SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2009-2

By Bill Engelhardt
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Last Friday evening, September 4, the Mustangs of South Western visited the Warriors of Gettysburg and celebrated the start of the 50th anniversary of the football program by galloping and passing to a resounding 21-7 victory. Mustangs running back J. R. Mummert kept the offense moving with 94-yards rushing on 21 carries and quarterback Ian Smith, who completed 13 passes for 195-yards and 2 touchdowns, and kicked 3 extra points, was the catalyst for the Mustangs success.

The Warriors started the game on offense and on the fourth play from scrimmage Jake Myers recovered a Warriors fumble for the Mustangs and returned it 2-yards to the Warriors 43. The Mustangs went 3 and out and punted to the Warriors 1-yard line. The Warriors then went 3 and out and punted and Kyle King returned the punt 18-yards to the Warriors 16-yard line. Three plays later Ian Smith threw a picture perfect 11-yard touchdown strike to Levi Sager. Smith then kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were up 7-0 with 5:30 left in the first quarter.

The Warriors punted again and then Miles Sherman recovered a Mustangs fumble near midfield. Four plays later Tyler Frederick returned the favor and recovered a fumble by the Warriors at the Mustangs 34-yard line.

The game see-sawed back and forth and the Mustangs drove from their own 44-yard line to the Warriors 16-yard line, featuring 3 runs for 18-yards by Mummert, a 100-yard pass from Smith to Mummert, and a 6-yard pass from Smith to Kyle Mahorney. The drive ended when the Warriors blocked a 23-yard field goal attempt by the Mustangs.

The Mustangs started the second half on offense and five plays later Benttion Hendricks intercepted a Mustangs pass and returned it 35-yards for a touchdown. Drew Myer kicked the extra point for the Warriors and the score was 7-7 with 9:16 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs quickly regained the momentum with a 74-yard, 11 play, drive, featuring 7 runs for 34–yards by Mummert, a 6-yard pass from Smith to Shipley, and culmination in a picturesque 26-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Kyle Mahorney. Smith’s extra point kick put the Mustangs up 14-7 with 3:39 left in the third quarter.

The Mustangs started another drive at the Gettysburg 47-yard line. Smith threw a 43-yard bomb to Jimmy Nicklas. After a penalty backed the Mustangs up to the Warriors 9-yard line Levi Sager scampered 9-yards for the touchdown, with some fantastic acrobatic moves. Smith’s extra point kick closed out the scoring with the Mustangs on top 21-7.

Kyle King returned 2 kickoffs for 21-yards, with the longest going for 21-yards, and 2 punts for 25-yards, with the longest going for 18-yards, and Levi Sager returned 2 punts for 10-yards, with the longest going for 5-yards, for the Mustangs. Ian Smith kicked off 4 times for 173-yards, with the longest going for 53-yards, for an average of 43.25-yards per punt. Jake Myers punted 2 times for 66-yards, for a 33-yard average, with the longest going for 38-yards, for the Mustangs.

Jake Myers, who had 17 tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass defense for the night, led the Mustangs defense; followed by Jake Shaffer with 8 tackles, David Messinger and Ryan Sexton with 6 tackles each, Dan Laird and Tyler Frederick with 5 tackles each, Colby Fuhrman, Kyle Mahorney, and Levi Sager with 4 tackles each, Aaron Bosley, Kyle King, Jimmy Nicklas, and Jeb Shipley with 2 tackles each, and Ian Smith and Bill Utz with 1 tackle each. Jake Myers returned an interception for 2-yards and Jake Shaffer returned an interception for 10-yards for the Mustangs. Tyler Frederick recovered a fumble for the Mustangs. David Messinger had 2 sacks and Ryan Sexton had a sack for the Mustangs. Levi Sager and Jake Myers each had a pass defense and Colby Fuhrman and Kyle Mahorney each had a pass hurry for the Mustangs.

Aaron Bosley, Mason Brady, Colby Fuhrman, Tyler Frederick, Dan Laird, Kyle Mahorney, David Messinger, Jake Myers, Ryan Sexton, Jake Shaffer, and Anthony Wildasin manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Billy Utz. Kyle King, Jimmy Nicklas, Levi Sager, and Jeb Shipley patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 168-yards rushing and 195-yards passing for a total of 363-yards of offense. Quarterback Ian Smith completed 13 of 22 passes for the 195-yards, including 3 for 61-yards to Jimmy Nicklas, 2 for 36-yards to J. R. Mummert, 2 for 32-yards to Kyle Mahorney (including the 26-yard touchdown), 2 for 26-yards to Mike Felton, 2 for 19-yards to Jeb Shipley, 1 for 11-yards and a touchdown to Levi Sager, and 1 for 10-yards to Kyle Connaby, for the Mustangs. J. R. Mummert led the Mustangs rushing attack with 21 carries for 94-yards, followed by Jake Myers with 7 for 35-yards, Kyle King with 2 for 25-yards, Jeb Shipley with 6 for 8-yards, Levi Sager with 3 for 5-yards (including the 9-yard touchdown), and Ian Smith with 3 for 1-yard.

The Gettysburg Warriors rang up 76-yards rushing and 33-yards passing for a total of 109-yards gained. Sophomore quarterback Hendricks completed 4 of 13 passes for 33-yards, 2 for 20-yards to Logan Riser, 1 for 18-yards to Carson Merine, and 1 for minus 5-yards to Hill, for the Warriors. Zach Hill led the Warriors rushing attack with 11 carries for 37-yards, followed by D. J. Johnson with 9 for 31-yards, Benttion Hendricks with 4 for 14-yards, A. J. Acevado with 1 for no yards, and Chase Whitman with 1 for minus 6-yards.

The Mustangs are hoping to contend for the championship Division I of the YAIAA this year.

The 85 member 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring half time performance. The field production of the 2009 edition of the Band, under the guidance of second year Director Ethan Clark, is titled “Horsing Around in the Mustang Corral” and is a 50th anniversary musical celebration featuring the school Alma Mater, “Magnificent 7,” and “Lullaby of All The Pretty Little Horses.” The 22 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad was very impressive as they roused the faithful.

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

Don Seidenstricker has a 174-77-1 (.693) record as coach of the Mustangs, who have a career record of 315-195-8. The results of the 518 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .618 winning percentage and a .624 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Golden Tigers of Hollidaysburg. Hollidaysburg opened the season with a 57-6 loss to the powerful Little Lions of State College. The Mustangs played great offense and great defense in their season opener. They are looking to continue in their winning tradition and make the 50th anniversary season one to remember. GO MUSTANGS GO.