On Sept. 27, the Mustangs football team beat the Merced Blue Devils 49-24, improving to 3-2 overall and the Mustangs’ first winning record going into conference play since 2015.
To start the game, the Mustangs received the kickoff, which running back Maurice Griffin Jr. took 39 yards from Delta’s 10-yard line.
“I knew to open up the game, I have to set the tone. I pretty much just went into the left all the unblocked players missed, then I went to the right, and I got daylight, then I started off our drive at the 50,” said Griffin Jr.
After three quick run plays to move the Mustangs up 21 more yards, a 48-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ubedei McGautha to wide receiver Treavon Spivey would put the Mustangs up 7-0.
Mustangs kicker William Henderson would kick a touchback to put the Blue Devils at the 25-yard line, where they would throw an interception to defensive back Darion Stroman at the Blue Devils 48-yard line.
“My first pick, I didn’t even know I had it in my hands, it just dropped in my hands and stuck there,” said Stroman.
The interception led to another touchdown for the Mustangs, and a 23-yard pass from McGautha to Griffin Jr. put the Mustangs up 14-0.
The Mustangs would then recover a fumble on the kickoff return, giving them the ball back at the 15-yard line, where running back Julian Benton would run it in to put the Mustangs up 21-0 in the first 5 minutes of play.
In the second quarter, the Blue Devils would put up 17 points with two touchdowns and a field goal, while the Mustangs scored 21 with two rushing touchdowns from Griffin Jr. and a rushing touchdown from McGautha.
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter, and each team scored a touchdown in the fourth quarter, for a final score of 49-24.
Head Coach Gary Barlow attributes the success to the Mustangs’ winning attitude on and off the field.
“I think we have a really strong culture, I think our players work hard in the weight room, they work hard academically, and they work hard when we get out on the football field,” said Barlow, “that hard work and ability to train is usually what produces success.”
The Mustangs’ next game is on Oct. 25 at Contra Costa to start conference play.
