Mustangs fall to 1-1 in district

The Madisonville football team dropped a tight matchup to the Rusk Eagles at home Friday by a score of 31-28 following a late turnover to fall to 1-1 in district play. The loss puts the Mustangs tied with the majority of the district at 1-1 with the exception of Carthage (2-0) and Shepherd (0-2).

“Their effort is tremendous, we just had some costly mistakes tonight,” said head coach Russell Urbantke following the game Friday. “We have to move past that, learn from it and correct it so that, when we go to Center next week, we can finish at the end of the game.”

Among those mistakes was a Madisonville red zone fumble as they were driving to take the lead or tie the game with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Rusk was able to fall on Xzavier Whaley’s fumble and run the clock out with a first down on the ensuing possession.

The team, however, would not have been in the game without Whaley’s efforts, who scored a pair of touchdowns in the first half and was second in total rushing yards.

“I told him how proud I am of him, how one mistake is not going to define him,” said Urbantke on a moment he shared with his running back following the game. “We are going to need him next week.”

The Mustangs appeared to be playing catchup through most of the game, beginning with a 10-0 deficit. After Rusk quarterback Owen McCown led the Eagles on a scoring drive to open the game, they were able to convert an onside kick to keep Madisonville’s offense sidelined throughout the majority of the first quarter.

The onside kick ultimately led to a 24-yard field goal and a two possession advantage for Rusk before Madisonville quarterback Jeramiah Burns even took his first snap.

After a three-and-out on their first possession, Madisonville’s Vladimir Morales delivered a brilliant punt that landed on the Eagle two-yard line. This ultimately resulted in a Rusk punt inside their own end zone and prime field position for the Mustangs at the Eagle 29.

After setting the stage with a long run into the red zone, Whaley was able to draw first blood for the Mustangs with a five-yard score to cut the deficit to three early in the second quarter.

Keyvunt Simpson came up with the first Madisonville takeaway on the ensuing possession by recovering a loose Rusk fumble. The offense did not immediately take advantage, but the turnover did set up Morales for another punt inside the 10-yard line that would prove fruitful.

Backed up against their own end zone, Rusk put the ball on the ground once again and Madisonville’s Tyler George was able to fall on it, giving his team first and goal midway through the quarter.

Whaley would then help carry the offensive pile across the goal line a few plays later and give the Mustangs a 14-10 lead.

McCown, however, was able to move the ball methodically into Mustang territory while running out the majority of the first half before connecting with Elijah Ward on a 40-yard touchdown. This put the Eagles up 17-14 at the break.

Despite recovering a fumble inside the Madisonville 25 to open the second half, Rusk plagued themselves with a number of miscues and were forced to ultimately punt it away to the Mustangs. But Madisonville’s third quarter woes would continue into a short ensuing series, enabling Rusk to take advantage. McCown gave the Eagles their

McCown gave the Eagles their 10-point lead back with a drive that chewed up the majority of the quarter and culminated in another touchdown to Ward. The Mustangs, however, were able to seize momentum back again immediately on special teams.

Lorenzo Johnson fielded the ensuing Rusk kickoff at his own one-yard line and was able to follow his blockers and explode down the sideline for a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, cutting the score to three late in the third quarter.

“I read my blocks and just went by (the defenders),” said Johnson on his critical return, his second of the season.

“We flipped (Johnson) and put him on the other side and I said to them, ‘Return right, to the house’,” said Urbantke. “And they believe that. If they are going to kick deep to us, they believe in our kickoff return team and they went out and did it. 10 guys got on their blocks and opened their alleys.”

Madisonville had a key opportunity to come away with a stop on Rusk as time began to become a factor in the fourth, but Rusk converted on a back-breaking fourth-and-16 on one of the most critical moments in the game to advance to the Madisonville two-yard line. This led to another score and a 31-21 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the third.

The resilient Mustangs, however, would not go away. After a long touchdown carry by Burns was negated on the ensuing drive, the quarterback connected with Devin Wheaton over the middle for a 28- yard score to bring it within three points.

The defense was then able to come up with a critical stop, giving the Madisonville offense one last chance before the fumble.

“We always feel like wee are in the ball game right to the end of it,” said Urbantke. “The level of intensity and emotion that we have been playing with is really what I’m happy with.”

Urbantke expressed his pride for the team’s effort in the postgame huddle and also harped on finishing, which has been an overarching theme for the team all season.

“We have got a good chance, we just got to come out and work hard next week in practice so we can come out victorious against Center,” said Burns.