Broncos plunder Pirates

Heading into their game with Putnam City, the Mustang football team knew what was on the line.

A win over the Pirates would ensure that they would be home the first week of the postseason. A loss meant fighting it out in the final week of the regular season.

Despite some tense moments in the first half, the Broncos did exactly what they needed to do as they rolled to a 62-28 victory Oct. 29 at Bronco Stadium.

“We played like we usually do,” Keegan Bass said. “Come out, work hard. Little mistakes here and there. But we always overcome them at halftime.”

The win moved Mustang to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in District 6A 1-2. That gives them No. 2 seed in the district behind Tulsa Union when the postseason begins next week.

While the Bronco’s 34-point victory was impressive, it didn’t come without some adversity.

Mustang used touchdowns from Jay Bedford, Jacobe Johnson and Chaz Bradley to take a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. The game was on its way to being a run-away.

However, the Pirates struck back with 22 straight points to grab a one-point lead with 6:17 left in the second quarter. Mustang High School all of a sudden found themselves in a game.

“They came out in a formation we hadn’t seen. It was really kind of similar to a Yukon,” coach Lee Blankenship said.

Mustang didn’t take long to answer. On the ensuing kickoff, Johnson returned the kick 76 yards down the sideline to put the Broncos back on top.

“I just get a big grin on my face anytime someone kicks the ball to him because he is dangerous,” Blankenship said

The return opened up a tidal wave of points for the home team. Tristen Russell scored on a short run to close out the first half then threw a 48-yard strike to Bass to open the second half.

“The key was just playing the next play and not getting caught up on the last drive,” Bass said. “Just doing what we usually do.”

Bradley and Dontrell Harrison each reached the endzone in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, Mustang went back to the game plan it used to beat the Millers in the opener and were able to keep the Pirates out of the endzone in the second half.

The Pirates were able to rack up 307 yards on the ground. But the MHS defense forced four turnovers. That includes Karston Keene picking up his fourth interception in two weeks.

Russell finished the night with 211 yards and two touchdown passes on 13 of 14 passing. He also rushed six times for 42 yards and a score.

“He is very efficient with the football,” Blankenship said of Russell.

“He does a great job of taking care of it and making plays when it’s his number called.”

Johnson led all receivers with three receptions for 80 yards.

Mustang will close out the regular season Friday when they host Moore. The Lions (6-3, 3-3) are coming off a 48-29 loss to Owasso last week and now sit in fifth place in district standings.

They need to beat Mustang and hope Norman North stubs their toe against winless Southmoore in order to make the playoffs.

With their playoff position already locked in, those are worries the Broncos do not have to concern themselves with.

Because they won the head-to-head matchup with the Rams, even if they fell to Moore, Mustang would not lose any ground.

“It’s a big achievement,” Bass said. “We just have to keep building on top of it. We have to win (Friday) and only worry about the game ahead of us.”

Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Bronco Stadium.