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By Pat Cole
pcole@mckenziebanner.com |
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Huntingdon’s Mustangs had a more difficult time winning
against Region 5-AA Cheatham County last Friday night,
but win they did. They ultimately scored two touchdowns
and held the Cubs scoreless. Difficulties arose for both
squads as they tried to keep their footing on a soaked
field. Both teams were muddy before the game started and
continued to slip and slide as the game progressed.
Several runs by Phillip “Boo” Weathers were undoubtedly
shortened due to the poor conditions.
The first half was a defensive battle as the two teams
battled their way down the field. The Stangs were on the
offensive for the first series and appeared to be on
their way to a rout. Taking the ball at their own
36-yard line Weathers ran for two yards, followed by a
three yard gain by Chris Donald. Weathers then reached
the 47 for the first down. Donald ran for nine, but the
Stangs received a five-yard penalty for motion and faced
second and six. Quarterback Cody Crocker picked up four
and Weathers almost two. Needing less than a yard, the
Stangs took the chance and Crocker reached the Cubs 35.
Weathers gained three, Crocker one and Weathers a first
down, but a penalty moved the ball back to third and 10.
Crocker moved back to pass, found no receiver, was
almost sacked but managed to stay on his feet and reach
the 20-yard line for the first down. As the Stangs
continued to take chances, a motion penalty was accessed
and a pass was long and incomplete. Scott Hampton took
the ball for a gain of six and another motion penalty
moved the ball back to third and 14. Another incomplete
pass left the Stangs passing on fourth down, but it was
intercepted by Jack Hoeh who returned the ball to the
Cubs 24 where Marcus Beal made the stop at the 4:16
mark.
The Cubs also had success with their first offensive
opportunity, starting with a pass to Austin Stokes for a
first down at the 36 before Jerry McClerkin made the
tackle. Cedric Harris held Donny Thomas at the 48 and
McClerkin held another pass completion to only five
yards. A motion penalty on the Stangs gave the Cubs
first down at the Huntingdon 43. McClerkin held at the
29 and then Chris Donald came in for a huge sack of
quarterback Clint Casteel. Hampton held Brad Potts short
of the first down, but Casteel picked up a first down at
the17 before he was stopped by Hampton and Cale Belew.
Casteel was then held to only two by Hunter Hastings and
Kegan Ball as the first quarter ended. Chris Langley was
held to no gain by Brandon Snyder and the Cubs took a
timeout. Langley was then sacked for a loss of seven by
Beal and a 37-yard field goal attempt was wide to the
left. Huntingdon took over on their own 20-yard line.
This time the Cubs held the Stangs to a mere three yards
and Drew Kelley punted the ball to the Cubs 34. That
possession was short-lived as the Cubs took to the air,
McClerkin got a hand on the passed ball and Cody Baker
intercepted for Huntingdon. The Stangs were back on
offense at the 8:43 mark at their own 46-yard line.
Weathers moved left for nine and Crocker got the first
down at the 38. Crocker held, but a motion penalty moved
the ball back to the 43. Crocker passed the ball to
Weathers who moved left for eight. Weathers got the nod
on fourth down, but was held at the 32, short of the
first down. The Cubs took over for only a short period.
Hazstins held the advance to five and then at the 45.
Beal came in to stop Landon Jones for a loss of four. A
motion penalty moved the ball back another five yards
and Jones was held by Snyder after a gain of one.
Desmond Townes held Potts just short of the first down
and on fourth and one, Jones was held by Hastings and
Hampton short. Huntingdon took over at its own 47 at the
2:45 mark.
This time the Stangs were serious about reaching the end
zone. Although Weathers was held for no gain and a loss
of three on the first two downs, on third down, he broke
left and reached the Cubs 19. After an incomplete pass,
Weathers took the ball left and reached the end zone at
the 57.6 mark. The PAT by Hampton was good and the
Stangs held a 7-0 advantage.
Hastings kicked the ball to Shawn Richards who dropped
and then picked up the ball before he was hit hard by
Brent Taylor and Snyder. With time for only three plays,
the Cubs gained six yards with Donald, Snyder and Harris
on the defense to hold.
During intermission the Marching Mustangs performed
their award winning show for the home crowd.
Although the Cubs received the opening offensive
possession of the second half, the Stangs made it a
short one. After a host of Stangs stopped Robert Hambley
at the 28, Hampton, Weathers and Ball held Jones to no
gain and then Ball and Snyder held Jones to a gain of
three. On third down, the ball was fumbled, recovered by
Beal and then fumbled again. Hampton recovered for the
Stangs at the Cubs 19.
On the first play from scrimmage, Weathers moved left
and reached the end zone at the 10:18 mark. Hampton’s
PAT was again good and the Stangs now held a 14-0
advantage.
Both teams made strides as the quarter continued. Potts
received a pass and broke a couple of tackles before he
was finally run out of bounds at the 30. Huntingdon
regained possession at the 8:20 mark.
The Stangs had a short possession as the ball was
fumbled at the 7:33 mark and recovered by the Cubs.
Despite the efforts of Beal, Hastings, Townsend, Donald,
Kelley, and Ball, the Cubs managed to reach the Stangs
23. Huntingdon maintained possession throughout the
remainder of the third period with Weathers, Donald,
Crocker and Townes all picking up yardage. The Stangs
were held short of the first down as the third period
ended at the Huntingdon 48.
The defensive battle continued throughout the fourth
period as the Stangs held and then were held. As time
wound down, the Stangs regained possession at the 3:17
mark and maintained it until the final buzzer, reaching
the Cubs five-yard line and basically allowing the time
to tick away with a 14-0 victory.
This Friday night, the Stangs will again be the host as
the Camden Lions come to Paul Ward Stadium and attempt
to gain a victory over their big rival the second time
around. Huntingdon won the regular season battle 35-21,
but this week will be a bit tougher unless the field
dries out. In the first game, the Stangs had the
advantage on the ground, but the Lions were proficient
in the air. A wet field could give some advantage to the
Lions unless the Stangs defensive unit is playing its
top game. Fans will undoubtedly arrive early for this
one.
