The Huntingdon Mustangs remained unbeaten in Region 6-1A at 5-0 and clinched the region title and a one seed in the playoffs Friday with a 72-30 win over Perry Co. The Mustangs had seven different players score touchdowns and scored five times in the first quarter to take a 40-0 early lead and led 64-12 at halftime. Now 7-2 for the season, the Mustangs play Middleton Friday at home for their last region game of the year.
The Mustangs rushed for 338 yards for the game and passed for 27 and had ten different players touch the football. Aden Hutcherson had two carries for 62 yards and scored once. Blake Bradley had four carries for 40 yards and scored twice and threw a TD pass. Grant Bartholomew ran five times for 58 and scored twice. Ashton Hutcherson ran three times for 55 and scored once, and Ethan Reliford ran once for 56 and a score.
The Mustangs were efficient all night on both sides of the football and scored on a kickoff return and returned an interception for a touchdown for the second time this year. The Mustangs, who have gone for two after touchdowns this year, were successful on all eight attempts in the game. Huntingdon forced three turnovers in the game defensively and held Perry Co. to 17 yards rushing in the first half.
Bradley got things started for the Mustangs by returning the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown. Aden Hutcherson scored on the Mustangs’ second possession of the game on a 47-yard run. Bradley connected with Blane Fields for a 27-yard scoring strike on the Mustangs’ third possession of the game. Grant Bartholomew got in the touchdown parade on the Mustangs’ fourth possession of the game with a 30-yard run, and Bradley made it five for five for the quarter as he scored on the Mustangs fifth possession on a 17-yard run.
The Mustangs were successful on all two-point conversions as Bartholomew scored once, Bradley twice, Hutcherson once and Ethan Reliford once as the Mustangs stormed to a 40-0 lead after one quarter.
Perry Co. scored their first points of the game to start the second quarter on a two-yard reception by Zach Martin. The conversion failed, making the score 40-6.
Reliford answered back in one play as he raced 56 yards for a touchdown, and Tayshawn Rivers added the conversion to up the score to 48-6. Bartholomew then intercepted a pass and returned it 27-yards for a touchdown, and Rivers again added the conversion for a 56-6 lead.
After a Mustang fumble, the Vikings got a short field from the 19 and scored on a 24-yard pass reception by Levi Rosson to make the score 56-12. Freshman Kaleb Pearson got in the act to end the first half, scoring as he ran eight yards for a touchdown, and Ashton Hutcherson scored on the conversion for a 64-12 lead at the half.
Ashton Hutcherson scored the Mustangs’ last touchdown in the fourth quarter on a 19-yard run, and Pearson added the conversion. Perry Co. scored in the second half on a 23-yard reception by Rosson, a Tyler Dudley 65-yard fumble return, and a Vance Arthur 28-yard run to end zone, making the final score 72-30.
The Mustangs entertain Middleton this Friday for a scheduled kickoff of 7:00 p.m. and then will have an open date for the final week of the season before beginning the playoffs the first Friday of November.
