Mustangs Overpowered by Pittsburgh

Jeff Sawatzke
Tuesday March 29, 2011

The Milwaukee Mustangs (0-3) lost to the Pittsburgh Power (2-1) in a game that the Mustangs could have won.  The final score of the game was 47-49, losing by two points with two missed extra points and one failed two point conversion.  Had the Mustangs made those extra points or the conversion it would have forced the game into overtime.

Special teams woes started the game off with poor kickoff coverage allowing a 30 yard return and not much defense gave the Power and early touchdown only to be followed up by a kickoff that was not caught off the net allowing Pittsburgh to recover and one play later the Power was up 0-14. 

Eric Ward had a very inconsistent first half which allowed the Power to build too big of a lead to overcome as it was 20-35 at the half.  The Mustangs switched quarterbacks and went with R.J. Archer in the second half.  When asked why they switched to Archer he responded, “We needed some excitement, we needed some change”. Archer’s first drive was poor with three incomplete passes, but as he dialed in his accuracy the Mustangs seemed to come to life.

The defense started slowly allowing 35 points in the first half.  They came together allowing only 14 points in the third quarter and held the Power scoreless in the final quarter.  The Mustangs put together a very impressive goal line stand late in the fourth quarter. Then with 50 seconds left in the game Andre Jones made a huge interception in the corner of the end zone which he was able to run back for a touchdown. 

Jones said, “The guy actually had a step on me so I was basically just playing the ball.  In the blink of an eye, the ball just bounced up into my hands.  I heard one of my team mates telling me to run. Twenty seconds later it is a touchdown.” 

Coach Landsee said about the play, “He had a great play. It is the old rule of football you don’t stop until the whistle is blown.”  The Mustangs attempted a two point conversion to tie the game up but came up about a yard short.

The Mustangs then went with an onside kick which Landsee believes was fumbled by the Power.  The Mustangs were called with an illegal kicking and Coach Landsee got an unsportsmanlike conduct call for arguing the call with the referee.  Afterward Landsee said, “It was a live ball once they fumble it.  They (the officials) said that our guy ran up and kicked it.  He ran up and muffed the ball forward. If it was a dead ball foul and we recovered it, why wouldn’t the ball come back to where it was kicked but we recovered it?” 

Report Card:

Offense – B-    The Mustangs offense played pretty well overall. The passing game for the Mustangs overall was good.  Eric Ward was a inconsistent at time and R.J. Archer had a solid outing.

Defense – B     The Mustangs defense started slowly but had some very strong defensive stands. The interception by Andre Jones returned for a touchdown was another great play by the defense.

Special Teams – D-    Two missed extra points and some very poor kick returns and mediocre kick coverage, this is still an area that needs improvement.