Huntingdon Continues Strong Play

HUNTINGDON (November 15) — In the second round of TSSAA Football Playoff action, the Huntingdon Mustangs made short work of the defending 2A State Champion Riverside Panthers. After four quarters of play, the Mustangs advance to the third round with the 35-7 win.

Huntingdon kept to their run game which has proven tried-and-true this season throwing only one pass but rushing the ball 45 plays. Gray Eubanks completed the solo pass for 16 yards. Brady Warbritton led the rushing game with 239 yards with Eubanks right behind him with 219 yards.

The Mustang defense kept the Panthers in check with 151 yards passing and 148 rushing yards.

In the first quarter, Huntingdon picked up two touchdowns. Their first scoring drive started at the Mustang 35 yard line. They moved the ball with ease downfield. At the 4:35 mark, Eubanks punched it in from one yard out. Greyson Anderson posted the extra point giving Huntingdon the early 7-0 lead.

Riverside’s next drive resulted in a punt following a key sack by Broox Bennett. On first and 10 from the Panther 43 yard line, Warbritton scored on a counter run. Anderson’s PAT gave Huntingdon the 14-0 lead with 1:48 to play in the quarter.

Huntingdon’s first drive in the second quarter led to a touchdown on a 95-yard drive. After nearly five minutes of winding down the clock, Eubanks scored his second touchdown of the night from six yards out. Anderson’s extra point gave Huntingdon a 21-0 lead with 3:57 to play in the half.

The Panthers were forced to punt on the next drive. Starting at the Mustang 37 yard line, Warbritton moved the ball down to the Riverside 37 yard line. Then on another counterplay, Warbritton reversed field and picked up the touchdown. Anderson’s kick put Huntingdon up 28-0 with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Riverside responded on the next drive on a collection of passes. With little time remaining in the half, the Panthers scored from two yards out. The extra point narrowed the halftime lead to 28-7.

To start the third quarter, Riverside kicked off to Huntingdon. The Mustangs had the ball on their 45 yard line. Unable to move the ball, Huntingdon was forced to punt.

Riverside was unable to capitalize on the stalled drive. After punting away their possession, the Panthers forced Huntingdon to start the next drive at the opposing 26 yard line. Chipping five minutes off the clock, Eubanks posted a touchdown at the 53-second mark of the third quarter. Anderson added the final points of the night as Huntingdon capped the 35-7 win.

The remaining time of the game was a systematic move of the ball as Huntingdon used most of the clock to finish out the game.

The win puts Huntingdon’s record at 10-2 and advances the Mustangs to the third round of the playoffs in a rematch against Milan at Milan. In week five, Huntingdon was defeated 28-7 by Milan. The Bulldogs’ only loss of the season came at the hands of Jackson Central Merry, who Huntingdon beat 21-7 in the regular season.

Kickoff time is 7 p.m. The winner will advance to play the winner of Memphis Business Academy and Fairley.