Mustangs Corralled by Bulldog Defense

MILAN (September 5) — Lightning struck the Huntingdon Mustangs from two different directions Friday in Milan as the Mustangs lost their first game of the season, 34-9, to the Milan Bulldogs to fall to 2-1 for the season and 0-1 in region play.

It was the third straight game on the road to start the season for the Mustangs.

Lightning came in the form of Mother Nature as the weather created over an hour delay with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter with the Bulldogs leading 27-9 and from the legs of Milan senior running back Jaydon Peete, who scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass to lead the Bulldogs.

Peete, who was named Mr. Football in Class 2-A last season, provided a second half spark for the Bulldogs, who trailed 9-6 at the half, when he returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and the Bulldogs' first lead of the night.

Peete scored again just as the game was interrupted at the 3:19 mark of the third quarter on a 19-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 27-9 lead. The touchdown drive came after the Bulldogs had taken over at the Mustang 28 following an interception of a Kenton Smith pass by Peete.

The Mustangs seemed to be in control for the first half despite a poor night offensively. The Mustangs had received the opening kickoff and started at their own 28, but punted after three plays, but for the second week in a row the receiver fumbled the punt and Mustang Keimonte Strayhorn recovered it at the Bulldog 35. The Mustangs, with the aid of 20 yards of penalties against Milan, moved to the Bulldog 3 with a first down, but the Bulldog defense eventually stopped a Braylin Dearmon run at the 1 to keep the Mustangs out of the end zone.

The Bulldogs, with their backs to their own goal line, moved out to their 23, but Huntingdon’s Tyreke Hutch stepped in front of a Zak Summers pass and returned it 32 yards to the end zone for the Mustangs' only touchdown of the night. Greyson Anderson’s PAT attempt bounced off the upright and the Mustangs led 6-0.

Milan answered with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 21-yard run by Carson Kelley. Aiden Pennington attempted the extra point, but his kick hit the left upright and the score remained tied at 6-6.

The Mustangs then mounted their only sustained drive of the game offensively as they moved from their 28 to the Bulldog 12. The Mustangs converted four first downs on the drive that lasted 16 plays and ate 9:08 off the game clock. The Mustangs completed their only pass of the game on fourth down to the Bulldog 22, but the drive eventually stalled, and Anderson knocked through a 29-yard field goal to give the Mustangs a 9-6 lead.

The Bulldogs then would go on to score 28 unanswered points in the second half and shut down the Mustang offense to claim the win.

After the Peete return for the TD, Kelley scored his second touchdown of the night on an eight-yard run. The Bulldogs final score of the game came on a Terrence Moses 15-yard run with 3:07 left in the game.

The Mustangs were held to 107 yards on the ground and Hayes Eubanks carried eight times for 32 yards.

The Mustangs passed for 20 and K’Shun Carter recorded 14 tackles. Milan rushed for 240 yards and passed for 35.

The Mustangs hit the road for the fourth straight week Friday as they travel to Halls for a region matchup with a kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.