Sportsbeat Game of the Week Preview: Glendale at Mount Union

MOUNT UNION, Pa. (WTAJ) – High school football is special to small communities, which is why the showdown between ICC contenders Mount Union and Glendale will mean a little bit more.

“Any time that there’s success with football, it sort of radiates through the school and the community,” Glendale head coach Spank Trexler proudly said. “It’s just an exciting time for the kids and everybody involved.”

It’s an extra exciting year for the Vikings, who are 4-1 after only winning three games last year. Glendale has embraced a team-first mindset to lead to its success this season.

“Sometimes there’s a fine line between winning and losing,” Trexler said. “This group is they’re just committed to getting better each day and I think it’s (because of) their resolve and their grit and the way they approach each practice, and (how) it’s carried over to the fields on Friday.”

Both teams spread the wealth on offense and carry dominant defenses that have allowed fewer than 13 points per game. However, both have also lost their only game to Moshannon Valley in back-to-back weeks.

For the Trojans, last week’s loss to the Black Knights provided a learning point before facing Glendale, who plays similarly to Moshannon Valley.

“We got to block better, we got to come off the ball defensively,” Mount Union head coach Jamie Brumbaugh said. “We got to drive them back a little bit (and) sustain the line of scrimmage.”

“You hope that was a night where you didn’t have the physicality,” Brumbaugh added. “This week we were taking a physical approach to practice this week and we’re going to do the best we can to get that (loss) back.”

The physical play from both teams is expected to be on full display this Friday night.

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“It’s going to be a tough game,” Trexler said. “The environment is going to be tough. It’s going to be a playoff-type atmosphere, and you got to be ready as soon as you get off the bus.”

WTAJ will have live pregame coverage from Mount Union during WTAJ news at 5:30 and 6 p.m. on Friday. Highlights and postgame reactions will air during Sportsbeat on Friday at 11 p.m.

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