Mustangs mistakes force another loss in final seconds
Jeff Sawatzke
Monday May 21, 2012
Frustrating is a word that describes the feeling of losing yet another game in the final seconds. Aggravating is knowing that your mistakes cost you the win. Two separate times the Milwaukee Mustangs (3-6) led the Georgia Force (6-4) by 21 points. They led by 21 points as late as five minutes left in the third quarter. But in the end Carlos Martinez kicked a tie breaking 38 yard field goal to push Georgia ahead 58-55 with 7.1 seconds left in the game. This would be the first time that Georgia had the lead in a game that Milwaukee let slip out of their fingers.
“It is the small things.” Milwaukee quarterback Gino Guidugli said of the loss, “Thurman’s fumble, my fumble and a fourth down stop; we have to score every time we have the ball.”
“We really felt like we beat ourselves“, stated Milwaukee wide receiver Andrae Thurman, “We had them where we wanted and we couldn’t capitalize.”
“We need to look in the mirror and figure out what is going on,” a visibly upset Coach Bob Landsee exclaimed, “it comes down to a little bit of heart.” What needs to change? “You hold the football, you need to pay attention in practice, and you need to play the way you’re supposed to play.”
In the second quarter Kelvin Rodgers did not get on field for a kickoff return. Instead, Jamar Love was back to receive the kick or at least he was on the field where one would traditionally receive the kick. The ball came off the net and bounced around on the field where it was picked up by Georgia Force’s defensive back Rodger Brown and walked into to end zone for a touchdown.
Milwaukee really seems to have discipline problems in the second half. They are making stupid mistakes and stupid penalties. Milwaukee defensive back Ryan McFoy drove CJ Johnson into the ground well after the play was over for a 15 yard penalty turning a 3 yard gain into an 18 yard gain.
The Mustangs next drive had Gino Guidugli sacked with a forced fumble recovered by Force line backer Jeremy Grier.
With the Force in a 4th and 17 Jamar Love committed pass interference giving Georgia a 1st and 10 on Milwaukee’s 9 yard line.
Georgia did an onside kick that simply bounced off the legs of Luis Vasquez. “We talk about being ready. Bend your knees and be ready.” Coach Landsee vented, “We cover this every single day.”
With the score tied at 55 Milwaukee has the ball 4th and goal with 38.8 seconds left. Gino Guidugli threw a pass that was very low to Jared Jenkins who was unable to pick the ball off the ground. Guidugli stated,”I couldn’t get out in front of [Matt Marcorelle] I felt myself falling down. I was hoping [Jenkins] would make the grab on it.”
Jeff Sawatzke began writing for ArenaFan.com in 2011. Jeff has lived in the Milwaukee area his entire life; he is currently living in Germantown, Wisconsin. Jeff works for a local dialysis provider as the Information Technology Director. Jeff is married to Melissa and has one daughter. Jeff has been a fan of the Milwaukee Mustangs and the Milwaukee Iron for many years.
