Mustangs' rubout Hitmen 35-0

For the third straight and 4th out of their last 5 games the Madison Mustangs shut out rival Muskego Hitmen 35-0 in their last conference game of 2009. The win wrapped up the #1 seed in the National Conference playoffs, which start Aug. 22nd.

This rivalry goes back to the Madison Seminoles days. Throw out the records, every meeting is intense and there is no love lost on the field between these two teams. The Hitmen also have the privilege to be the last team to beat the Mustangs, the 2007 National Conference Championship game, 13-7.

The Mustangs Defense held the Hitmen O on their first possession to a punt. The Mustangs took over with great starting field position, but failed to get a first down and had to punt the ball back to the Hitmen. Another hold by the Stangs D and a great punt return by Zak “Flash” Gordon set the Mustangs O up for their first score of the game. After big runs by HB’s George Randolph and Kyle Brodd, QB David Pietrowiak connected over former Mustangs CB Jackson Clerveaux with WR Reggie Davis to make the score 7-0. The Mustangs D continued to swarm to the ball led by LB’s Ryan Mayer and Brandon Wanless, who combined for 3 tackles, 3 TFL’s, and 2 sacks for the game. The second quarter the Mustangs O got rolling. After missing on 2 scoring opportunities in one drive, the O finally capitalized on good field position and Petro and Davis connected again over Clerveaux, this time a 44 yard TD pass, 14-0. Just before half the Mustangs O went to hurry up and after an electrifying run after catch by WR Mike Darden took the ball to the Hitmen 11 yard line, Petro took it from there and scampered 11 yards for his 3rd TD of the game, 31st of the season, breaking the franchise record for most TD in a season (30), 21-0.

The second half was a different story for the Mustangs Offense. The Hitmen’s D stepped up and forced the Stangs O to multiple punts and took Petro out of the game with an ankle injury. Luckily the Mustangs D and Special Teams stepped up. The Mustangs D forced the Hitmen to multiple 3 and outs and punts. At the end of the 3rd quarter the score was the same 21-0. In the 4th the Mustangs made no question about who was going to win the game. Behind DB’s Jim Gordon and Mark Mashburn the Mustangs D held the Hitmen out of the end zone. Back-up QB Chris Davis lead a TD drive which he capped off with a 1 yard plunge, 28-0. Following another stalled drives by both teams, Mustangs punter Will Smith kicked a tumbling ball down the field that hit in front of a Hitmen receiver and bounce in and out of his hands. “Bullet” Russ Beier corralled the slippery pigskin, getting the ball back to the O deep in Hitmen territory. With a key 3rd down toss to WR Mike Darden and 1st down run by HB Vithaya Phimmense taking the ball down to the 3 yard line, Chris Davis swung the ball to WR Mike Gilbertson for the final TD of the game, 35-0.

The Mustangs D finished the game by only allowing 122 yards of total offense, holding former UW RB Booker Stanley to 67 yards on 17 carries, sacking the QB 3 times and had 7 TFL’s. The Mustangs O finished with 328 total yards and averaged 5.2 yards a rush. This week the Mustangs take on the Rock County Gladiators at home in the regular season finale.