GAME PREVIEW
After editing a pretty accurate prognostication a week ago, I’ll try my luck again.
We return home after a four week stint on the road, which has to benefit us. The fact that Bracken County, who is on the small side of a 9-2 series deficit, cannot possibly be happy about coming to Alexandria. As a matter of fact, after losing to Paris, and learning of Brossart’s win over Nicholas County the two words that crossed every Polar Bear’s mind was OH SHOOT!!! Only it wasn’t shoot, it was something that rhymed with shoot.
The Bears know that if they fail Friday night they will be on the bus to either Raceland or Paintsville on Friday night November 4th. On the other hand, if the Mustangs can prevail, which is not a sure thing, we assure ourselves a home game on the 4th, which would require Fairview or Betsy Layne to make lengthy bus trips before doing battle with our homestanding Mustangs. A win over Da Bears also puts us in a position to defend our District Championship achieved a year ago.
Bracken County is a ground-bound, grind it out, football team. On the season their quarterback, Chase Wilson is 9 of 24 through the air, with 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. This is where their run game comes into play. Dylan Teegarden is their main threat, averaging 133 yards per game with 13 touchdowns scored. When he is not scoring, Dalton Tartar is – with 6 touchdowns on the season. As stated, they don’t throw the ball. Their leading receiver is Tartar who is 3 for 44 for a total of 7 yards per game. While we are blessed to have a truly blue-chip place kicker, the Polar Bears are 0 for 1 on PAT attempts. Expect them to go for two.
You know all about us. Again this week it is imperative that our defense is up to the task, limiting the Bears point production. Austin Schadler our “Mighty Righty” quarterback who orchestrated our “must-have drive” a week ago to position Tyler Smith for the game-winner established himself on that drive. I expect an efficient passing game, utilizing his plethora of eligible receivers in a good mix with Evan Orth and company on the ground. This will be Schadler’s third game under center (or out of the gun) and he has now had four weeks of practice which should have him in prime quarterback form.
Expect a huge Homecoming turnout despite cool fall temperatures. If you can’t join us at the MAC listen in as we broadcast all of the action here on the BMustangs.com website and you can watch over the NFHS network with our broadcast serving as the voice-over.
PEP RALLY PHOTOS
GAME REPORT
A week ago in Carlisle, Austin Schadler connected with Alex Amin on a big gainer over the middle. Tonight that same pass went for our one and only touchdown, as Amin outsprinted his closest pursuers, and dashed into the end zone, which, along with a Tyler Smith PAT, was (barely) enough on this night to edge the Bracken County Polar Bears 7-6, winning our fourth game in our last five outings, by a sum total of 7 Points, when our defense snuffed out a Polar Bear 2-Point conversion attempt, which would have put the game in their win column.
With the win the Mustangs improve to 6-2 and go up 2-0 in District 5, Class 1A play, which will net us a home playoff game on Friday November 4th. Our remaining district seeding game is next Friday at home when the Paris Greyhounds come to call. This will provide us with the opportunity to defend, and repeat our District Championship.
In other District action, Paris defeated Nicholas County by a 47-40 margin. Nicholas County and Bracken County, who were both undefeated a week ago, have both now sustained a pair of losses and will serve as our District’s Number 3 and 4 seeds.