Mustangs run through Shepherd for 1-0 district start
The Madisonville football team began district play 1-0 with a 27-18 win over the Shepherd Pirates on the road Friday. The Mustangs ran for over 300 yards in the win with a pair of rushers surpassing the century mark.
The Mustangs jumped out to an early advantage off of a Blessing Ngene touchdown run in the first quarter. The extra point attempt, however, was blocked and returned the other way for a Shepherd two-point conversion, making the score 6-2 opposed to 7-0.
“That is some adversity we had not faced this year,” said head coach Russell Urbantke. “We started the game just like we wanted to, then I believe that is the first time this year we have had a PAT blocked. But I was happy with how we fought back from the adversity.”
Later in the first quarter, Madisonville’s defense stiffened deep in their own territory to turn a Shepherd red zone trip into a fourth and 20 thanks to penetration in the backfield, which would be a theme throughout the night for defensive coordinator Heath Brittain’s unit. The score, however, would remain stagnant at 6-2 throughout the majority of the second quarter. Urbantke was not pleased with his team’s inability to pull away earlier in the contest.
“The one thing I was not very happy with was our performance and execution in the second quarter,” said Urbantke. “I felt like there were several times we had opportunities to make some big plays, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and I didn’t feel like we did a very good job of that.”
The Mustangs would break out late in the quarter thanks in large part to another defensive stand. As Shepherd entered Madisonville’s red zone again, Ronnie Mosley came away with a fumble recovery to put the ball back in the offense’s hands before half. They would not squander this opportunity.
On the ensuing play, Devin Wheaton’s number was called on a jet sweep and he took it 84 yards up the sideline for a Madisonville touchdown to make the score 13-2 before the break.
“We felt like they didn’t really with (Wheaton),” said Urbantke. “Everyone did a really good job of blocking for him and I feel like that really broke the game open.”
The Mustangs would take advantage of a kickoff out of bounds to start the second half and run it right down the field to extend their lead. After a number of first downs and overcoming an offensive hold, Jeramiah Burns aptly handled a poor snap from the one-yard line and broke into the end zone for a touchdown to put Madisonville up 20-2 in the third.
Shepherd would find the end zone again late in the third quarter and convert a two-point try to make the score 20-10, but Madisonville’s offenses answered right back on their ensuing possession.
A long Burns run set up Ngene’s second touchdown of the contest and extended the team’s lead back to three possessions.
The Pirates would convert on another touchdown and two-point conversion to bring the score within nine, but the Mustangs retained possession of the ball in the waning minutes to run out the clock and secure the victory.
The Mustangs will look to open district with their second straight win when they host Rusk at MHS Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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