The Staley Mustangs and Griffin Gators played a great game last night.  These teams were well matched and they battled it out to see who would take home the win.  The Mustangs kicked off to the Gators, who put together a very nice drive that ended with a touch down and extra point giving them the early lead 8-0 with four and half minutes left in the first quarter.   The Mustangs knew they were facing a good team.  The Mustang had put together a drive that got them down around the twenty yard line, but a tackle in the back field had them facing fourth and at least ten.  Mustang quarterback #8, dropped back and put a bullet in the air to the far sideline to #11, who jumped up and made the grab.  Unfortunately, he was just short of the first down, so the Gators took over.   Great defense had the Mustangs holding the Gators to get the ball back again.  A couple of plays later, Mustang #21 took it thirty yards for a Mustang touch down.  Number #41 put it through the uprights for the PAT and the game was tied at 8 midway through the second quarter.  The Gators offense and the Mustang defense were going head to head.  The Mustangs defense was doing great, but a break out run from a Gator running back had the Gators down to the ten yard line.  One play later, the Gators put six on the board. A successful PAT had the Gators take the lead 16-8 with thirty second left in the half.  The Mustangs were determined, they handed off to running back #21 who rocketed sixty yards for a Mustang touch down.  A bad snap had the Mustangs holder just falling on the ball to recover.  Despite a fantastic effort, the Mustangs trailed by two at the end of the half: 16-14.

The Mustangs received the ball first in the second half and got a first down with the strength of their running game.  The Mustangs had first and ten around mid field when a hand off to #11 paid off.  Number 11 took it about fifty yards down the far sideline in to the end zone for six.  A successful PAT had the Mustangs in the lead 22-16 with six minutes left in the third quarter.  The Gators put together a nice drive that had them eating up the rest of the third quarter, ending with a touch down and good PAT to go back up by two.  The Gators took the lead 24-22 at the start of the fourth quarter.  The Mustangs took the kick off out to the nineteen yard line. The Mustangs put together a very impressive drive, doing what they do best: running the ball.  The Staley boys played strong, determined and focus.  They drove the ball down inside the five yard line, under incredible pressure, against a tough opponent as the clocked ticked down.  With less than twenty seconds left, the Staley boys lined up for a field goal, facing a pretty good wind.  The snap, the hold and the kick were all good.  However, the ball sailed wide left, but just a couple of inches.  The Gators took over on downs with 12 second left to run out the clock and get the win 24-22.  

This was a great game, two well matched teams playing with everything they had.  The Staley Mustangs played AWESOME.  The boys did everything they could,  they just needed a couple inches, no wind and a little bit more luck.  The fans, parents and coaches could not have asked any more from them, especially that last drive, where the played mistake free, fantastic football.  The boys came out and fought like warriors, they gave it all they had, and it just did not end with the perfect outcome. These boys played with a lot of confidence, determination and heart.  Hold your head high Mustangs!! Awesome job!  I am so proud of these boys!!

Here are some images of the game.