Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
He said his team is ready to hit someone else, and Saturday, head coach Bart Brower's Kosciusko County Mustangs will get to do just that.
The Mustangs, a semi-pro football team playing in the Interstate Football League, will open their second season Saturday when they host the Mercer County Cougars, an Ohio team that finished as runner-up in the IFL in the 2004 season.
Saturday's season opener will be played at Lakeview Middle School's Fisher Field and is slated to start at 4 p.m.
"I think we're ready to go," said Brower, a 1989 Whitko High School graduate who played for the Mustangs last year before taking over coaching duties for this season. "Our defense is ready. They're hungry and ready to hit someone different."
Brower, who will also serve as offensive coordinator, will be joined on the coaching staff this year by Mike Petersen, Dave Sisk and Sid Phillips.
Petersen, who also played last year for the Mustangs, will serve as defensive coordinator. Sisk will also work with the defense, while Phillips will help with the offense.
A year ago, in their inaugural season, the Mustangs posted a 6-3 record and earned a first-round bye and homefield advantage for the IFL Playoffs.
After a 6-2 regular season last year in which the Mustangs' two losses came by a combined three points, Brower isn't shy about what he thinks his team can do this season.
"My personal goal is to go undefeated and win the championship," said Brower, who was a sophomore on Whitko High School's 1986 state championship team. "I think we can do that. We've got a couple games on the road that are going to be tough, but I think we have a team that can win the championship."
The Mustangs, who were coached by Steve Richardson, started their inaugural season with a 2-2 record and then won their last four games of the regular season. The Darke County Warriors, who won the IFL championship by beating Mercer County, defeated the Mustangs 27-12 in the playoffs.
Last year's Mustangs team had 34 players. This year's roster includes 49 players, the majority of whom played played high school football in the area.
After taking over the head coaching duties for this season, Brower said he has tried to create more discipline and more of a team atmosphere.
He said the defense will run a 4-4 formation and that the offense will run a mixture of things and is blessed with both speed and size.
"When we went down to the jamboree, we beat three teams and tied one," said Brower. "On the very first play, Jon Hill went 80 yards on a sweep, completely untouched."
While the offense is blessed with the speed of Hill, the size of 6-foot-6 quarterback Mike Whitaker and the hands of receiver Nick Bolesky, who was the offensive MVP in last year's IFL All-Star game, Brower believes the defense is the key to the Mustangs' success.
"Defense wins games," said Brower. "The offense capitalizes on what the defense can do. The defense is key to every game."
The Mustangs' schedule includes eight regular season games. Home games will be played at Fisher Field July 23, Aug. 13, Aug. 27 and Sept. 10.
For more information on the Mustangs, check them out on the internet at www.kcmustangsfootball.com. For more information on the IFL, visit www.interstatefootballleague.com.
