Mustangs Score 31 Unanswered, Claim District Champs For the Second Time, Defeat Paris 38-13, Plus Patty Goering Photos

In typical fashion our guys allowed Kaden Frederick to connect with Jakari Ransom, who rambled 52 yards for a Paris touchdown , and when the PAT was good we trailed 7-0 with only two minutes run off of the clock   This was a similar scenario that we saw back at Sayre in a pre-season scrimmage, opening night at Dayton, and again in Carlisle vs Nicholas County.  On each of those occasions our defense stepped up, and we would play even up football, or superior football from that point, and it was about to happen again on this night. With 1:56 remaining in the period, our Mustangs answered on a 15 yard pass play from Austin Schadler to Sam Willike, who won a three-way jump ball in the end zone, and when Tyler Smith split the uprights we were knotted at 7s.  Our lead would be short lived as Elijah Webb took the ensuing kickoff, and went 80 yards to retake a 13-7 lead when the PAT was blocked. 

Few knew that Paris was finished scoring for the night and that the green clad home team would score 31 unanswered points to defeat our district championship challenger.who were attempting to win their 19th District Championship. 

Twenty-one of those unanswered points would come in the second period.  a 24 yard Austin Schadler scamper out of the Jumbo Package resulted in our poking a nose in front 14-13 when the Smith PAT was good.  Five minutes later a 3 yard Evan Orth plunge made it 21-13 when the Smith PAT was good., and we weren’t done yet.   Austin Schadler would impose his size and will on the Greyhounds going the final yard into the end zone and when Smith was again successful, it was 28-13 at halftime, and the Paris fans were scratching their collective heads.

Neither team could add points on the board.in the third period, but we would pick up where we left off in the fourth quarter when Tyler Smith connected on a 40 yard field goal, after missing on an earlier 47 yard attempt.  The Mustangs were now in front by three possessions with 8:04 to play in the game.  An icing on the cake touchdown and PAT would come with 4:23 to play in the contest on a 15 yard Evan Orth Touchdown, setting up the final score of 38-13, as our Mustangs defended their 2022 District Championship.  In the contest, our Mustangs were the beneficiaries of several costly Paris penalties and we forced a minimum of four turnovers.  

Evan Orth was designated the offensive player of the game for his body of work, Orth ran for 1-4 yards and scored 2 touchdowns.  Luke Schroeder, wit a fumble recovery ad a pass interception was tabbed the defensive Player of the Game.

The Mustangs will take off a week, and then welcome in the Pendleton County Wildcats for our annual Battle of US27 and observe Senior Night.