SOUTH WESTERN MUSTANGS GRIDIRON 2014-10

By Bill Engelhardt

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Last Friday evening, October 24, the Mustangs of South Western visited the den of the Bobcats of Northeastern and galloped to a 16-7 victory.  The swarming Mustang defense registered 7 sacks for a mind boggling 69-yards in losses, including a safety.

The Bobcats opened the game by going three and out, including a sack of quarterback Blake Einsig by Luke Baugher for a 13-yard loss, and punted.  The punt only netted three yards and the Mustangs took over on the Bobcats 26-yard line.  Brock Geiman threw a 10-yard pass to Noah Staub, Robby Harbison rambled for 12-yards to the 4, and Miles Francis scampered in for a 4-yard touchdown.  Andrew Slater kicked the extra point and the Mustangs were up 7-0 at the 9:18 mark of the first quarter.

The Bobcats then started on their own 23-yard line, were penalized to the 13, and gained a yard to the 14-yard line.  The Mustangs’ Seth Janney then sacked Einsig in the end zone for a 14-yard loss and a safety.  That put the Mustangs up 9-0 at the 7:52 mark in the game.

The Mustangs started a drive at the Bobcats 42-yard line and drove to the 17 in six plays, featuring a 12-yaed pass from Geiman to Staub.  The drive ended when the Mustangs misfired on a 35-yard field goal attempt.

The Bobcats then drove from their own 20-yard line to the Mustangs 17-yard line in nine plays, featuring passes of 25 and 14-yards from Einsig to Jordan Zirkle and an 11-yard pass from Einsig to David Ankney.  However, a sack by Janney for an 11-yard loss followed by a sack by Josh Zeroth for a 2-yard loss ended that drive and the Bobcats punted.

The Mustangs next drive ended when Houston Hoffman intercepted a Geiman pass at the Bobcats 32-yard line.  The Bobcats went three and out and punted and the Mustangs ended up punting after a short drive.

The Bobcats then drove 76-yards in two plays, ending with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Einsig to Ankney.  Chase Sasala kicked the extra point and the score was 9-7 in favor of the Mustangs with 3:26 left in the second quarter.

The Mustangs next drive ended when Taemar Willis intercepted a Geiman pass and returned it 13-yards.  The Mustangs returned the favor on the next play when Zach Hughes intercepted an Einsig pass and returned it 9-yards to the Bobcats 24-yard line.  The Mustangs ended up misfiring on a 29-yard field goal attempt.

The Mustangs and the Bobcats opened the second half by exchanging punts.  The Bobcats’ drive was thwarted by a sack by Baugher and a sack by Janney (who had three sacks in the game).  After Miles Francis returned the Bobcats punt 21-yards to the Bobcats 44-yard line the Mustangs ended a nine-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run by Bret Hetzog.  Slater’s extra point kick closed out the scoring at 16-7 in favor of the Mustangs at the 2:01 mark of the third quarter.

Each team turned the ball over on downs and each team punted.  The Bobcats last drive went from their own 24-yard line to the Mustangs 44-yard line, featuring a 28-yard pass from Einsig to Zirkle, but ended when Brady Thayer intercepted an Einsig pass and returned it 13-yards for the Mustangs.

Andrew Slater kicked off 2 times for 106-yards, with the longest going for 54-yards, and Brock Geiman punted 3 times for 97-yards (for an average of 32.3-yards) with the longest going for 37-yards.  Miles Francis returned 3 kickoffs for 55-yards, with the longest going for 24-yards, and 1 punt for 21-yards for the Mustangs.

Tyler Jachelski, with 12 tackles, led the Mustangs defense, followed by Luke Baugher with 8 tackles, 3 sacks for 29-yards in losses, and 1 pass defense, Ryan Krebs with 7 tackles and 2 pass hurries, Seth Janney with 6 tackles, 3 sacks for 39-yards in losses, and 1 pass hurry, Tyler Fulmore with 6 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Josh Zeroth with 5 tackles and 1 sack for a 1-yard loss, Gus Landis with 5 tackles, Zach Hughes with 3 tackles and 1 interception returned for 9-yards, Marcus Jones with 3 tackles and 1 pass hurry, Miles Francis and Hunter Palmer with 2 tackles each, Matt Smolko with 1 tackle for a 1-yard loss, Corbin Byers, Jacob Muir, Carson Perry, Evan Raubenstine, and Nate VanCampen with 1 tackle each, and Brady Thayer with 1 interception returned for 13-yards.

Luke Baugher, Corbin Byers, Scotty Dickmyer, Mike Farace, Miles Francis, Tyler Fulmore, Matt Helwig, Bret Hertzog, Tyler Jachelski, Seth Janney, Marcus Jones, Gus Landis, Josh Martin, Austin Reusing, Matt Smolko, Chris Steckel, and Josh Zeroth manned the offensive and defensive line and linebacker positions.

Ryan Krebs, Hunter Palmer, Brady Thayer and Nate VanCampen patrolled the secondary for the Mustangs.

The Mustangs gained 146-yards rushing and 51-yards passing for a total of 197-yards of offense. Junior quarterback Brock Geiman completed 5 of 14 passes for the 51-yards, 3 for 26-yards to Noah Staub, 1for 15-yards to Robby Harbison, and 1 for 10-yards to Hunter Palmer, for the Mustangs.

Robby Harbison led the Mustangs rushing attack with 19 carries for 80-yards, followed by Bret Hertzog with 13 carries for 58-yards (including a 3-yard touchdown), Miles Francis with 8 carries for 14-yards, and Brock Geiman with 2 carries for minus 3-yards.

Andrew Slater kicked 2 extra points, Brady Thayer intercepted 1 pass and returned it for 13-yards, Zach Hughes intercepted 1 pass and returned it for 9-yards, Luke Baugher recorded 3 sacks for 29-yards in losses, and recorded 2 pass hurries, Seth Janney recorded 3 sacks for 39-yards in losses, and recorded 1 pass hurry, Josh Zeroth recorded 1 sack for a 1-yard loss, Tyler Jachelski registered 12 tackles, Ryan Krebs recorded 2 pass hurries, and Tyler Fulmore and Marcus Jones each recorded 1 pass hurry, for the Mustangs.

The Bobcats gained a net of minus 46-yards rushing and 192 yards passing for a total of 146 yards gained.  Blake Einsig completed 9 of 14 passes for the 192-yards and 1 touchdown, 6 for 101-yards to Jordan Zirkle and 3 for 91-yards to David Ankney (including a 75-yard touchdown) for the Bobcats.

Fred Mulbah led the Bobcats rushing attack with 5 carries for 23-yards, followed by Kody Reeser with 11 carries for 10-yards, Chris Whack with 3 carries for 7-yards, Ankney with 1 carry for minus 5-yards, and Einsig with 10 carries for minus 81-yards.

Chase Sasala kicked 1 extra point, Houston Hoffman intercepted a pass, and an unknown player intercepted a pass and returned it 13-yards, for the Bobcats.

The 66-member 10-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 post game performance, presenting their 2014 field show “Nevermore,” based on “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, on Band Night.  The show opened with the Overture from “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim.  Mozart’s 25th Symphony provided the musical material for the first impact before melding into a minor treatment of the “Johanna” theme.  The madness continued with a return to the Overture that dissolved into a final solution.  The ballad began with beautiful sonorities from the front ensemble.  Freshman trumpet soloist, John Dyson, introduced the ‘Johanna’ theme as the narrator’s thoughts turn to his lost love, Lenore.  The passion built to a climax as he longed to be reunited with her, but alas, they shall be together, nevermore.  The closer brought a return to the narrator’s earlier thoughts as he peers deep into the darkness.  The music reached an emotional culmination with the Mozart and Verdi Requiems, before the percussion section took over with a short feature.

The 61-member Northeastern Bobcats Marching Band gave a crowd-pleasing post-game performance of its show “Adventures in Cinema,” including “Overture” from “Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves,” “Cadillac of the Skies” from “Empire of the Sun,” “Skyfall” from “Skyfall,” and “Into the West” from “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The 27 member strong Mustangs Cheer Leading squad (26 girls and a guy) and the Bobcats’ squad were very impressive as they roused the faithful.

The Mustangs of South Western are 4-5-0 overall and 4-2-0 in York Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association (YAIAA) Division I league play.

The Mustangs have a career record of 345-214-8.  The results of the 567 games played in the history of the South Western Mustangs are a career .617 winning percentage and a .623 non-losing percentage.

Next week the Mustangs host the Rockets (3-6 overall, 1-5 league).  Spring Grove is coming off of a 42-28 loss to the Lions of Red Lion.  The Mustangs are looking to remain on the winning track.  GO MUSTANGS GO.