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By Tommy Mann Jr.

The Orange Leader

HAMSHIRE – The West Orange-Stark Mustangs battled until the end, but it was the Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns which claimed the title of District 9-4A Division 2 champions on Friday night.

The No. 9 state-ranked Longhorns defeated the No. 6 state-ranked Mustangs, 28-14, Friday night at Longhorn Stadium to claim the crown of district champions and the district’s No. 1 seed heading into the bi-district round of the playoffs. WO-S will be the district’s second seed.

The Hamshire-Fannett Longhorns reached the end zone first by capping off a 42-yard drive in just three minutes. On fourth down and nine from the 12-yard line, quarterback Ty Bryson rolled to his right and headed for the end zone while bowling over two Mustangs defenders near the goal line. The Longhorns led 7-0 with 56 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Longhorns added to their lead on the next possession by taking advantage of a short field with the ball at the 38-yard line, courtesy of a deflected punt. Two plays later it was running back Isaiah Reed running by the Mustangs defense for the 28-yard touchdown and 14-0 lead for the Longhorns.

West Orange-Stark answered on its next possession as quarterback Marcus Turner Jr. orchestrated a speedy and efficient drive until it bogged down at the Longhorns 40-yard line. Facing fourth down and two, Turner ran to his right and then exploded down the sideline for a 40-yard touchdown to put the Mustangs on the score board. WO-S trailed 14-7 midway at the break.

The weather gradually worsened at the end of the first half and during halftime, and both teams had difficulty holding onto the ball in the third quarter as a result of the rain. Both teams fumbled on several occasions and turned the ball over as a result in a sloppy third quarter.

The Longhorns eventually capped off another short field drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter as Bryson connected with receiver Jonathan Pfundheller for the score. Hamshire-Fannett now led, 21-7.

Turner and the Mustangs responded with another WO-S touchdown on the next possession as the offense needed just three minutes to move the ball 79-yard downfield for the touchdown. Facing fourth down and two at the Longhorns 5-yard line, after a timeout, Turner rolled to his left and found receiver Amyrian Scott one step ahead of the H-F defender for the touchdown to cut the lead down, to 21-14.

Just when it seemed as if the momentum had shifted to the Mustangs, Bryson and the Longhorns took it right back with a 62-yard drive which chewed up over four minutes of game clock in just seven plays. On third down and nine from the WO-S 27, with the clock stopped due to an incomplete pass on the previous play, Bryson connected with Pierce Pirtle for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make the score, 28-14, Longhorns.

Turner marched the Mustangs downfield on the next WO-S possession, but was unable to reach the end zone as the ball was turned over on downs. The Longhorns ran out the clock on the next possession for the win.

The Mustangs (8-2, 4-1) are the No. 2 seed from District 9-4A Division 2 and will play Sweeny, the No. 3 seed from District 10-4A, in the bi-district round of the playoffs. Time, date and location are to be announced soon.