Mustangs Lose Season Opener

When his team plays together as a unit, first-year Kosciusko County Mustangs coach Bart Brower doesn't believe there's a team in the Interstate Football League that can beat them.

He said Saturday afternoon the Mustangs didn't play well as a team against the Mercer County Cougars, and as a result, the Cougars lost their season-opener 28-13 at Lakeview Middle School's Fisher Field.

"In the first half, (the Cougars) came out to play and we didn't," said Brower, who was a player for the Mustangs last year but took over the coaching duties this season after an injury in the IFL All-Star Game. "We didn't play as a team. That's totally what the answer was. We beat them 13-8 in the second half. I think they'll see that now and come out ready to play the entire game. I think next week will be a different story."

The Mustangs hit the road Saturday for their second game of the eight-game regular season, traveling to the Buckeye State to play the West Ohio Wranglers.

In front of a decent-sized crowd, and in 90-plus degree heat, the Cougars found themselves trailing 20-0 at halftime.

The visiting Cougars, faced with a third-and-20 situation after a penalty, put the first points on the scorebard with 7:24 remaining in the first quarter.

Their extra-point attempt failed.

The Cougars scored their second touchdown on an eight-yard run on the first play of the second quarter and then were able to run in the two-point conversion, taking a 14-0 lead over the host Mustangs.

"This is the only team that we've lost to twice," said Brower. "We played them once last year and lost by two (20-18) points at their place. They're a very solid team. I didn't hear any of them yell at another player when they had a bad play. They played as a team for four quarters. That's what we need to do. I know we can, and I still believe when this team plays hard and plays together for four quarters there isn't a team that can beat us."

Former Warsaw Community High School player Billy West helped swing momentum's gate toward the Mustangs, making an interception on the final play of the first half.

The Mustangs then came out in the second half and used a 13-yard pass from former Mike Whitaker to former WCHS teammate Damien Richardson to setup a 48-yard touchdown reception by speedster Jon Hill.

The Cougars scored on their next possession, taking a 28-6 lead with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter, but the Mustangs marched down the field in a hurry.

Starting their drive on their own 40-yard line, the Mustangs got their offense going with a 35-yard pass from Whitaker to Nick Bolesky. On the very next play, Whitaker found Hill open for a 25-yard touchdown pass. After the extra-point kick sailed through the uprights, the hosts trailed 28-13.

The Mustangs continued to threaten offensively, but could never put the entire package together offensively.

Whitaker completed 11 of 25 passes in the loss for 162 yards and two touchdowns.

Hill led all receivers with four catches for 95 yards, while Bolesky had four catches for 52 yards.

Hill also had seven rushes for 35 yards.