7 - Bedford County Buffaloes
June 14 - at Moshannon Vikings
All games played at Kish Park in Lewistown. All home games start at 1 p.m.
GEFA2
Mifflin County Tomahawks
April 13 - at NEPA Shock
April 27 - at Hazelton Raiders
May 3 - Upper Dauphin Comanche
May 17 - at Upper Dauphin Comanche
June 1 - NEPA Shock
June 8 - Hazleton Raiders