Huntingdon Middle Loses Nailbiter to Union City

HUNTINGDON (September 25) — The Huntingdon Middle School Mustangs finished their football season at 3-4 after a 16-14 loss to Union City at Paul Ward stadium on Thursday.

The Mustangs had a chance to take the lead and possibly win the game with 2:48 left in the third quarter as they had a first-and-goal at the Union City one-yard line trailing in the game by the final margin of two points, but the Mustangs fumbled and were not able to get another opportunity to win the game later in the contest.

The Mustangs took an early lead on their second possession of the game when Noah Webb dashed 50 yards for a touchdown with 1:50 left in the first quarter. The Mustangs failed on the conversion but led 6-0.

Union City grabbed the lead back with 1:04 left in the first half after driving 67 yards in 12 plays to score. Thomas Harrell pushed his way in from two yards out for the score, and Isaiah Puckett made his way over the goal line for the two-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead.

The Mustangs, with just over a minute left in the half, started their next possession at the Union City 49 but were penalized five yards on first down. Bryce Maddox completed a pass to Cohen Gray for 18 yards to the Union City 36. The Mustangs were then penalized 10 yards for holding, and, on the next play, Maddox connected with Webb for a 48-yard pass play for a touchdown to take the lead back. Webb then converted for two, and the Mustangs led 14-8 at the half.

Union City opened the second half with possession and marched the length of the field for the go-ahead TD. The Tornadoes started at their 31 and covered the distance in nine plays to score on a Dexter Graham three-yard run with 4:59 left in the third. Puckett converted the run for two points and Union City led 16-14.

The Mustangs had a chance to take the lead back after Union City’s TD, but fumbled at the one, and the Mustangs, with 7:10 left in the game, got the ball at the Union City 19, but a ten-yard penalty and a sack for 16 yards killed the drive and the Mustangs suffered the loss.

Webb ran 14 times for 134 yards in his last game as a Mustang and caught a pass for 48 yards and a touchdown to lead the Mustangs.

Union City ran 40 times for 219 yards in the win.