Mustangs Reigned in by Rampage
John Hoh
Thursday May 3, 2001
Despite out-gaining Grand Rapids in yardage, the Mustangs kicked themselves with nine penalties, three by Les Barley alone. The most heart-wrenching penalty was the holding call that negated a 17-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Last week Donnie Davis started under center for the Mustangs in place of the injured Craig Kusick. While the Mustangs increased their scoring seven-fold, the offense never really got into a groove. On the other side of the ball, the defense kept Milwaukee in the game by pressuring Rampage QB Dolezel. Neither offense really looked fluid. Scoring tended to come from big plays as well as special teams play. One was a failed PAT that Grand Rapids converted for two points. Remove that tally, add the missed PAT and field goal by Remy Hamilton, and Milwaukee just needs a field goal in the fourth quarter rather than go for it on fourth down.
The slow start Coach Frazier hoped to avoid has plagued the Equines once again.
On a bright note, the Mustangs fought to the bitter end in the game against Grand Rapids. Time is needed for the quarterback and receivers to mesh, although practicing in a low-ceiling facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin seems to affect the team in a regulation setting. And Gary Compton became the eighth player in AFL history to attain 10,000 career all-purpose yards. Congratulations, Gary!
This Friday they meet the unbeaten Storm at the Bradley Center. Tampa Bay has never lost at there. Can Milwaukee end that streak on Friday?
After the Mustangs tangle the Storm this coming weekend, they play “at” Houston in Madison, Wisconsin. If the Bradley Center situation isn’t resolved, may this be a fore-taste of the Mustangs home for the next two years?
Compton
Fan favorite Gary Compton exceeded 10,000 all-purpose yards in his AFL career. He becomes the eighth player in the AFL’s 15 seasons to reach this milestone. Compton needs just 54 points to reach 1,000 (currently 6th All-time), 29 more receptions to reach 600 (currently 4th All-time), 823 receiving yards to reach 9,000 (currently 4th All-time), and 13 more receiving touchdowns to achieve 150. Needless to say, Gary owns all Mustang records in these categories. Congratulations, Gary! We’ll watch as you conquer future records and milestones!
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
