Mustangs Turn Up the Heat on Halls

HUNTINGDON (September 11, 12) — It took a day longer than expected, but the Mustangs earned their second region win of the year and their fourth overall with no losses, as they defeated Halls 62-30 on a sunny and humid Saturday at Paul Ward Stadium and Eric Swenson Field. The game, originally scheduled for Friday night, got pushed to Saturday as lightning and rain postponed the contest. It was the second time this season the Mustang offense has reached the 60-point mark, as they defeated Camden 63-18 earlier in the season.

The Saturday afternoon heat seemed to have an effect on the defenses as the game turned into somewhat of a track meet. Kenton Smith accounted for six touchdowns in the game as he ran for three scores and threw for three more. Smith rushed for 166 yards and completed six of seven passes for 131 yards. The Mustangs rushed for 380 yards, and Zayden Connelly accounted for 109 yards on the ground, while Hayes Eubanks ran for 86 yards and two touchdowns. Halls ran for 131 yards and passed for 175 in the loss. Jeri Driver led Halls with 88 yards, and Jackson Booker completed 10 of 18 passes.

Halls won the toss and took the football but punted, and the kick was downed at the Tiger 26. The Mustangs struck quickly as Smith completed a 26-yard pass for a touchdown to Maddox Holmes, and the Mustangs led 7-0 after Greyson Anderson’s PAT.

The Mustangs scored again on their next possession after a Tiger punt that was returned to the Tiger 27. It took the Mustangs five plays to score, and Smith hooked up with Bryson Whiteside for a 15-yard pass play for the TD. Anderson was good on the point after, and the Mustangs led 14-0.

Driver returned the kickoff to midfield, and the Tigers took to the air. Booker completed passes for 25 yards and 27 yards, with the latter going for a touchdown to Clyce Tetleton. The Tigers went for two and failed, leaving the score at 14-6.

The Mustangs answered in three plays from the Tiger 49, and the touchdown came on a 13-yard run by Hayes Eubanks. Anderson kicked the point-after, and the score grew to 21-6.

The Tigers answered with the first play of the second quarter to cap a 71-yard, five-play drive. Booker connected with Easton Apperson for 14 yards for the TD. The two-point conversion failed, and the score stayed at 21-12.

Halls continued to give the Mustangs great field position as they kicked short on every kickoff. This time, the Mustangs started at their 46 and scored in three plays on a 32-yard run by Eubanks. The point-after was good by Anderson, and the score went to 28-12.

The Tigers answered the score with an 11-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a 14-yard run by Apperson with three minutes and change left in the half. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, and the score stood at 28-18.

It took one play for the Mustangs to respond. After the kickoff was downed at the Mustang 48, Smith found Garvin Kee behind the Tiger defense for a 52-yard pass play. Anderson made the score 35-18 with the point after.

The gritty Tigers started their next possession at the Mustang 45, and five plays later found the end zone with a two-yard run by Sawyer Tetleton with 1:10 left in the half. The conversion failed, and the score was left at 35-24.

The lack of time left in the first half did not deter the Mustangs as they moved from their 49 to the end zone in six plays and scored on a five-yard run by Smith with seven seconds left in the half. Anderson kicked the point after, and the halftime score was 42-24.

The Mustangs started the second half with possession and moved 57 yards in ten plays to expand their lead when Smith scored on a three-yard run. The point-after was missed, leaving the score 48-24.

Halls scored again with 9:56 left in the game as Driver scampered 55 yards to cap a 92-yard drive. The conversion was no good, and the Mustangs held a 48-30 lead.

The Mustangs then scored 14 unanswered points to finish off the win. The first score came on a 28-yard run by Smith, and an Ethan Raffield point after. The second score came on a 42-yard run by Connelly and a Raffield extra point to make the final score 62-30.

The Mustangs take to the road for the first time this season as they travel to Jackson to face JCM in a key region contest, with a kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.