View the gallery of photos from the game here.
On Sept. 6, the Mustangs football team played its first game on campus in three years and snapped its 12-game loss streak with a 44-14 win over Hartnell College.
The Panthers received the ball to start the game; however, the Mustangs forced a turnover on downs, which was then responded to with seven consecutive run plays and a 10-yard touchdown run from running back Julian Benton. A fumbled snap on the extra point left the Mustangs up 6-0 in the first.
At the end of the first quarter, defensive back Darion Stroman intercepted a pass from Panther’s Adam Shaffer to give the Mustangs the ball, resulting in a 2-yard rush from quarterback Ubedei McGautha, the extra point from William Henders is good, putting the Mustangs up 13-0 after the first.
The Panthers would start the scoring in the second with a 5-yard touchdown pass to make the score 13-7. This was quickly answered by a 41-yard passing touchdown to Treavon Spivey to make the score 20-7 Mustangs.
22 Mustang penalty yards, consisting of a personal foul from defensive back Dinero Burgess, and an encroachment penalty, would put the Panthers in the red zone, but a fumble recovered by Stroman would prevent a score and give the Mustangs back the ball.
“I just knew that penalty wasn’t the type of player that I was, and I just had to make sure I came down and focus, lock in, and play to the ability I play at,” said Burgess.
The Mustangs would then turn over on downs, giving the Panthers the ball at their 27. A 73-yard touchdown drive would make the score 20-14 going into the half.
The Mustangs struck early in the second half with an 85-yard kick return from running back Maurice Griffin Jr., putting them at the Panthers’ 10. Griffin would then make a 5-yard touchdown run, making the score 27-14.
Two interceptions from Burgess would provide the Mustangs with the opportunity to score a pair of touchdowns, making the score 41-14, and a field goal late in the third put the Mustangs up 44-14.
The crowd was noticeably larger than it had been in past years playing at McNair High School, creating a feeling of hospitality for players.
“It feels amazing, you know, we haven’t had this home crowd, real school campus feeling in so long. I feel on top of the world right now,” said McGautha. “We just got to stay focused and get that ready for the rest of the season.”
The Mustangs hope to take this momentum into their next home game on Sept. 13 against Coalinga College.
“We’re undefeated on our home stadium in the last 3 years,” said Head Coach Gary Barlow.
