by Dylan Sanders
Fulfillment, after a year of waiting the Mustangs finally got it thanks to a 55-34 home win over Williamsburg. The victory vindicates the 17-18 Williamsburg victory that eliminated the Mustangs in last year’s playoffs. The victory was all the sweeter as it punched the Mustangs a ticket to the University of Northern Iowa Dome located in Waterloo. This is the Mustangs first Dome birth since 2006.
The Mustangs were led by their explosive offense, which put up 54 points and totaled 570 yards of offense, good for a new school record. Senior Reed Worth had 310 of those yards, 218 of them were passing and 92 rushing. He also accounted for 28 of those points, throwing for two touchdowns and running for two as well. Wes Cummings also had a big day as he tore apart the helpless Raider defense on his way to 191 yards rushing and a touchdown. Senior Jarron Trausch also had a big day, rushing for 69 yards and three touchdowns. One thing that separates the Mustangs from other teams is their elusiveness. Williamsburg did as good of a job as any at tackling the Mustangs, and they were still steamrolled for more than 300 rushing yards. Senior Brayton Van Dyke led the Mustangs in receiving yards with 101, 94 of those yards coming from a record-breaking touchdown pass from Worth. The game was a great sign for him as continues to work back from an ankle injury that has limited him in recent weeks.
The Mustangs dominant defense was its typical dominant self in the first half against the Raiders. Allowing just one score that came towards the end of the second quarter via a long pass. The second half was a different story as the Raiders revealed that they had an offense that could compete with the Mustangs. That offense scored 27 points in the second half alone, though it was too little too late though as the Mustangs lead was too big to overcome. The Mustangs stingy defense was led in tackles by senior Brycen Rodgers with 10. Trausch Had 7 ½ and senior Nick Buswell had 7. A big part of keeping the Raiders in check through the first half was the pass defense. This defense was led by seniors Payton Strovers and Nick Buswell, each had an interception in the game.
The Mustangs faced all the pressure in the world in what many considered their greatest test of the year against the opponent that ended their season last year with a ticket to the Dome on the line. They passed with flying colors, letting the remaining 2A squads know that they are for real. The Mustang’s first opponent in the Dome will be West Liberty, who advanced to the Dome after a 42-14 victory over Benton. They were the school that eliminated the other playoff team from District 8, Chariton with a 30-10 triumph.
Help fill the stands with white at the UNI-Dome when the Mustangs will look to continue on the path that leads to a state title this Saturday at 7 p.m.
