Mustangs survive Panthers scrum

The Malta Mustangs overcame a large hurdle this season, defeating the Roundup Panthers 19-12 in Malta's homecoming game last Friday at Mustang Field. The win is Malta's first of the season. The team will try to start a winning streak as they travel to Poplar to take on the Indians on Friday at 7 p.m.

"It was great for these guys to get their first victory and maybe give us some confidence and give us something to work for and realize that we can play with some teams," Mustangs Head Coach Nick Oxarart said. "We have to work harder because we have a lot of mistakes we need to clean up."

Junior running back and linebacker Trace Simonson scored all three touchdowns for Malta. Simonson had two rushing touchdowns on 16 carries for 115 yards and one fumble recovery that he took back 97 yards for a score at a key point in the game.

"We really needed it," Simonson said about the win. "We know we are better than a 0-2 team before this week but it really helps our confidence and I think we will be good for the rest of the season."

Roundup scored first in the first quarter on a two yard run by Tristan Salthe but missed on their two-point conversion attempt, making the score 6-0.

Simonson's first touchdown came in the second quarter on a six yard run, shortly after Keenan Schipman connected with Ostin Welch on a 45 yard pass. Simonson's score gave Malta a 7-6 lead after Simonson's touchdown.

Roundup would score in the third quarter on a three-yard run by Brayden Crowley making the scored 12-6.

It seemed as though Malta was going to fall behind 18-6 late in the third quarter, trying to defend their goal line against a Panther's rushing attack that was picking up yards at will. Instead, what happened was a key turnover to Mustangs in which Trey Simanton stripped the ball away and Trace Simonson picked up and ran the ball 97 yards, putting Malta up 13-12.

"I just saw someone wrapped up on his legs," Simanton said. "He was starting to go down; I saw that ball and I was like, 'I was going to strip that.' I reached in and popped it out of his hands hoping for the best and ended up taking it out."

Simonson then had his longest run of his career.

"I didn't think I'd make it," Simonson said. "I thought they'd have somebody out there but I guess they were all in the middle and I had an open lane down the sideline. I didn't hear a whistle so I thought, I better get going."

Coach Oxarart reflected on the play after the game.

"It really changed the momentum of the game," Coach Oxarart said. "They were deep in our territory and if they go up another score, it changes the dynamic of the game so that was a huge defensive stop... That was a back-breaker for Roundup and is probably what led to our victory."

Up to that point, Malta had trouble stopping Roundup's run heavy T-formation.

"We started off really slow and we knew we had to start picking up momentum, get guys fired up, talk and get everybody doing their jobs right and everything just worked out," Welch said.

Welch, a senior safety and wide receiver, shared what made Roundup's rushing attack so formidable.

"They are so close that there are no splits, so if their line can push forward, the running back just has to stand behind them and run along," Welch said. "You can't really see him either because they had big lineman so he's kind of hidden."

Welch was happy that the team came through on Homecoming day, despite being so young with only six seniors.

"It feels amazing," Welch said. "I was super nervous coming into this game especially coming into this game 0-2. I feel like we should've won those last two games, so winning this game is a big relief."

Malta would score again in the fourth, with a 22-yard run by Trace Simonson. The team would miss the extra point attempt only putting Malta up 19-12, and giving Roundup a chance to tie the game with 2:08 left in the game.

Roundup would attempt a throw down the field that was broken up by Schipman. Tel Jensen pressured Roundup quarterback Brody Grebe on the last throw of the game and the throw was batted and then intercepted by Welch, which sealed the game for Malta.

"I dropped back into my zone, read the quarterback's eyes and tried to make a play," Welch said. "I tried batting the ball down but I guess it just ended up in my favor. It was kind of a little pass to myself."

Coach Oxarart knew the key to stopping Roundup's power running, but Roundup still racked up 218 yards.

"We just had to read our keys, read the guards and play with a low pad level," Coach Oxarart said. "There were times we did and there were times we didn't and that was when they were getting those big runs and we just weren't going with a low enough pad level to really dominate."

Though Roundup used an old school approach to the game, Coach Oxarart admitted it was hard to stop their run game.

"Roundup's a really good team and they do their Wing-T very well so it's a hard offense to defend," Coach Oxarart said.

The team now has a chance to start their first winning streak of the 2016 season and in order to even their record to 2-2 next week; the team won't take the Poplar Indians for granted.

"We gotta have intense practices," Simanton said. "Going 110 percent every practice, just keep going the whole game and start off strong."

Malta JV downs Havre 52-0

Monday's JV game against the Havre Blue Ponies was won by Malta 52-0. The following are scores from the game:

1st Quarter

32 yd pass Kevin Henry from Kolter Schipman (Andres Lopez

run) 8-0

8 yd pass Henry from Schipman (Lopez run) 16-0

13 yd run Henry (PAT failed) 22-0

2nd Quarter

Malta Saftey 24-0

18 yd pass Lopez from Schipman (Lopez run) 32-0

3rd Quarter

19 yd run Henry (PAT failed) 38-0

29 yd pass Schipman from Callan Mears (PAT failed) 44-0

4th Quarter

66 yd run Lopez (Henry run) 52-0