This is a “No Joy In Mudville” kind of report.  Coming home following a pair of 10th Region opponent road wins, there was unbridled optimism that the win streak would continue and we would be on a roll heading into the bye week and the onset of district play two weeks hence.  Off to an inauspicious start, our Mustangs who took the opening kickoff, found themselves 3rd and 8 when Landon Spaulding’s passing offering was picked off by DeSales’ John Bowling, who returned it to the Brossart 30 yard line, and shortly thereafter Camden Wells finished off the series with a 1 yard plunge into the endzone, and when the PAT was good, the Mustangs found themselves trailing 7-0 before the fans were comfortable in their seats.  We would recover a Colts fumble and shortly thereafter Brady Boruske hauled in a Spaulding strike and carried the piggy to the 9 yard line.  Lightning would strike again and for the second time in the period, the normally reliable Spauling was picked off by Dorian Brice, and the Mustangs’ Sure-Thing looking, Points-On-The-Board threat went for naught.  The first period ended with the visitors on top 7-0. 

The Mustangs demonstrated some resilience and the ability to move the ball early in the second period, orchestrating a 65 yard drive, culminated by Landon Spaulding finding Brady Boruske for the requisite one-yard for the touchdown.  When Ryan Eldridge split the uprights, we were all tied up at 7s and all was well with Mustang nation.  Our jubilation was short-lived, as on the very next Colts’ offensive series, it took them only 34 seconds as Wells once again inflicted damage on our team going 51 yards on a pass reception, returning the big numbers to the Colts side of the scoreboard, up 14-7 at the half.

DeSales received the kickoff to start the second half with a big return, but flags would be our friend early on in the 3rd period, as this and other gainers would be nullified and the Colts were forced to punt on their first offensive possession.  The Mustangs returned the favor and this time the Colts would succeed in marching 80 yards for a touchdown pass to John Bowling as the Colts upped the ante to 21-7 with 12 minutes remaining in this contest, despite a 60 Yard Boruske kick-off return giving the Mustangs first and ten at the Colts 29 yard line, but we failed to capitalize.  The ballgame was laid to rest early in the fourth stanza as the Colts completed a 66 yard drive on a 2-yard trophy run by Noah Cross making it 28-7 – Game, Set, and Match!

The ensuing kickoff was one for the ages.  The ball landed near the sideline at the 20 yard line and maintained a straight course all of the way to the two-yard line, where Brady Boruske was forced to pick it up with the DeSales special teams unit bearing down on him.  Everyone in the house, including myself, anticipated that the ball would turn right, go out of bounds and that the Mustangs would be awarded possession at the 35 yard line, but not to be.  Stick around long enough and you will see it all.  It is also noteworthy that the Mustangs would march the ball from the 2-yard line, all of the way to the Colts’ 29 yard line – a 69 yard drive, before turning it over on downs.

On the night, Landon Spaulding was 14/30 through the air and 16 carries for 121 yards, connecting on 1 TD pass while issuing 3 interceptions.  His Colts’ counterpart, Sophomore Noah Cross connected on 13 of 16 passing attempts for 96 yards and a touchdown.

DeSales picked up 22 First Downs to our 14, they amassed 391 total yards overall to our 288.  We were out-rushed 295 yards to 169, and DeSales won the Time of Possession battle 30:32 to 20:53.

The Mustangs get two weeks to patch up (We played without Tripp Wilson, Bently McKinzie, Austin Johnson and Bryson Hugley Friday night), and prepare for Holy Cross at Thomas More University two weeks from now on October 9th as we begin District play.  The Indians are the top-ranked team in our district (Brossart, Ludlow, Trimble County, and Holy Cross).  They took a rather head-scratching loss at Eminence Friday night.