Blue Jackets Hand Our Mustangs a 30-7 Loss In Week 5

For the second week, our Mustangs were unable to contain the run of bigger, stronger, quicker, more powerful backs, and paid the price again, this time 30-7 to Nicholas County.

Both Nicholas County and Bracken County, which employed similar tactics, are former district opponents.  You “Can’t Stop This” football is nothing new at Nicholas County, they have been doing it for 30 years, and it has been good to them over that time span.

On this night, a pair of early game touchdowns had Mustangs fans having flashbacks of a week ago when Bracken County ran roughshod over our defense.  However, in this game, momentum took a turn and the Mustangs answered as Landon Spaulding found a wide-open Landon Ruth for a 66 yard touchdown pass completion, and when Max Runge split the uprights, we had a 14-7 ballgame, with momentum wearing a Brossart uniform.

The two teams exchanged blows throughout the remainder of the first half, with neither team able to put any additional points on the board.  The Mustangs ran off to the locker room knowing that we would receive the ball to start the second half and a chance to knot the score.

However, the Blue Jacket defense was up to the task, and the two teams exchanged blows through the period, with neither team able to score.

Much like two Thoroughbred race horses battling eyeball to eyeball, one usually concedes as the other draws off to a sizable victory.  Such was the case in the fourth quarter, as the Mustangs were unable to bridge the gap.  With 10:17 remaining in the game Wyatt Simons powered his way into the endzone from 45 yards out, and when the 2-Point conversion was good, we were in serious trouble.  A bit later when he scored his third touchdown of the night, the cause was lost 30-7, snapping a five game run of dominance over the Blue Jackets by our Mustangs.

Since we are not an exceptionally deep team, injuries tend to have a larger effect on us than some others who can go “Next Man Up” effectively.  Losing Tripp Wilson at the beginning of the season cost us our flexibility to alternate quarterbacks and another long-body to throw to.  Tonight, we were without Matthew Goering, who was out with a bona-fide concussion.  Anthony Schuck played sparingly, and in the second half we lost resident tough guy, John Kremer, and may be without his services long term.  You can only remove so many blocks from your foundation before the house comes down, and injuries played a role in this contest.

The Mustangs move on to Louisville next week for an encounter with DeSales.  You don’t end up on DeSales’ schedule unless you have earned their respect and they expect to have to take your best shot.  The last two weeks we have lost games because our defense hasn’t been able to contain teams that depend on powerful running backs extracting their pounds of flesh.  Perhaps the Colts will be a more systematic team, much as was Sayre, and we will return to form.

Tonight’s Players of the Game are Landon Ruth who earns POG with his touchdown pass reception, leading to our only score.  The Defensive Player of the Game has been sterling on defense all season.  Matthew Riegler has had a series of good games leading up to his claiming the recognition.  Congratulations to Landon and Matthew.

The Mustang JVs are scheduled to host the Bellevue JVs Monday night at 6pm.  That game will be broadcast live beginning at 5:45pm.