K.C. Mustangs Open Inaugural Season Saturday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
What started out as a dream now has Sid Phillips losing sleep.
Call it nerves, call it excitement.
Whatever it is, it's clear there will be some emotions Saturday afternoon.
Phillips is the offensive coordinator for the newly-formed Kosciusko County Mustangs semi-pro football team.
Saturday, the Mustangs, a member of the Interstate Football League, play their inaugural game, a contest with the visiting Hendricks County Generals.
The game is slated for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Fisher Field at Lakeview Middle School.
"They're ready to go," Phillips said Tuesday while the Mustangs practiced in the summer heat, much like many of them did in years past as area high school gridsters. "They're ready to go hit someone."
Barring practice and maybe a backyard football game here and there over the years, it's been quite some time since any of the Mustangs players have caught a touchdown pass, sacked a quarterback or recovered a fumble.
Saturday they hope to do all those things and then some.
"They've got a good grasp of everything we're trying to teach them," said Dave Sisk, who is more commonly referred to as Sisko, and whose nephew, Nate Sisk, was an all-conference linebacker for Warsaw Community High in the mid 1990s. "I can tell you my defense is ready to go."
The Mustangs, with their navy blue and orange uniforms, will line up in a 4-4 defensive formation.
Both Sisk and Phillips said the strength of the Mustangs is the defense, and the strength of the defense is its corps of linebackers.
"These boys will tear them up, at least I hope so," said Sisk. "They're ready to go hit somebody. Our linebackers are our strength, especially the middle."
Listed on the Mustangs' roster at the linebacker position are Joe Sittler, Andy Crisp, Aaron Mosley, Tyler Anglin and Dustin McClone.
The offensive and defensive lines are blessed with size, including five 300-pounders who can pave the way for quarterback Mike Whitaker and running back Ron E. Rodriguez, whose father, Ron L. Rodriguez, is an assistant coach.
Listed on the roster as offensive linemen are Matt Crisp, Charles Smith, Mark Allen, Bart Brower, Justin Jenkins, Carl Kiefer, John West and Shaun Craft.
Local sports fans may recognize a number of the Mustangs. Most played high school football in the area.
The Mustangs' roster features a number of players from Kosciusko County, as well as Columbia City.
Joining Whitaker and Rodriguez at the offensive skilled positions are speedy receivers Billy West and John Hill, both of whom were multi-sport athletes at WCHS. Former Tigers Damien Richardson, whose dad, Steve Richardson, is the head coach, and Nick Bolesky and Jeremy May also are slotted as receivers.
"I think we're gonna surprise some people," said Phillips. "We've got some big guys and we've got some speed. We hope people will come out and check us out. We think we've got something the community can be proud of."
According to Phillips, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins is scheduled to make an appearance at Saturday's inaugural game.
Handling the kicking duties, both punting and place kicking, is 37-year-old Tom Martinez.
Martinez has had numerous NFL tryouts, most recently with the San Diego Chargers, and said at practice Tuesday he can still successfully kick from 54 yards out.
The idea of the K.C. Mustangs came from Crisp, a former WCHS and University of St. Francis player.
Crisp and some friends had been playing football on the weekends and thought it would be fun to put a team together.
They then asked Sisk and Phillips for their help in starting it.
The rest, as they say, is history.
K.C. Mustangs
2004 Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt.
1 Tom Martinez K/P 5-11 218
2 Damien Richardson WR 5-9 160
3 Joe Sittler LB 6-1 200
4 Andy Crisp LB 6-3 220
5 Wade Pacely S/C 5-10 180
6 Nick Bolesky WR 6-3 190
8 Kiel Pratt S/QB 6-1 178
11 Mike Whitaker QB 6-6 240
13 Keegan Burris DB 5-11 190
22 Billy West WR 6-0 180
24 Jon Hill WR 6-0 180
26 Aaron Mosley LB 5-10 210
27 Derrick Richardson DB N/A 165
28 Sherlock Harrison Jr. WR 5-11 180
30 Russel Albert S 5-11 185
35 Tyler Anglin LB 6-2 210
42 Ron E. Rodriguez RB 5-10 240
46 Ben Keyes DL 5-9 270
48 Dustin McClone LB 5-8 190
52 Kyle Wilbert DL 6-5 255
53 Tim Smith DL 6-2 210
54 Matt Crisp OL 6-4 320
55 Mike Petersen DL 6-0 228
69 Scott Geist DL 5-9 260
72 Charles Smith OL 6-2 330
73 Jeff Ellenwood DL 6-1 305
76 Mark Allen C 6-1 332
78 Bart Brower OL 6-6 375
79 Justin Jenkins OL 6-3 290
80 Carl Kiefer OL 6-4 275
87 John West OL 6-2 280
88 Jeremy May WR 6-0 172
89 Chris Goble DL 6-2 275
93 Shaun Craft DL/OL 6-4 240
Head Coach - Steve Richardson
Offensive Coordinator - Sid Phillips
Defensive Coordinator - Dave Sisk
Assistant Coaches - Ron L. Rodriguez, Kaleb Pratt
2004 Schedule
July 24 - Hendricks Co. Generals at K.C. Mustangs
July 31 - K.C. Mustangs at Mercer Co. Cougars
Aug. 7 - Darke Co. Warriors at K.C. Mustangs
Aug. 21 - K.C. Mustangs at Darke Co. Warriors
Aug. 28 - K.C. Mustangs at Hendricks Co. Generals
Sept. 11 - LaGrange Co. Longhorns at K.C. Mustangs
Sept. 18 - South Central Broncos at K.C. Mustangs
Sept. 25 - K.C. Mustangs at LaGrange Co. Longhorns
Oct. 9 - Playoffs
Oct. 16 - Playoffs
Oct. 24 - Championship (RCA Dome, Indianapolis)
Note - All home games played at Fisher Field (Lakeview M.S.) [[In-content Ad]]
What started out as a dream now has Sid Phillips losing sleep.
Call it nerves, call it excitement.
Whatever it is, it's clear there will be some emotions Saturday afternoon.
Phillips is the offensive coordinator for the newly-formed Kosciusko County Mustangs semi-pro football team.
Saturday, the Mustangs, a member of the Interstate Football League, play their inaugural game, a contest with the visiting Hendricks County Generals.
The game is slated for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Fisher Field at Lakeview Middle School.
"They're ready to go," Phillips said Tuesday while the Mustangs practiced in the summer heat, much like many of them did in years past as area high school gridsters. "They're ready to go hit someone."
Barring practice and maybe a backyard football game here and there over the years, it's been quite some time since any of the Mustangs players have caught a touchdown pass, sacked a quarterback or recovered a fumble.
Saturday they hope to do all those things and then some.
"They've got a good grasp of everything we're trying to teach them," said Dave Sisk, who is more commonly referred to as Sisko, and whose nephew, Nate Sisk, was an all-conference linebacker for Warsaw Community High in the mid 1990s. "I can tell you my defense is ready to go."
The Mustangs, with their navy blue and orange uniforms, will line up in a 4-4 defensive formation.
Both Sisk and Phillips said the strength of the Mustangs is the defense, and the strength of the defense is its corps of linebackers.
"These boys will tear them up, at least I hope so," said Sisk. "They're ready to go hit somebody. Our linebackers are our strength, especially the middle."
Listed on the Mustangs' roster at the linebacker position are Joe Sittler, Andy Crisp, Aaron Mosley, Tyler Anglin and Dustin McClone.
The offensive and defensive lines are blessed with size, including five 300-pounders who can pave the way for quarterback Mike Whitaker and running back Ron E. Rodriguez, whose father, Ron L. Rodriguez, is an assistant coach.
Listed on the roster as offensive linemen are Matt Crisp, Charles Smith, Mark Allen, Bart Brower, Justin Jenkins, Carl Kiefer, John West and Shaun Craft.
Local sports fans may recognize a number of the Mustangs. Most played high school football in the area.
The Mustangs' roster features a number of players from Kosciusko County, as well as Columbia City.
Joining Whitaker and Rodriguez at the offensive skilled positions are speedy receivers Billy West and John Hill, both of whom were multi-sport athletes at WCHS. Former Tigers Damien Richardson, whose dad, Steve Richardson, is the head coach, and Nick Bolesky and Jeremy May also are slotted as receivers.
"I think we're gonna surprise some people," said Phillips. "We've got some big guys and we've got some speed. We hope people will come out and check us out. We think we've got something the community can be proud of."
According to Phillips, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins is scheduled to make an appearance at Saturday's inaugural game.
Handling the kicking duties, both punting and place kicking, is 37-year-old Tom Martinez.
Martinez has had numerous NFL tryouts, most recently with the San Diego Chargers, and said at practice Tuesday he can still successfully kick from 54 yards out.
The idea of the K.C. Mustangs came from Crisp, a former WCHS and University of St. Francis player.
Crisp and some friends had been playing football on the weekends and thought it would be fun to put a team together.
They then asked Sisk and Phillips for their help in starting it.
The rest, as they say, is history.
K.C. Mustangs
2004 Roster
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt.
1 Tom Martinez K/P 5-11 218
2 Damien Richardson WR 5-9 160
3 Joe Sittler LB 6-1 200
4 Andy Crisp LB 6-3 220
5 Wade Pacely S/C 5-10 180
6 Nick Bolesky WR 6-3 190
8 Kiel Pratt S/QB 6-1 178
11 Mike Whitaker QB 6-6 240
13 Keegan Burris DB 5-11 190
22 Billy West WR 6-0 180
24 Jon Hill WR 6-0 180
26 Aaron Mosley LB 5-10 210
27 Derrick Richardson DB N/A 165
28 Sherlock Harrison Jr. WR 5-11 180
30 Russel Albert S 5-11 185
35 Tyler Anglin LB 6-2 210
42 Ron E. Rodriguez RB 5-10 240
46 Ben Keyes DL 5-9 270
48 Dustin McClone LB 5-8 190
52 Kyle Wilbert DL 6-5 255
53 Tim Smith DL 6-2 210
54 Matt Crisp OL 6-4 320
55 Mike Petersen DL 6-0 228
69 Scott Geist DL 5-9 260
72 Charles Smith OL 6-2 330
73 Jeff Ellenwood DL 6-1 305
76 Mark Allen C 6-1 332
78 Bart Brower OL 6-6 375
79 Justin Jenkins OL 6-3 290
80 Carl Kiefer OL 6-4 275
87 John West OL 6-2 280
88 Jeremy May WR 6-0 172
89 Chris Goble DL 6-2 275
93 Shaun Craft DL/OL 6-4 240
Head Coach - Steve Richardson
Offensive Coordinator - Sid Phillips
Defensive Coordinator - Dave Sisk
Assistant Coaches - Ron L. Rodriguez, Kaleb Pratt
2004 Schedule
July 24 - Hendricks Co. Generals at K.C. Mustangs
July 31 - K.C. Mustangs at Mercer Co. Cougars
Aug. 7 - Darke Co. Warriors at K.C. Mustangs
Aug. 21 - K.C. Mustangs at Darke Co. Warriors
Aug. 28 - K.C. Mustangs at Hendricks Co. Generals
Sept. 11 - LaGrange Co. Longhorns at K.C. Mustangs
Sept. 18 - South Central Broncos at K.C. Mustangs
Sept. 25 - K.C. Mustangs at LaGrange Co. Longhorns
Oct. 9 - Playoffs
Oct. 16 - Playoffs
Oct. 24 - Championship (RCA Dome, Indianapolis)
Note - All home games played at Fisher Field (Lakeview M.S.) [[In-content Ad]]