Mustangs romp in gridiron opener

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina/Lyndonville running back Eric Neace heads toward the goal line during the Mustangs win over Barker/Roy-Hart this evening at Middleport.

Erupting for touchdowns on the first three possessions, Medina/Lyndonville romped to a 56-24 victory over Barker/Roy-Hart this evening in the B East Division season opener at Middleport.

It took just two offensive plays for the Mustangs to get on the scoreboard as quarterback Izaiah Rhim completed a 22 yard pass to Johnny Salone and then Jake Cotter ran the final 13 yards for the touchdown with 6:38 to go in the opening quarter. A big 50 yard punt return by Jalin Cooper set up the scoring opportunity.

The Mustangs made it 12-0 when Cotter scored on a 24 yard run with 1:29 to go in the opening stanza as a 48 yard run by Eric Neace highlighted the drive.

The lead jumped to 20-0 midway through the second quarter when Neace scored on a 1 yard run and Rhim added the two-point conversion pass to Salone. A 24 yard run by Cotter and a 26 yard fourth down pass completion from Rhim to Salone keyed the march.

Barker/Roy-Hart’s Malik Smith picks up yardage down the sideline as Mustang defender Eric Neace moves in.

The Mustangs advantage ballooned to 42-0 midway through the third quarter after a quick three touchdown burst on scoring runs of 8 yards by Neace and 19 by Cotter along with a 30 yard TD pass from Rhim to Brendan Luthart. A fumble recovery by Salone on a Barker kickoff return set up Neace’s TD. Luthart and Salone also caught two-point scoring passes from Rhim during that stretch.

Cooper also scored on an 85 yard kickoff return and Dustin Joy on a 36 yard run in the fourth quarter to round out the Mustangs scoring parade.

Barker/Roy-Hart’s scoring all came in the fourth quarter on touchdown runs of 5 yards by Malik Smith, 10 by Eddie Wasnock and 5 by Aaron Curry. Smith, Wasnock and Eric Fitch each added a two-point conversion.

Medina/Lyndonville next visits Lackawanna on September 9 while Barker/Roy-Hart visits Notre Dame of Batavia on September 10.