Stevenson Loses Inaugural Game, Watches Freshman Receiver Rack Up 300 Yards

No one, not even Stevenson University's new head football coach, thought winning games would be easy this season.

"We want to get better every day — that’s job number one," Mustangs coach Ed Hottle told Patch in July.

After watching his defense allow 42 points and more than 300 yards of offense in the first half of a 49-21 loss to Shenandoah, the first game in program history, Hottle now has his baseline from which to watch the team improve.

Defensive coordinator Ed Sweeney said the team would be playing this season with "a lot of unknowns," and admitted there would be growing pains.

"Successful may not be wins and losses," Sweeney said. "You play a lot of freshmen; someday they’re going to be juniors and seniors with a lot of experience."

The offensive side of the ball struggled nearly as mightily, gaining only 260 yards, including just 51 yards on 34 rush attempts, a 1.5 yards-per-carry average.

The Mustangs did show some big play ability, however, when quarterback CJ Hopson (9-of-20, 188 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) hooked up with freshman wide receiver Jaelin DeShields for a 75 yard touchdown, the first score in program history.

DeShields finished with 124 yards on four catches and also returned three kickoffs for 166 yards, a 55 yard average.

The 290 yards of offense from DeShields immediately made him a player to watch in Saturday's home opener versus Christopher Newport (1-0), fresh off a season-opening 12-7 victory over Waynesburg University.

Mustang Stadium To Host Football Saturday

Though it had been marketed as Stevenson University Stadium through the summer, the university chose to name their new Owings Mills multi-sport facility Mustang Stadium until a sponsor can be found.

The letters were added to the stadium's facade last week.

Stevenson's new football team will play its first game on the turf field on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Football Games To Be Broadcast By SFMSports.net

Every Mustangs football game will be broadcast on a newly created radio network consisting of four broadcast stations, one Internet streaming and one Mobile streaming channel run by SFMSports.net, a company statement said.

"This is the first network of its kind for a Division III team, or even a Division II team in Maryland," said Steve Clendenin, President and CEO of the Maryland based station. "Every tradition starts somewhere, and this tradition of excellence starts with us."

The broadcast will include a 30 minute pre-game that will also be video simulcast on the Stevenson Mustangs Athletics website.

Graham Whaples will be on the call for all 10 games, with Sid Zweigbaum snagging the analyst's chair.