Our Mustangs continue to be blessed by gorgeous fall football weather, as we traveled to Sharp Middle School for our annual renewal of the “Battle of 27,” looking for our ninth consecutive possession of the traveling trophy. 

As predicted, the first quarter was contentious, taking the Mustangs nearly 10 minutes to put numbers on the scoreboard after being intercepted in the shadow of the goal line on our first offensive possession.  At the 2:31 mark, Brady Boruske hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pitch from Landon Spaulding which finished off a short-field positioning, set up as our defense stopped the Cats, deep in their own territory, unsuccessfully attempting to convert 4^th Down and short.  We took possession at the PC 24 yard line.  The Mustangs lead was 7-0 when Ryan Eldridge converted his first of five PATs (the sixth was blocked).  However, it would only take the Wildcats 16 seconds to answer on a 61 yard Bryce Dunn to Gavin Laney who executed the halfback pass to Miles Collins, but the two-point conversion went for naught.  The first quarter ended at 14-6 favoring the Mustangs when Atticus Prost intercepted his first varsity pass, and scored his first-ever varsity touchdown on the same play, as time expired in the first quarter.

It was all Brossart in the second period as we scored twice – a 6 yard run by Landon Spaulding and a Pick 6 by Brady Boruske, making it 28-6 at the half. 

It was more of the same in the third quarter as two more scores sent the contest to a no-contest, running-clock 41-6 event.  The first Brossart score was set up by a patented Ben D’Alessandro on-side kick, which he recovered for the third time this season, setting up a 53 yard scoring drive topped off by a Landon Spaulding to Brady Boruske aerial, and after a trio of turnovers, Atticus Prost scored his second Pick 6 of the game and of his career with 2:13 remaining in what would be the game when the fourth quarter turned ugly, and the Cats became flagged for double-figure Unsportsmanlike Conduct flags.  The game was halted with 4:08 left on the clock, as the Mustangs improved to 6-4, and will prepare for Dayton in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs next Friday in Alexandria.

Sophomore Atticus Prost was named the Player of the Game.

On the night – Through the air, Landon Spaulding was 14 of 20 for 119 yards, 2 Touchdowns, and was picked off once. Spaulding also led us on the ground, carrying the piggy 10 times for 22 yards and 1 touchdown.  Receiving – Brady Boruske had 7 receptions for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns.  Quinten Tischmer had three receptions for 32 yards,and Landon Ketron caught it twice for 18 yards.

Ben D’Alessandro executed 3 punts for 97 yards, and Ryan Eldridge was 5 for 6 on PAT Conversions.  Defensively Jaxon Noe and Tommy Busby both recorded 6 tackles while Atticus Prost and Ethan Tiemeier brought down 5 Wildcats each.

I stand corrected in that in my preview notes I stated that Pendleton County chose to play an independent schedule and not participate in the 3A playoffs.  That is incorrect.  They played in a five team district and did not qualify for the playoffs.