SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2006-12

By Bill Engelhardt
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Last Friday evening, November 10, the number 2 seeded Mustangs of South Western hosted the number 15 seeded Spartans of Garden Spot in the first round of the class AAA District 3 playoffs and romped to a 38-14 victory. The Mustangs will host the number 7 seeded Indians of Susquehanna Township in the quarterfinals of the District 3 playoffs next.

Quarterback J. C. Laughlin set a new record for touchdown passes in a season with 17. His 8 touchdown passes in 2005 and 17 so far in 2006 sets a new school career record of 25, 1 ahead of the record of 24 previously held by Andy Adams. His 1,018-yards so far in 2006 already puts him in 4th place for season passing yardage, 170-yards behind the record of 1,188-yards set by Doug Seidenstricker in 1990. His 900-yards passing in 2005 and 1,018-yards so far in 2006 already puts him in 3rd place on the school career passing yardage list with 1,918-yards.

Drew Snyder set a new school record for touchdown receptions in a season wuth 9, surpassing the record of 7 set by Tim Rill in 1989 and Zach Krise in 2003. His 4 touchdown receptions in 2005 and 9 so far in 2006 already places him in a tie with Tim Rill for the school career record of 13. His 892 career pass reception yards to date puts him in 2nd place on the school record list, behind Tim Rill’s 992-yards. Snyder also set a new school record for field goals in a career with 19. He kicked 7 this year and his field goal of 50-yards set a new school record for distance, breaking his own record of 47-yards. With 10 touchdowns, 33 extra points and 7 field goals, Snyder has accounted for 114 points this year. His 123 career punts for 4,601-yards so far puts him in 2nd place on the school career punting average list with an average of 37.4-yards. It was noted that his 2 booming punts, 7 booming kickoffs and 5 booming extra point kicks in this game had the members of the press ooing and ahing at every one.

The Spartans 78-yard 14 play opening drive, featuring a 32-yard jaunt and a 9-yard juant by workhorse Ross Shober and Tyler Horst’s 2 passes for 20-yards set up a 6-yard touchdown pass to Weston Martin. David Stoltzfus kicked the extra point and the Spartans took the 7-0 lead at 6:57 in the first quarter.

The Mustangs answered right back with their own 78-yard 15 play drive, featuring 7 runs for 30-yards by the YAIAA Division I Player of the Year Tim Smith, 4 runs for 29-yards by Eric Updegrove 3 runs for 12-yards by Jason Gigous and a 7-yard run by quarterback J. C. Laughlin, ending in Smith’s 2-yard touchdown plunge. Drew Snyder’s extra point tied the game at 7 at 1:11 in the first quarter and the Mustangs took off from there.

The Spartans gained 21-yards on 5 plays and punted. The Mustangs took over on their 30-yard line and immediately J. C. Laughlin launched a picture perfect 70-yard touchdown strike to Drew Snyder. Snyder’s extra point kick upped the score to 14-7 in favor of the Mustangs at 10:15 of the second quarter. The Spartans then had a brief possession that involved a 2-yard run, 2 incomplete passes and 2 penalties, forcing a punt from their 12-yard line. The Mustangs took over at midfield and a 7 play drive, featuring 2 carries for 14-yards by Updegrove and 5 carries for 36-yards by Tim Smith, ended in Smith’s second touchdown, a 5-yard plunge. Snyder’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 21-7 at 6:49.

On their next possession the Spartans got nowhere and punted from the 20-yard line. The low kick was handled by Jason Sneeringer at the line and he returned it to the Spartans 9-yard line for the Mustangs. The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the 1-yard line. The Spartans, behind the running of Ross Shober and Brandon McGarvey, got out to the 34-yard line. Tim Smith then intercepted a Spartans pass and returned it 34-yards to the 21-yard line. Updegrove ran to the 19 and 2 incomplete passes led to a 36-yard field goal by Drew Snyder (his 7th of the season and 19th of his career). The Mustangs were up 24-7 with 26 seconds left in the first half. Corwyn Gordan recovered a Spartans fumble on their first play from scrimmage at their 18-yard line but the Mustangs fumbled it right back as the clock ran out for the first half.

The Mustangs opened the second half by going three and out and punted. Snyder’s 54-yard punt put the Spartans at their 15-yard line and they soon punted to the Mustangs, who took over at their 23-yard line. A penalty moved them back to the 13 and Tim Smith ripped off a 61-yard jaunt, sheddimg tacklers as he went, to the Spartans 26-yard line. Three plays later Laughlin connected with Jesse Smith for a 21-yard touchdown strike. Snyder’s extra point kick upped the score to 31-7 at 5:42 in the third quarter.

After a series of punts, the Mustangs launched a 67-yard drive, featuring an 8-yard pass to Kory Yelton and a 21-yard pass to Updegrove, that ended with Tim Smith scoring on a beautiful 34-yard run. Snyder’s extra point upped the score to 38-7 with 6:10 remaining in the game. The Mustangs ceremoniously pulled the starters and the second team finished the game. A 65-yard Spartans drive, highlighted by a 45-yard pass from Tyler Horst to Bradley Troop, led to a 3-yard touchdown run by Ross Shober, and David Stoltzfus added the extra point to close out the scoring at 38-14. Cody Shue recovered the ensuing onsides kick for the Mustangs and they ran out the clock.

Tentatively, Jason Gigous led the Mustangs with 12 tackles (he leads the Mustangs with 118 tackles for the season). Exact defensive stats are still pending. The fumble recovery by Corwyn Gordon and the interception by Tim Smith were highlights of the Mustangs vaunted defense.

Aaron Repman returned a punt for no yards and he returned 2 kickoffs for 32-yards, with the longest going for 17-yards. Seth Barnes lost 3-yards on the only other punt the Mustanmgs received. Drew Snyder kicked off 7 times for 362-yards, including 2 touchbacks, and he punted 2 times for 100-yards, for a 50-yard average, with the longest going for 54-yards, for the Mustangs.

Bryan Bosley, Donnie Brady, Dan Dukes, Jason Gigous, Corwyn Gordon, Chad LaGore, Dale Mills, Cody Shue, Jesse Smith, Jason Sneeringer, Drew Snyder, Eric Updegrove and Chris Wilson manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions. Seth Barnes, Duane Rowlette, Tim Smith, Mike Stremmel and Kory Yelton patrolled the secondary.

The South Western Mustangs gained 286-yards rushing and 120-yards passing for a total of 406 yards of offense for the game. Tim Smith led the Mustangs rushing attack with 219-yards and 3 touchdowns, followed by Eric Updegrove with 43-yards, Jason Gigous with 25-yards, Pete Kudla with 2-yards, and Chris Helwig with 1-yard. Donnie Brady and quarterback J. C. Laughlin rushed for minus yardage. Laughlin completed 5 of 9 passes for the 120-yards (Giving him 1,018-yards for the season), including the 70-yard touchdown to Drew Snyder and the 21-yard touchdown to Jesses Smith, 2 passes for 21-yards to Updegrove and a pass for 8-yards to Kory Yelton for the Mustangs.

The Garden Spot Spartans gained 84-yards rushing and 143-yards passing for a total of 227- yards of offense for the game. Ross Shober led the Spartans rushing attack with 89-yards and a touchdown, followed by Brandon McGarvey with 11-yards, Anderson Beamer with minus 2-yards, and quarterback Tyler Horst with minus 14-yards. Horst completed 12 passes for the 143-yards; 4 for 35-yards to Sean Behan, 4 for 34-yards and a touchdown to Weston Martin, 2 for 55-yards to Bradley Troop, and 2 for 19-yards to Zachary Hess for the Spartans.

Joe Strangarity, with 17 tackles, Charlie Bellitto with 13, Ben Busch with 11, Dustin Tennis with 7, and Anderson Beamer with 5, led the Spartans defensive effort.

The 18-member Mustangs Cheer Leading squad was very impressive as they roused the many faithful Mustangs fans among the hometown crowd. The Spartans Cheer Leaders countered with a spirited crowd rousing performance for the faithful fans who made the long trip to the Mustang Corral.

The 110 member strong South Western Mustang Marching Band, 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champion, a 2000 Tournament of Bands Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion provided the pregame entertainment with the 2006 musical program entitled “Colourful Rythms,” which featured musical themes from the Millennium Celebration at Epcot Center, including “Time Prologue,” “Chaos,” “Life” and “Celebration.” Then followed the main theme from the Cirque du Soleil production, “Journey of Man” and “Tribal Mustang.” The closing number was a “lilting” Irish melody leading to the majestic strains of “We Go On.” The Spartans Marching Band provided a stirring halftime program.

The Mustangs of South Western are 10-1-0 overall and 7-0-0 in York Area Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

Don Seidenstricker has a 164-63-1 (.722) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 305-181-8. The results of the 494 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .628 winning percentage and a .634 non-losing percentage.

Next week the number 2 seeded Mustangs will host the number 7 seeded Indians of Susquehanna Township in the quarterfinals of the District 3 playoffs. The Indians (5-6 overall, 3-4 Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2) are coming off of a 31-6 victory over Lampeter-Strasberg. From here it looks like the Mustangs are ready to continue their winning ways and move on to the semifinals in the playoff hunt. GO MUSTANGS GO.