By russellBUSH
The heat from the bonfire on Thursday for homecoming week may still have been burning Friday as the Huntingdon Mustangs exploded for 61 points in a 61-26 win over Houston County to improve to 2-0 in the region and 4-1 for the season. The Mustangs rushed for 455 yards and returned two kicks for touchdowns as the Mustangs won easily over the Irish. Ashton Hutcherson ran for 122 yards and Elijah Flowers rushed for 124 yards in the win for the Mustangs.
Landon Gordon set the tone early for the Mustangs as he returned to opening kickoff for 85 yards and a touchdown and Cole Chafin gave the Mustangs a 7-0 lead with the P.A.T. Hutcherson then scored on the Mustangs next possession on a 49-yard run. The point after was missed and the Mustangs led 13-0. Hutcherson then scored again with six minutes left in the first on a 55-yard run and the Chafin point after was good for a 20-0 lead. Flowers then added a 67-yard run with just under three minutes left in the quarter. The point after was missed and the Mustangs led 26-0.
Houston County rounded out he scoring in the first quarter as the Irish scored in two plays after the Flowers touchdown when Preston Mitchell sprinted 73 yards for the score with 1:08 left in the first. The Irish missed the point after and the Mustangs led 26-6 at the end of the first quarter.
It didn’t take the Mustangs long to answer as they score in six plays on their next drive covering 63 yards and scored on a 20-yard run from sophomore QB Gray Eubanks. Chafin added the point after and the Mustangs increased their lead to 33-6. The Mustangs then drove 51 yards on their next possession and scored on a one-yard run by Gordon. Chafin again was good on the point after and the Mustangs led 40-7. Brady Warbritton had is number called on the Mustangs next drive as he carried three times in four plays and gained 42 yards and the last yard resulted in a touchdown with 50 seconds left in the half. Chafin added the point after and the Mustangs led 47-6 at the half.
Houston County scored on its second possession of the second half to close the score to 47-14 as Malaki Cary rushed for a four-yard score. The Irish then completed a pass for the two-point conversion to make the score 47-14.
The Mustangs answered back with the second teamers as they drove 63 yards in ten plays and scored on an eight-yard run by Broox Bennett. Chafin added the point after and the Mustangs led 54-14.
Houston County answered back with a 57-yard run from Mitchell with seven minutes left in the game. The point after was blocked and the score was left at 54-20.
Freshman Tyreke Hutch ended the scoring for the night for the Mustangs as he returned the kickoff for 90 yards for a touchdown with three minutes left in the game. Chafin added the point after and the final score went to 61-20.
The final points of the night came as Robert Kizer passed to Cary for 15 yards and a touchdown as the final clock ticked to zero and a 61-26 final.
The Mustangs travel this Friday as they take on the Milan Bulldogs in Milan. The kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
