On what started as a perfect night for football, and a perfect night for our Mustangs kicking off the Jake Martin era, we cruised to a 21-0 first quarter lead.  Just a it appeared that this one would come easy, things turned a bit ugly as a black cloud rolled in and hovered over the MAC.  In addition to a steady 30 minute rain, it brought with it the bad luck associated with black clouds and black cats.  Momentum jumped into a Walton uniform as they inaugurated a 79 yard touchdown drive that began in the waning minutes of the first quarter and ended in the endzone 10 minutes later with 4:28 remaining in the half, and we hadn’t touched the ball in the period as of yet.  When we did, we were ineffective and turned it over on downs twice, and with under a minute to play in the half, aided by a 15-yard flag, the Bearcats scored again to cut the Mustangs lead to 21-14, and suddenly this one didn’t look like the sure thing that it did back in the opening stanza.

Things continued to deteriorate as the Bearcats, who received the ball to start the second half, got a great kick-off return to the Brossart 40 and finished it off a few plays later.  Their two-point conversion attempt went for naught, BUT Hold The Phone, there was a flag on the play, and the new life allowed the visitors to punch it in this time, taking a 22-21 lead as the Mustang faithful sat stunned as to what was transpiring.

On our final possession of the 3rd Quarter we posed a major threat, advancing the football to the 14 yard line before seeing it fizzle out.  However, Soccer/Football Senior Ryan Eldridge was in Field Goal range and delivered a 29 yard conversion to give the Stangs the lead back at 24-22 with 12 minutes remaining in the game.  The Mustang defense resurfaced in the fourth quarter stymieing the Cats on all three of their possessions that included a Brady Boruske interception along with two turnovers on downs.  Meanwhile, the Mustangs put together a 58yard drive resulting in Landon Spaulding finding Quinten Tischner in the endzone, giving the home team some breathing room, and securing the 30-22 victory.

It was Bentley McKinzie who got the scoring underway in the first quarter, rambling 9 yards to paydirt givng the Mustangs a 7-0 lead, when Ryan Eldridge split the uprights for the “And One.”  Spaulding hit Brady Boruske on a 57 yard pass play for our second score, plus an Eldridge PAT, and Landen Ketron intercepted a Braxton Parr pass and took it to the house for a Pick Six, making it 21-0 Mustangs after one.  We would not score again until late in the third frame when Eldridge knocked home a 29yard Field Goal, and then in the fourth, Spaulding found Quinten Tischner in the endzone for an 11 yard trophy toss, giving the Mustangs the final score of 30-22.  There were many other notable contributions, especially on defense, where Quinten Tischner teamed up with Beckett Meersman, Justin Bezold and Landen Ketron who all made some big defensive stops.  We are blessed to have a history of great kickers, and Ryan Eldridge picked up right where Max Runge left off a year ago, nailing his first three PAT attempts and hitting a 29 yard Field Goal.

For his efforts, Senior Brady Boruske was tabbed our Player of the Game being on the receiving end of a 36 yard Landon Spaulding aerial, and followed it up with a 59 yard touchdown reception.  In the pivotal third quarter, Boruske carried the piggy from our 47 yard line to the 26 yard line of Walton, followed by a 15 yard tack-on.  He also made a late-game inerception that snuffed out a Bearcat drive.

The Mustangs will travel to Sayre in Lexington next Friday night where we will play the Past Class 1A State Champs for the fourth time.  Sayre leads the series 2-1, having lost to us 21-3 back in 2019, and defeating us 20-13 in 2020, and 8-5 in 2025.

The Sayre Spartans, coming off of a come-from-behind win over Class 1A’s second ranked Kentucky Country Day a week ago in Louisville, wasted no time in establishing their dominance in their home opener, running the opening kickoff back for a touchdown on the first play of the game.  Not to worry, Landon Spaulding found Brady Boruske for a 41yard gainer on our first series, driving the ball to the Sayre 34 while looking to even the score, prior to turning the ball over on downs.  Boruske would again figure big in the second Sayre possession, when he intercepted a Gage Pennington pass deep in Brossart territory to thwart that scoring threat.  After forcing a Mustang punt, the Spartans marched 64 yards just prior to the quarter stop and Harrison Phillips ran it in from 13 yards out to establish a 14-0 home team advantage after 12 minutes of play.  In the second period Brossart had three possessions and a knee prior to halftime, while Sayre scored on two of theirs, one being a Pennington to Paul Miller 12 yard TD connection, and the other, another a 90yard punt return, leaving us reeling at 28-0 at intermission.  Their place kicker, Amanuel Arms hit all six of his PAT attempts on the night.  We did threaten to score with 1:30 remining in the half, when Ryan Eldridge missed on a 28yd Field Goal attempt, that was set up by a 29yard pass completion from Landen Spaulding to Brady Boruske.

Following a chance to regroup at halftime, the Spartans kicked off to the Mustangs to start the second half, and Brady Boruske returned it 40 yards, giving the ‘Stangs good field position, and hopefully breathing some life into our offense.  However, Sayre was up to the task, turning back a 4th and inches attempt, allowing them to take over on downs at their own 34 yard line yard line, from where Pennington would execute a 63 yard trophy pass to Peyton Rafter, sending the game to a running clock.  The Spartans would add on a “good measure” score late in the 3rd period, and neither teams JVs were able to add points to the scoreboard in the running-clock finale.

We will return home next Friday night, hosting St. Henry in a 7pm bout, looking to get back in the win column. The JVs are slated to host Campbell County this Monday night at 6pm.

STATS

In the passing game, Landon Spaulding (#13) completed 8 of his 25 passes (32.0% completion rate) for 116 yards, while Charlie Rauch (#9) went 0 for 2. Combined, the quarterbacks completed 8 of 27 passing attempts (29.6%) for a total of 116 yards, with no passing touchdowns or interceptions recorded.

On the ground, the team totaled 24 rushing yards across 20 carries, averaging 1.2 yards per carry. Tommy Busby (#10) led the rushers in yardage, taking 7 carries for 18 yards (2.6 YPC). Landon Spaulding (#13) handled the team-high 9 carries, gaining 9 yards (1.0 YPC). Charlie Rauch (#9) had 1 carry for 0 yards, and Alex Twehues (#44) lost 3 yards on 3 attempts (-1.0 YPC). No rushing touchdowns or two-point conversions were scored.

The receiving attack was driven by Brady Boruske (#2), who hauled in 6 catches for 103 yards, averaging 17.2 yards per reception. Quinten Tischner (#8) added 2 receptions for 13 yards (6.5 YPR). Together, the duo accounted for all 8 team receptions and 116 receiving yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch.

I get the feeling that we let one get away, being edged 43-40 in yet another game of two halves. Once again, we could not have have been much better than what we demonstrated in the first quarter. Taking the opening kickoff at the 20 yard line, we marched 80 yards, picking up six first downs over the next 7 minutes and 32 seconds when Landon Spaulding finished off the final yard, giving the Mustangs an early game 6-0 lead, when our two-point tack-on effort went for naught. The Cru went 3 and out in their first offensive possession, and following a Brossart punt, St. Henry mustered a single first-down before the quarter expired.

The second quarter was a whole different script. In both of our first three possessions, the Mustangs drew blood twice – an 80 yard Landon Spaulding jaunt, and a 69 yard Spaulding to Justin Bezold aerial while St. Henry struck on an 18 yard Cy Perento to Brayden Hughes pass play. When the dust settled the Mustangs maintained a 19-6 lead. In the seventh of eight second quarter change of possessions, the Cru blocked a Ryan Eldridge punt, carrying it into the end zone, making the score 19-14, BUT, the Mustangs weren’t done yet. Following a pair of sacks, one each by Beckett Meersman and Charlie Rauch, the Mustangs had great field position at the Crusader 29, from where we marched the football all of the way to the 1 yard line when time expired in the half. Failure to come away with something on that drive would come back to haunt us.

As I said in my halftime comments on the broadcast, despite the narrow margin on the scoreboard, the general consensus was that we were the better team, had outplayed the Cru in the first half, and would prove our superiority in the second half, and put the St Henry ball on the wall. This appeared to be spot on, as we kicked off in the second half to the Cru who promptly fumbled it away, recovered by Charlie Rauch. When the Mustangs scored on a 69 yard drive capped off by a 9 yard touchdown on a Spaulding keeper, and when Eldridge split the uprights things looked more favorable as we extended the lead to 25-14. It would be short-lived however, as the Cru unveiled Senior Lucas Pate, who would dominate the game from that point on, scoring the first of four St. Henry touchdowns by rolling 75 yards, narrowing the margin back to 26-20. The big play sequence continued as Brady Boruske did the Crusader scatback one-better by returning the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for the third touchdown in 33 seconds, re-extending the Brossart lead to 33-20. Certainly, this would be enough to win. Certainly not. Pate answered the challenge with a 28 yard touchdown run, his second of the period. In retrospect, the difference in the second half would be that one team had Lucas Pate and the other one didn’t. Despite leading 33-28 after three quarters, you could feel that the momentum had shifted into St. Henry Red and Blue.

The fourth quarter began by Landon Spaulding finding Quinten Tichner on a 30 yard pass play, and when Eldridge tacked on the PAT, we again exhaled and thought for sure a 12 point, two possession 40-28 lead would hold up. Unbeknownst to us, our Mustangs were finished scoring on the night, while the Cru, in the person of Lucas Pate had another gear, and had two more scores in their bag of tricks – a 31 yard pass play from Quarterback Perento to Pate, and then a 22 yard trophy run by Pate with 3:22 remaining in this 3 hour and 25 minute marathon event. Unfortunately, despite an 11th Hour drive that nearly put Ryan Eldridge in Field Goal range which would have tied the score at 43s, we fumbled away the football, which sealed our fate. as the upstart Crusaders claimed the victory, assuring a happy ride back to Erlanger. Both teams now sport 1-2 records.

This one hurts. We put up 40 points, while leaving additional points on the field, and didn’t win. We failed to maintain a lead, despite doing so for 44 minutes and 38 seconds of the contest. We allowed the Cru to “Stick Around,” incurred some untimely penalties, and then we let a single player beat us. Lucas Pate is really good, BUT after rushing for 65 yards against Holy Cross and 92 yards vs Boone County, Lucas Pate rushed for 214 of St. Henry’s total 224 rushing yards (St. Henry Stats Show 239 of 247) on the night here in Alexandria. Add on 31 yards receiving and Pate victimized us for 245 total yards (St. Henry Stats say 270 Yds) on the night. Wowzer! In the entire second half he took on the entire Mustang defense, and won. Landon Spaulding had a big night for the Mustangs – 26/37 for 295 yards and 2 TDs with 1 Interception through the air, and 8 carries for 137 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Their QB, Cy Perento was 9/18 for 147 yards and 2 TDs. Quinten Tischner hauled in 12 Receptions for 131 yards and a Touchdown for the home team.

The Mustangs head to Brooksville next Friday night where we will take on the homestanding Bracken County Polar Bears who will be coming off of a bye week, and will be looking for their first win of the season against two losses (Holy Cross and Mason County). In other games of note Friday night, Walton-Verona shut out Ludlow, a district opponent of ours, 33-0. This is the same Ludlow who defeated Newport 21-12 two weeks ago. Go Figure!

Just a short report tonight.  I was listening from home, and like you, was subjected to a number of internet outages, making it difficult to obtain accurate stats etc.. Poor WiFi and spotty AT&T coverage at the venue caused buffering issues throughout the broadcast. As Adam explained on-air, the crew did what they could with what they had.  For away games, we’re at the mercy of the venue’s connectivity.  The replay (above) is in-tact.

This one went as hoped for, a convincing, dominating Brossart win over Bracken County.  The Bears, now 0-3, elected to receive to start the game, quickly going 3 and out.  Landon Spaulding wasted no time in finding Brady Boruske for a 70 yard touchdown connection on our first play from scrimmage, and when Ryan Eldridge hit his first of 3 of 4 PAT attempts, the Mustangs were on top 7-0 with 10:03 remaining in the first quarter.  A long Boruske carry would set up a 1 yard plunge by Spaulding for our second score, this one coming early in the second quarter which held up through halftime at 14-0.  We missed a couple of opportunites in the first half when we failed to convert on 4th and shorts, turning the ball over to the Bears on downs.  Neither came back to haunt us.

Freshman Tommy Busby scored his first career touchdown on a 5-yard carry.  It came at the 8:07 mark in the third quarter, making it 21-0 Mustangs, and would be followed by the second long-distance aerial connection between Spaulding and Boruske, this one going for an 80 yard score, Boruske’s second trophy run of the night.  This PAT attempt failed as the Mustangs increased our lead to 27-0.  The Bears answered late in the period, making it 27-7, giving the Bracken County fans something to cheer about, as Ryland Tucker connected wth Andrew Kirk for a 67yard touchdown. which would result in the final score.

Boruske had a big night, again, picking up 234 yards via air, a new school record for Most Receiving Yards In A Single Game, and he was deprived a third touchdown reception from Spaulding, as he was stopped at the one yard line, mid-second period.  Brady also had a pair of interceptions.  Landon Spaulding now holds the top 3 spots on the Single Game-Yards-Passing School Records Chart, recording 300 yards through the air against Bracken County (2nd Best), and picking up 28 more by land, scoring our second TD from one yard out.   

Tripp Wilson continues to work his way into prime playing form, making 4 receptions for 53 yards.  The Mustangs dominated through the air 300 yards to 107 for Da Bears, who also won the overland battle 62 yards to 56 yards.

The Mustangs, now 2-2, will be back on the road next Friday night, invading Carlisle, taking on the 4-0 Nicholas County Blue Jackets.  They own wins over Bellevue, Pendleton County, Lewis County and last night defeated Louisville Iroquois 28-14.  Brossart and Nicholas County have a history.  We lead the overall series 8-7, losing to the Blue Jackets 30-7 a year ago at the MAC.  Previous to last year’s loss, we had won 5 of 6 of our last encounters.

Post game recaps are generally posted by the next day.