Bend But Don’t Break

Eagles defense stymies Mustangs in low-scoring game.

The SoBoCo Eagles used some rugged defense and a big pass play on offense to edge the Eldon Mustangs by a 14-7 score on Friday night in Ashland.  

The Eagles got a 73-yard TD pass from Spencer Taggart to Zane Safely on their first possession for a 6-0 lead that stood through halftime.

However, it was the defense that took a ‘bend-but-don’t-break’ approach to the game and held off the Mustang running game which made the difference.

The Mustangs had three long possessions in the first half, but came away with zero points, getting stopped by linebackers Tanner Smith, Cole Morris and the Eagles D.

In the third quarter, the defense provided the play the made the difference in the game.

Eldon quarterback Austin Kempker had the ball stripped from his hands as he was being tackled by a gang of Eagles. Cooper Mange was credited with the strip, Seth Mueller picked up the ball and ran it about 12 yards, untouched, into the end zone.

Jackson Sartain’s 2-point run made it 14-0.

However, Eldon came back with a 7-play 85-yard drive for their only score of the game and the final 19-minutes were a nail-biter as the Eagles held off one Mustang attack after another.

“We were in a real physical ballgame and I was really proud of how we kept coming back,” said Eagles coach Trent Tracy. “Eldon is physically one of the most punishing, toughest teams we play all year – but we hung in there.”