By Milla Butler
The Mustang football team was eager to hit the field in their first game of the season, taking on their first regular-season opponent, the Shelton Bulldogs. Both teams came out ready to play, but the Mustangs unfortunately fell to the Bulldogs in the first quarter, ending the first fourth of the game with a score of 6-0. After some reassessing before the second quarter, the Mustangs picked up their game and scored seven points to the Bulldogs’ six. Between the third and fourth quarters, six points were earned by each team. A strong surge from the Mustang’s defense in the last few minutes of the game resulted in a final score of 13-12 in the Mustang’s favor.
The Mustangs’ seniors stepped up and showed their strengths on offense, many of them leading the team in stats. Casey Conway was the leading rusher, with sixteen yards and two touchdowns. The leading receivers were Lane Conway, who caught one pass for fourteen yards, and Paxton Sorensen who caught two passes for eleven yards. Junior Beau Bonifas also stepped up on offense, acting as the leading passer and throwing three passes for twenty-five yards. There were also multiple defensive leaders for the Mustangs. Head coach Connor Brown discussed a few aspects that led to the Mustangs’ first win of the season including senior Clay Plambeck, and Lane and Casey Conway. Defensively, Lane Conway racked up thirteen tackles and two pass deflections, and Casey Conway had ten tackles and one forced fumble. Plambeck showed his defensive strengths by achieving six tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. Brown commented, “Going into the first game of the season, I was eager to see how the team would perform under real-game conditions, especially with the transition back to 6-man football. There was a mix of anticipation and focus, knowing that this game would set the tone for the rest of the season. The team showed great resilience and determination, especially in a close game like this. Their ability to stay composed under pressure and fight until the end was impressive. However, there’s always room for improvement.” Though the Mustangs pulled through and obtained a win against the Bulldogs, Coach Brown noted that improvements can always be made. “We could work on consistency, particularly in executing plays cleanly and minimizing mental errors that can give the opponent opportunities. Before the game, I told the team to trust in their preparation and each other. I emphasized the importance of playing our game and supporting one another no matter what happens on the field. The focus was on playing together as a unit and staying mentally tough throughout the game.” The Mustangs continue to put in the work as they focus on their next game against the Ansley-Litchfield Mustangs. “To prepare for our next game, we’re analyzing the game film to identify areas for improvement, particularly in our offensive schemes. Conditioning will be a key focus to ensure the team maintains energy and sharpness throughout the game. We’ll also be studying Ansley-Litchfield’s play style to develop a strategy that will utilize our strengths.” Come support the Mustangs as they compete in their next game in Lichfield on September 6th.