SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2005-9

By Bill Engelhardt
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Last Friday evening, October 21, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Rockets of Spring Grove (4-4- overall, 2-3 YAIAA Division I) and galloped to a 16-0 shut out. The Mustangs started off with a bang as they moved from their 33-yard line to the 19-yard line of the Rockets, but a poor snap foiled a 36-yard field goal attempt.

On the very next possession, when Jesse Smith’s interception gave them the ball at the Rockets 18-yard line, the Mustangs scored in two plays. Aaron Repman ripped off an 8-yard run and Tim Smith scored on a 12-yard jaunt. Drew Snyder’s kick put the Mustangs up 7-0 halfway through the first quarter.

The Mustangs defense kept the Rockets deep in their own territory much of the time and another Mustangs drive started on the Rockets 33-yard line. Robert Barnett picked up 4-yards, Cody Smith added 6-yards, Barnett got 3 more yards, Eric Updegrove picked up 4 more yards to the 15, and Cody Smith took it up the middle to the end zone. Snyder’s kick upped the score to 14-0, where it stood going into half time. The only score in the second half came when a horde of Mustangs sacked quarterback Matt Marshall in the end zone for a safety.

Robert Barnett returned 2 kickoffs for 37-yards, with the longest going for 20-yards. He also returned a punt for no yards. Jason Gigous returned 3 punts for 23-yards, with the longest going for 15-yards, and Aaron Repman returned 3 punts for 15-yards, with the longest going for 10-yards. Drew Snyder kicked off 3 times for 146-yards, with the longest going for 60-yards and a touchback, and punted 5 times for 169-yards, for a 33.8-yard average, with the longest going for 43-yards, for the Mustangs.

Jeremy Renoll led the Mustangs swarming defense with 10 tackles and 3 sacks and he batted down a pass. Dustin Shaw had 6 tackles and 3 sacks. Drew Snyder had 8 tackles and a sack. Jessie Smith had 7 tackles, and an interception and blocked 2 passes and had a quarterback hurry. Tim Smith had 7 tackles and an interception. Eric Updegrove had an interception and Robert Barnett recovered a fumble. Matt Bosley, Jesse Smith and Tim Smith each registered 7 tackles.

Mark Bittinger, Seth Bolte, Matt Bosley, Jason Gigous, Chad La Gore, Jeremy Renoll, Aaron Repman, Clint Shaffer, Dustin Shaw, Jesse Smith, Jason Sneeringer, Drew Snyder, Mike Stremmel, Eric Updegrove and Chris Wilson manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Robert Barnett, Adam Hartman, Curtis Maphis, Aaron Repman, Cody Smith, Tim Smith and Max Wagaman patrolled the secondary.

The Mustangs gained 218-yards rushing and 20-yards passing for a total of 238 yards of offense. J. C. Laughlin completed 1 of 10 passes, to Drew Snyder, for the 20-yards. Robert Barnett led the rushing attack with 14 carries for 70-yards, followed by Aaron Repman with 11 for 44, Cody Smith with 5 for 33, Tim Smith with 4 for 19, Eric Updegrove with 4 for 18, Laughlin with 2 for 18, and Jason Gigous with 3 for 16-yards.

The Rockets rang up a net minus 9-yards rushing and 132-yards passing for a total of 123-yards of offense. Matt Marshall completed 10 of 25 passes for the 132-yards, including 4 for 96-yards to Justin Seibert, 2 for 18-yards to Jayson Senft, 2 for 11-yards to Erik Brough, 1 for 6-yards to Mike Langer and 1 for 1-yard to Matt Duncan. Langer led the meager rushing attack with 6 carries for 34-yards. He was the only rusher with positive yardage as Matt Marshall with 13 carries for minus 19, Cory Baker with 1 carry for minus 4 and Brough with 6 carries for minus 2-yards rounded out the rushing game for the Rockets.

Erik Brough returned a kickoff for 15-yards and Cory Baker returned one for 5-yards for the Rockets. Matt Duncan returned the Mustangs only punt for 7-yards. Trevor Trapnell kicked off once for 40-yards and punted 7 times for 227-yards, for a 32.4-yard average, with the longest going for 44-yards, for the Rockets.

Matt Duncan led the Rockets defense with 12 tackles, followed by James Klunk with 11. Erik Brough recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for the Rockets.

The South Western Mustang Marching Band and the 20-member Mustang Cheer Leading squad both entertained the crowd. The 7-time Cavalcade of Bands Champion, 2000 Tournament of Bands Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion Mustang Marching Band provided the post-game entertainment with the 2005 musical program entitled “Festive Overtures: A Holiday Collage,” which featured the majestic fanfare of Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture,” Russian Sailors’ Dance from the ballet, “Red Poppy,” “Russian Easter” and “Russian Christmas.” The Rockets Marching Band put on a stirring half-time show for the crowd, that featured music from the Broadway show Guys & Dolls, including “Luck Be a Lady,” “Follow the Fool,” “I’ve Never Been In Love Before,” “Fugue for Tin Horns,” “If I Were a Bell,” and “Guys & Dolls.”

The Mustangs of South Western are 2-6-0 overall and 2-3-0 in York Area Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 152-62-1 (.710) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 293-180-8. The results of the 481 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .619 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs visit the Colonials of New Oxford (3-5 overall, 1-3 YAIAA Division I). The Colonials are coming off of a 28-25 hard fought loss to the Lions of Red Lion. From here it looks like the Mustangs are ready to again gallop away on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.