2005 Year in Review

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Mustangs Sneak Past E-P

The one mistake the Mustangs made on Friday night was looking past the Erie-Prophetstown Panthers. Sitting at 1-4 and sandwiched between big games at Bureau Valley and Fulton, the Panthers took full advantage of the opportunity to sneak up on the Mustangs. After falling behind 13-0 at half, the Panthers cut it to 13-6 before the Mustangs woke up just enough to prevent an upset and hold on for the 13-6 victory. With the win, the Mustangs made themselves eligible for the playoffs with their fifth win.

The game started with the Mustangs in control after Ryan Scott's kick was recovered by the Panthers on their own one-yard line. The Panthers would gain one first down before punting and setting the Mustangs up with great field position. Nate McBride started the drive with a nine-yard run. Two plays later, Nick Vandermyde gave the Mustangs a first down on a two-yard run. Sammy Biggs lost two yards and Ryan Schisler ran for twelve yards and another first down, before Biggs ran it in from four yards out to give the Mustangs the lead just under five minutes into the game. Jorge Hernandez added the extra point and the score was 7-0.
Once again the Panthers mustered up one first down before punting the ball away and once again give the hosts a short field to work with. Morrison quickly started to drive with an eight-yard run by Vandermyde and eleven-yard run by McBride giving the Mustangs a first down. Biggs ran for ten more and first down before Schisler hooked up with Chuck Cady for a seven-yard gain. McBride and Vandermyde combined for a first down with time running down in the first quarter. Vandermyde ran for one yard before Schisler set the Mustangs up inside the Panther twenty with ten-yard run as the first quarter came to a close.
Disaster struck on the first play of the second quarter as the 'Stangs fumbled the ball over to the Panthers giving them possession on their own 14. Erie-Prophetstown was unable to put together a drive and would punt it back to the Mustangs. This time Morrison would not be denied. Vandermyde ran the ball on the first three plays for gains of eight, thirteen, and twelve yards. Biggs and McBride combined for ten yards to set the Mustangs up with first and goal from the E-P nine-yard line. Vandermyde ran for five yards before McBride stuffed in from four yards out with 6:19 remaining in the half. Hernandez' extra point was wide left making the score 13-0.
From that point on the Panthers kicked it into gear and started to take it to the Mustangs. E-P started to drive using the ground game by riding their great backfield of Eric Byum and Brad Anderson all the way down to the eight-yard line, where the Mustangs finally dug in their heels and forced a turnover on downs with eight seconds left in the half. Schisler went to a knee and the Mustangs took a 13-0 lead to the locker room.
E-P came out in the second half looking to come back and did so right away. The Panthers forced a quick three and out on their first defensive possession and forced a quick punt. The Morrison defense was also able to force a three and out on their first showing and the offense took over once again for the locals. The same was true for this drive with the Mustangs being forced into a quick punt and giving the ball back to their determined guests. The Panthers put together a short drive before turning the ball over on downs. As had been the trend, Morrison was forced into a three and out and finally the Panthers took advantage.
Brad Anderson took center stage on the drive by running three times for 37 yards including a 17-yard touchdown run that finally put the Panthers on the board. The extra-point attempt was wide right and the score stood at 13-6.
Morrison started the fourth quarter by punting after three plays. This time, the defense didn't let the Panthers get rolling and the Mustangs quickly got the ball back. After one more exchange of possession, the Mustangs went to work on running the clock. Nick Vandermyde became the work horse and was able to pick up first downs when the Mustangs needed them most. Vandermyde ran it on the drive's first four plays, picking up 26 yards. Biggs ran for three yards before Vandermyde ran for another 15 yards on the next two plays. Biggs and McBride ran it on the next two plays, picking up 18 yards and the first down that finally put the game away. Vandermyde ran it for a yard, forcing the Panthers to spend their final timeout. Schisler took the ball on the last two plays to end the clock and preserve the 13-6 victory.
Defensively, the Mustangs were led by Greg Frickenstein and Zach Harridge with 14 tackles each followed by Brent Beveroth with ten tackles, Austin Rickels and Dustin Vandermyde with nine tackles, Nick Vandermyde with eight tackles, Chris Scott with five tackles, Nathan Neighbour with four tackles, Sammy Biggs, Ryan Schisler, and Neal Mahoney with two tackles, and Nate McBride, Kenny Benson, Adam Rumfelt, and Daniel Deter with one tackle each.
Nick Vandermyde led the ground game with 110 yards on 21 carries. Nate McBride gained 48 yards on eight touches and a touchdown. Sammy Biggs racked up 17 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Ryan Schisler toted the ball six times for 16 yards. Schisler was 2-4 passing for 11 yards. Chuck Cady caught one pass for seven yards, and Biggs caught the other for a gain of four yards.
The Mustangs will next be in action on Friday night, October 7, when they travel to Fulton to take on the Fulton Steamers in the Wooden Shoe Bowl at 7:30 p.m. The Mustangs will look to keep the Shoe after a 39-6 victory last year.

by rustinl
2005-10-02 15:37:34