Mt. Pleasant rallies for victory over Greensburg Salem

By: Paul S. Brittain
Friday, October 3, 2025 | 11:04 PM

Because of the odd Interstate Conference schedule, Mt. Pleasant played its final regular-season home game and observed senior night Friday.

The Vikings’ seniors put a stamp on the home portion of their season with a hard-fought 42-29 win over Greensburg Salem.

Mt. Pleasant (2-0, 5-2) spotted the visitors a 10-0 lead, and then the game became a dogfight.

Greensburg Salem took advantage of a Vikings fumble as Aden Krug recovered at the MP 34.

The Golden Lions drove to the end zone on five plays. Brody Chismar’s 22-yard pass to Tyrese Lewis set up Chismar’s 7-yard touchdown run, and Alex Swatchick’s kick made it 7-0.

On the next series, Lewis blocked Tyke Snyder’s punt and recovered at the 4.

Mt. Pleasant held the Lions, and Swatchick’s 25-yard field goal extended the lead to 10-0.

The Vikings responded on the next series when Brady Brooks rambled 64 yards down the right sideline to the end zone.

Snyder’s kick cut the deficit to 10-7.

On the next Vikings series. Dane Firmstone’s 28-yard run and Kaden Hudec runs of 6 and 4 yards moved the hosts to the 15. Richard Shawley covered the remaining real estate, and Snyder’s kick gave Mt. Pleasant a 14-10 lead.

Mt. Pleasant seemed to be headed for another score when the Vikings drove to the Lions’ 23. But on his way to the end zone, Shawley was hit and fumbled, with Lewis recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchback.

But on the next series, Firmstone found Brooks wide open in the middle for a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown and a 21-10 lead.

Greensburg Salem fumbled the ball away on the ensuing kickoff with Snyder recovering at the Greensburg Salem 36.

But the Lions held with 59 seconds left in the half and drove 61 yards to score in six plays, with Chismar almost miraculously scrambling out of several would-be tackles back to the 40, then launching a pass to Jackson Stevey in the end zone as time expired in the half.

The play officially went down as a 5-yard scoring play, and the kick made it a 21-17 score at halftime.

Mt. Pleasant came out of the halftime break and drove 70 yards in four plays with Steve Predajna carrying twice for 54 yards and Firmstone twice for 27 yards, including the 8-yard touchdown run to make it 28-17 with Snyder’s kick.

Early in the fourth quarter, Chismar hit Max Topper with a swing pass, and Topper broke down the left sideline for a 76-yard touchdown play. A bad snap wiped out the conversion, but the Vikings lead was 28-23.

The Vikings put a lock on the game in the fourth quarter with an 85-yard drive in 11 plays, with Predajna scoring from 9 yards out and the kick making it 35-23.

For good measure, Mike Reese returned a fumble 20 yards to score for a 42-23 lead.

Greensburg Salem still battled, driving 80 yards in four plays and scoring on Chismar’s 1-yard keeper to slice the lead to 42-29 with a failed 2-point conversion attempt.

The Vikings had a 439-273 yardage advantage.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game with these guys,” Vikings coach Jason Fazekas said. “It got a little difficult, but we played through it.”

He said the touchdown fumble return by Reese “made things a little easier.”

He added, “It’s never as bad on film as you think it is, and it’s never as good on film as you think it is.”

He praised his team’s determination throughout the season.

“This team makes it much easier to coach and be successful. We’re definitely going to be ready (for Southmoreland).”

The Vikings and Scotties clash Oct. 10 at Southmoreland.

Tags: Greensburg Salem, Mt. Pleasant