SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2012-11

By Bill Engelhardt
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Last Friday evening, November 2, the Mustangs of South Western hosted the Rockets of Spring Grove and galloped and passed their way to a thrilling 19-17 victory, propelling them into the 12th seed in the District 3 class AAAA playoff picture. With the loss, the Rockets lost out on sole possession of the YAIAA Division title and share it with the Panthers of Central York.

The defensive struggle opened with the Mustangs and the Rockets exchanging punts. The Mustangs then started at their own 2-yard line and got a first down at the 14 on a 12-yard run by Dillon Thomas, but ended up punting. The Rockets, after a 15-yard penalty against the Mustangs, started at the Mustangs 20-yard line. Three plays later Andrew Luckenbaugh kicked a 32-yard field goal and the Rockets were up 3-0 with 5:37 left in the first quarter.

The Mustangs then drove 27-yards in five plays, featuring a 10-yard pass from Mike Duffy to Thomas, but a penalty wiped out most of the gain and they punted. The Rockets soon returned the favor and punted.

Jerome Robinson returned the punt 31-yards for the Mustangs and they then drove 56-yards in ten plays, featuring a 16-yard run by Thomas. The drive ended with picture perfect 10-yard touchdown pass from Duffy to Mike Mooradian. Jake Tracy kicked the extra point and the Mustangs went up 7-3 with 9:02 left in the second quarter.

The Rockets and the Mustangs exchanged punts and the Rockets drove 72-yards in 17 plays, only to have the first half come to an end with Matt Runge being stopped at the 1-yard line.

The Rockets and the Mustangs exchanged punts to open the second half. Then the Rockets drove 65-yards in three plays, featuring a 10-yard run by Runge, a 43-yard run by Jeff Delaughter, and a 2-yard touchdown plunge by Runge. Luckenbaugh’s extra point kick put the Rockets up 10-7 with 6:37 left in the third quarter.

Not to be deterred, the Mustangs responded with a 49-yard kickoff return by Payton Taylor, to the Rockets 46-yard line. Seven plays later Duffy threw a beautiful 28-yard touchdown pass to Robinson and the Mustangs went up 13-10 with 3:02 left in the third quarter.

The Rockets drove 23-yards in six plays, only to turn the ball over on downs at the Mustangs 38-yard line. Logan Hagerman then intercepted a Duffy pass for the Rockets and the Rockets drove 40-yards in nine plays, featuring an 11-yard run by Delaughter. Delaughter plunged in for a 3-yard touchdown and Luckenbaugh’s extra point kick put the Rockets up 17-13 with 8:26 left in the game.

The Mustangs ended up punting and the Rockets were in good shape at the Mustangs 46-yard line. Jerome Robinson then recovered a fumble by Runge and returned it 55-yards for a Mustangs touchdown. That ended the scoring with the Mustangs up 19-17 with 5:54 left in the game.

Jake Tracy kicked off 4 times for 163-yards, with the longest going for 50-yards. Payton Taylor returned 2 kickoffs for 51-yards, with the longest going for 49-yards, and Wyat Trostle returned 1 kickoff for 5-yards. Brandon Utz punted 7 times for 228-yards for an average of 32.57-yards, with the longest going for 52-yards. Jerome Robinson returned 2 punts for 31-yards, with the longest going for 31-yards, for the Mustangs.

Devon Ackerman, with 16 tackles and 1 caused fumble, led the Mustang defense, followed by Gunner Holtz with 12 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Chris Weibe with 9 tackles, 1 caused fumble, and 1 pass hurry, Aram Moffitt with 8 tackles and 4 pass hurries, Ryan Krebs and Ryan Lane with 7 tackles each, Jerome Robinson with 5 tackles and a fumble recovery that he returned 55-yards for a touchdown, Gabe Morela and Brady Shultz with 5 tackles each, Eddie Lane and Payton Taylor with 4 tackles each, and Dillon Thomas and Gustave Landis with 1 tackle each.

Devon Ackerman, Alex Jones, Matt Helwig, Gunner Holtz, Ryan Krebs, Eddie Lane, Ryan Lane, Aram Moffitt, Mike Mooradian, Gabe Morela, Dakotah Moses, Shawn Secola, Brady Shultz, Dillon Thomas, Aaron Uttley, and Chris Weibe, manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions, with help from Brandon McMinn, Ethan Paul, Josh Walker, Wayne Trostle, and Brandon Utz. Mike Duffy, Jordan Markle, Hunter Palmer, Jerome Robinson, Payton Taylor, and Bobby Wildasin patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs, with help from Aaron Doll.

The Mustangs gained 115-yards rushing and 53-yards passing for a total of 168-yards of offense. Quarterback Mike Duffy completed 6 of 10 passes for 53-yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 for 28-yards and a touchdown to Jerome Robinson, 2 for 12-yards to Dillon Thomas, 1 for 10-yards and a touchdown to Mike Mooradian, 1 for 3-yards to Bobby Wildasin, and 1 for no yards to Zach Osborne, and quarterback Tyler Sterner attempted 1 pass that fell incomplete, for the Mustangs.

Dillon Thomas led the Mustangs rushing attack with 23 carries for 77-yards (giving him 1,351-yards and 16 touchdowns for the season), followed by Wildasin with 5 carries for 21-yards, Zach Osborne with 2 carries for 11-yards, Dakotah Moses with 3 carries for 6-yards, Brady Shultz with 3 carries for 3-yards, Duffy with 1 carry for no yards, and Sterner with 1 carry for no yards. Robinson recovered a fumble and returned it 55-yards for a touchdown, Jake Tracy kicked 1 extra point, Devon Ackerman recorded 16 tackles and 1 caused fumble, Aram Moffitt recorded 4 pass hurries, Gunner Holtz recorded 2 pass hurries, and Chris Weibe recorded 1 pass hurry and 1 caused fumble, for the Mustangs.

The Rockets gained 290-yards rushing and 0- yards passing for a total of 290 yards gained. Quarterback Matt Runge attempted 9 passes and completed none.

Jeff Delaughter led the Rockets rushing attack with 30 carries for 161-yards (including a 1-yard touchdown), followed by Runge with 21 carries for 115-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), and Logan Hagerman with 3 carries for 14-yards. Andrew Luckenbaugh kicked a 32-yard field goal and 2 extra points and Logan Hagerman intercepted a pass for the Rockets.

The 9-time Cavalcade of Bands Champions, Tournament of Bands Group IV Champion and US Scholastic Band Champion 59 member strong South Western Mustangs Marching Band put on a stirring post game performance, presenting their 2012 field show “Unity: A Natural Balance.” The show took us on a musical and visual exploration of the three natural forces among us: Water, Air and Land. The show opened with “Of Men and the Sea,” depicting the energetic role of water in our world. The raging water calmed us as we turned our eyes to the sky, then with a ballad highlighting the beauty and mystery of the night air and the “stars.” The show closed with the exotic sounds of the land in “Puma.” The 45 members strong Rockets Marching Band put on a stirring half time show featuring classic rock tunes by Queen, Aerosmith and Journey.

The 21 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad and the Rockets squad were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 6-4-0 overall and 3-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 343-210-8. The results of the 561 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .620 winning percentage and a .626 non-losing percentage.

Next week the number 12 seed Mustangs of South Western will visit the number 5 seed Mustangs of Governor Mifflin (8-2 overall, 7-0 Berks Inter-Count 1 League) in the first round of the District 3 class AAAA Playoffs. Governor Mifflin is coming off of a 56-30 victory over the Scouts of Conrad Weiser. The Mustangs are looking to remain on the winning track. GO MUSTANGS GO.