Pleasant Valley head coach Blaec Saeger has been in the same situation before.

The Bears began their 2024 campaign at Governor Mifflin last Friday night following the departure of 20 seniors from a team that went 6-5 and beat the Mustangs for Eastern Conference Class 5A/6A title a year ago.

It was the second consecutive season that the Bears saw 20 seniors depart after graduating. This time they lost staples in running back Alex Ecker, and quarterback Valentino-Byers Robinson, who both accounted for the majority of their offense.

In their rematch, Governor Mifflin wasted little time seizing control en route to a 35-0 season-opening shutout victory.

It proved to be an evening in which Pleasant Valley was in striking distance, down 14-0 at halftime. But the Bears offense sputtered, as they failed to register a first down.

With plenty of new faces in the lineup. Saeger knew it could be a long night.

“We made several mistakes, which showed our inexperience,” offered Saeger. “Mifflin was very strong and physical.

“We just weren’t able to match them.”

First-year starting quarterback Jaxson Haines completed three of seven passes for 39 yards, and had an interception.

Sophomore Chris Ward accounted for a team-high 38 yards rushing, and Haines added 26. The Bears finished with 186 total yards, 147 of them rushing.

Saeger saw some promise from his first-year signal caller.

“Haines had some very good moments,” said Saeger. “He showed a lot of toughness. Haines has room to improve as we all do.”

Defensively, the Bears (0-1) allowed 293 total yards, with 231 coming on the ground. Saeger credited the play of linebacker Tyler Berger in the contest against Governor Mifflin (1-0).

“Our defense struggled with their physicality, strength, and size,” noted Saeger. “We know we have to clean up some things.”

And the coach understands that it will be a process to become a finished product, a challenge the program is embracing.

“We are very young, and we are looking to improve each week,” added Saeger. “We’ll keep battling.”

TAKING THE SLED ... The Bears will travel to J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown to meet Dieruff Friday night. The Huskies routed Pocono Mountain East 46-21 in Week 1. Saeger is expecting a tough challenge ahead. “Dieruff is a solid Week 2 opponent,” stated Saeger. “They have a lot of speed and athletes. We will have to be good at tackling in space this week against them.”