Mustangs hold Blue and White Scrimmage

While other Class B Schools kicked off their regular season last Friday. August 27, the Malta Mustangs held their annual Blue and White Scrimmage Game, for the second year at Mustang Field.

The practice was open to the public, and the crowd experienced plays that the Mustangs have been working on as the Malta varsity and junior varsity teams mixed and matched their squads to better themselves before their first game of the season on Friday, September 3, against Huntley Project.

After Malta ran dozens of plays, the PCN caught up with senior running back Cash Salsbery and senior quarterback Connor Tuss.

"I feel like it went good," Salsbery said. "There are still plenty of things that we can improve on."

Salsbery felt that the offensive line was doing good, which was a concern because the Mustangs lost a few starters to graduation last season.

"I was worried this summer that our line wasn't going to be as good because of that senior class going out," Salsbery said. "But I think it will be just as good, if not better."

As far as younger athletes that stood out that day, Salsbery pointed to Gavin Slade, Kyle Darrington, and several linemen on the JV team including Brenner Moore, and Hunter Stolem.

"Everyone has been doing good," Salsbery said.

When asked who he has worked out with in the weight room this summer, he said that one athlete was the most consistent; Backup quarterback Stockton Oxarart, a freshman.

Starting quarterback Connor Tuss was asked how the scrimmage went, in his opinion.

"It was our 11th practice today and we are starting to get things together," Tuss said. "I will preach to the day that I die, that the little things can always be worked on."

Tuss said that "the senior class wants to make this year, their year."

The upperclassman were aggressive at the Blue and White scrimmage, noticeable faster, quicker, and seen steam rolling the younger athletes, but Tuss also noticed a few younger Mustangs that stood out, including his backup quarterback.

"Definitely, Stockton Oxarart playing JV quarterback," Tuss said. "Even when he came in at varsity quarterback, he showed that he was an Oxarart and living up to the name."

This season, Tuss will also line up as a free safety, given the responsibility to line up the defense.

"It's a big role, but I have been put in it before," Tuss said.

The Mustangs will be tasked with facing the Huntley Project Red Devils, who were third in the east last season.

"We are really going to have to come out next Friday and play our best game," Tuss said. "We need to fix up the little stuff this week."

See the Mustangs full schedule in next week's 2021 Fall Sports Preview.