Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
They started the team because they wanted to play football again.
At this point in the season, the coaches and players of the Kosciusko County Mustangs now are hoping to play as little possible.
The Mustangs will close out their inaugural regular season Saturday in White Pigeon, Mich., with a 3 p.m. game against the LaGrange County Longhorns.
The Mustangs enter the game with a 5-2 record, and a win Saturday gives them a bye and homefield advantage in the Interstate Football League playoffs.
A win Saturday means the Mustangs play at home Oct. 16 in the semifinal of the IFL playoffs, a contest they hope can be played under the lights and one that would leave them just four quarters from going to the championship game at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
"Saturday is real important," said Mustangs defensive coordinator Dave Sisk. "It's just about as important as going to the Dome. We don't want to play twice. That gives you another game where somebody could get hurt, and we don't want that. We want to take care of business Saturday."
Head coach Steve Richardson said the Mustangs aren't overlooking any opponents, but the coaching staff feels good about their chances against the Longhorns Saturday.
The Mustangs hosted the Longhorns Sept. 11 and came away with a 35-7 win. LaGrange County enters the final regular season game with a 1-6 record and is in last place in the northern division of the IFL, while the Mustangs are in first.
"Last time we played them, we gave them a sound whooping, but you never underestimate an opponent," said Richardson. "They have nothing to lose and we have everything to gain. We played them well last time, and I hope we do again."
All six teams in the IFL automatically make the playoffs, which conclude with a championship game Oct. 24 in the RCA Dome following the Indianapolis Colts/Jacksonville Jaguars game.
The Darke County Warriors, with whom the Mustangs split a pair of games this season, winning 28-7 at home Aug. 7 and losing 21-20 on the road two weeks later.
The Mustangs' two losses have come by a combined three points. Their second loss of the season came Aug. 28 to the host Hendricks County Generals by a 30-28 score.
All totaled, the Mustangs have outscored their opponents 214-105 this season, including last week's 56-14 drubbing of the South Central Broncos.
The Mustangs enter the regular season finale on a three-game win streak, while the Longhorns have lost four straight and have been outscored 185-92 this season.
"I'm sure they're going to want to show people that they're better than that," said Mustangs offensive coordinator Sid Phillips. "They're going to play physical win or lose. A win could give them momentum going into the playoffs. Any given day anybody can beat anybody."
