Mustangs stampede Braden River 21-7

The mood prior to the Sept. 3 rivalry game against Braden River could best be summed up in a phrase from an old Phil Collins song: “I can feel it coming in the air tonight.”

But, what is this “it?” No, it wasn’t the humidity. Nor was it rain — there was plenty of precipitation at Lakewood’s Kickoff Classic two weeks ago.

No. This unidentified, elusive “it” was etched on the faces, arms and legs of the fans, who came out en masse and electrified the night with their passionate display of school spirit. It was in the eyes of the players and coaches.

It was the feeling of change.

The Mustangs had lost the previous three meetings against the Pirates. But this is a new year, a new mentality.

And a new result.

The Mustangs opened their 2010 fall campaign with a resounding 21-7 victory over Braden River. Facing a team that posted 34 points in their preseason win over Cardinal Mooney, the Mustangs initially appeared sluggish, while the Pirates had a difficult time executing plays. Punts, turnovers and fumbles on both sides kept the game scoreless in the first quarter.

The Mustangs’ mighty defense stayed on task and was able to successfully grind down the Pirates offensive attack. The only exception occurred with 4:30 left in the second quarter, when a 54-yard pass from Steve Ross to Oladipo Kolawole was quickly followed by a quick 1-yard dash into the end zone by Ross. Kadin Kerns added the extra point, and the Pirates drew first blood, taking a 7-0 lead.

But Mustang fans, who wore the school colors of green and black, along with cheerleaders and the marching band, were unfazed. They continued to keep the atmosphere lively and enthusiastic. With signs that read “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” a reference from the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies, and “Go Mustangs!” there was plenty of humor and optimism to be had. The mood on the sidelines, however, was one of growing frustration. With 2:52 left in the second quarter and halftime looming, Mackenzie Hathaway started rallying his teammates.

“We’ve got to make something happen,” he shouted.

It may have been the spark the team needed.

Emerging from halftime seeing red, junior quarterback Jeren Kowalewski and the Mustangs tapped into that vein of urgency. With senior star quarterback Reggie Lindsey on the sidelines with a sprained wrist, all eyes turned to Kowalewski for a change in momentum.

He didn’t disappoint.

Lakewood finally got on the board with 2:30 left in the third quarter when Kowalewski connected with Daniel Clifford, who ran it in for the Mustangs’ first official touchdown of the season.

“We wanted to be the ones to beat them,” said Kowalewski, who completed three of seven passes for 52 yards. “Braden River has been our rivals for so long, and we’ve never beaten them before. The offensive line did a great job, and I knew they would do a good job of blocking me.”

Kowalewski and company struck again in the fourth. With 8:30 remaining, he handed the ball off to star running back Taryn Laws, who took it into the end zone from the 16, making it 14-7. The third and final strike came with 1:31 left in the game, when Kowalewski ran it in on a quarterback sneak from the 1-yard line. Seth Browning added the extra point to put the Mustangs ahead for good at 21-7.

With the clock winding down, the Mustangs allowed themselves to savor not only the first victory of the season but also the first win against the rival that had defeated them in their previous three meetings.

“I trust in my kids,” said a weary but ecstatic coach Shawn Trent. “They fought really hard tonight. The second half of the game, you could just see that our offensive line was wearing them down. We’ve got guys on the line that are 280, 290 pounds.

“I’m just glad it’s over,” he added. “You need to get that first game under your belt. You don’t know how the team is going to perform until you get them out there and have a game on the line.”

The Mustangs said they will savor this win for a long time.

“It feels really good,” said running back Taryn Laws, who rushed for 145 yards and 31 carries on the night. “We made history tonight. We went out there and made a statement.

“All week, I’ve had a feeling we were going to beat them,” he said. “Kowalewski stepped in and did a great job.”

The Mustangs will return to action at 7:30 p.m., Sept. 10, at Southeast.