Mustangs romp to clinch tie for B East title

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 30 September 2016 at 11:29 pm
093016_cw_football-1

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Jalin Cooper runs past Depew’s Eric Riederer during Medina/Lyndonville’s title clinching win over the host Wildcats this evening.

Exploding out to a three touchdown first quarter lead, Medina/Lyndonville ended a two decade long title drought by romping to a 50-15 victory at Depew this evening to clinch at least a tie for the B East Division title.

Making a successful quest to secure at least a share of their first division title since 1997, the Mustangs wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Jalin Cooper broke loose on a sweep around right end for 69 yards and a touchdown on the second play of the game.

Cooper tacked on two more touchdowns before the quarter was over, the first on a 31 yard pass reception from quarterback Izaiah Rhim and the second on a 7 yard run, to make it 22-0.

Rhim added two-point conversion passes to Dustin Joy and Eric Neace to compete the wild opening quarter’s scoring.

A fumble recovery by Tyler Howard set up the second touchdown while Neace had a 28 yard run and Jake Cotter a 19 yard run to highlight the third scoring drive.

093016_cw_football-3a

Dustin Joy hauls in a two-point conversion pass for the Mustangs.

“It’s a huge win for us. The kids came out strong,” said Mustangs Coach Eric Valley. “We got to the edge rushing and completed some good passes on offense and our defense played strong. ”

Depew did cut the deficit a bit to 22-8 when Austin Pilley scored on a 16 yard run and quarterback Jon Wolf passed to Kyle Law for the two-point conversion with 1:42 to go in the second quarter.

However, the Mustangs wasted no time in getting that one back as Cooper returned the ensuing kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown to up the Mustangs lead to 30-8 at the half.

Rhim stopped Depew’s final drive of the half with n interruption at the Mustangs 18 yard line.

Cotter boosted the Mustangs advantage to 38-8 with an 11 yard touchdown run with 6:09 to go in the third quarter as Cooper added the two-point conversion run.

Rhim had pass completions of 27 yards to Ronnie Koonce, 19 to Cooper and 10 to Mason Lewis and Neace added a 14 yard run to highlight the 80 yard drive.

An interception by Lewis at the Mustangs 20 set up that opportunity.

Koonce then ran 30 yards for one touchdown and Lucas Porter 15 for another TD in the fourth quarter to round out the Mustangs scoring parade. Porter had a big 38 yard run to set up his TD.

The Mustangs improve to 4-0 in the division and 5-0 overall while Depew slips to 1-3, 1-4.

093016_cw_football-2

Ronnie Koonce goes up to grab a pass reception for the Mustangs over Wildcats defender Dakari Applewhite.

093016_cw_football-4

Mustangs linebacker Eric Neace sacks Wildcats quarterback Jon Wolf.