Two Mustangs Teams Headed for Championships

By Coach JP Roberts III

When this weekend started, four of the Reisterstown Mustangs' 13 teams were still in the playoffs, looking for the organization's first championship since the MMYFCL (Mid-Maryland Youth Football and Cheerleading League) was formed five years ago, when the CCFL and CMFL merged. With two teams in Super Bowl games this coming Saturday, the Mustangs Nation has a lot to cheer about.

Federal 6-8

With a regular season record of 7-2, the 6-8 Federal Mustangs, led by Head Coach Steve Eastwood, were seeded seventh of the 12 playoffs teams when the postseason started.  In a division consisting of 24 teams, on its own, that has to be considered a great season.

In their first-round game, these Mustangs shutout the 10th-seeded West Howard County Warhawks "White" team by a score of 26-0.  In their second round playoff game, they ended the undefeated and second-seeded Catonsville Stars' season with a 33-27 win in double overtime.  Both the coaches and the players knew their next game would be a real tough one.

The Mustangs had to face a Woodlawn Falcons team whose defense only gave up 12 points during the regular season, and who were coming off of a 19-0 win over the Bowie Bulldogs "Black" team.  The Woodlawn defense proved to be too much for the Mustangs to handle as they fell to the Falcons 26-0.

Federal 7-9

"I'd rather play than sit."

That's what Head Coach Jimmy Hudson said after finding out his 7-9 Federal team lost a card-draw tiebreaker with the St. Peters Panthers.  Both teams had the same record and strength-of-schedule, so the fourth seed - and a first-round bye - was determined by a card draw, fifth seed going to the loser.

Their first round game was played at home and resulted in a 7-0 win over the Urbana Hawks.  That win set them up to face the St. Peter's Panthers.  Six plays into the game, the Mustangs were behind 12-0.  With less than a minute left in the game, the Mustangs scored, tying the game at 18-18.  It took only one overtime period for the Mustangs to bring home the win, 25-18.

Next up was the West Howard County Warhawks "White" team.  The two teams were very evenly matched and a defensive battle went into overtime with a scoreless tie.  When the Warhawks scored and successfully kicked the point-after, something not often done during a 7-9 age group football game, most fans thought the Mustangs season was over.  After getting a touchdown on their first overtime possession, the Mustangs were forced to kick their point-after attempt, something they hadn't been able to do all season. Kicker Alex Henderson kicked it so hard that the attempt would have been good from the fifteen-yard-line.

Neither team scored during the second overtime periods.  The Mustangs defense held and their offense scored in the third overtime periods.  The 14-8 win sends the Federal 7-9 team to their Super Bowl, where they will face the second-seeded Damascus Cougars.  The game is on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 9:30 a.m., at 5081 (West, field 5), in Columbia.

Federal 8-10

Finishing on top of the 24-team 8-10 Federal division with a perfect 9-0 record, this Mustang team, led by Head Coach Jerry Hudson, earned a first-round bye.  In the second round, they faced the Elkridge Hurricanes team, which scored the most points against them during the regular season. This time the Mustangs' defense was too much and the game ended as a 19-0 shutout for the Mustangs.

Hosting the semi-finals at their home field of Reisterstown Regional Park, these Mustangs played the same Oakdale Bears team they faced three weeks ago, in their last regular season game.  The result was the same with a Mustang win 24-6, earning another Super Bowl berth for the Reisterstown Mustangs, and a chance to finish the season with a perfect record of 12-0. The game is on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 1:30 p.m., at 5081 Cedar Lane Park (West, field 6), in Columbia.

Federal 9-11

The 9-11 Federal Mustangs, led by Head Coach Reggie Tinsley, knew they had a great team coming together when they started the season with three shutouts in their first three games, outscoring their opponents 69-0.  The Ellicott City Patriots won a close 12-8 game against the Mustangs, but that proved to be the only loss the Mustangs would suffer in the regular season, finishing 8-1.  They finished in third place in a division of 20 teams, and also earned a first-round bye.

Their second-round game was against the Sykesville Raiders "White" team who they beat in a very close regular-season game 12-6.  This game also proved to be an evenly matched battle, but the Mustangs came out on top again, winning 20-16 and making them the fourth 2011 Mustang team to earn a spot in their division's Final Four games.

The Mustangs task was going to be a very tough one as their opponent was the West Howard County Warhawks "Silver" team that only gave up a single touchdown during the entire season, including eight regular season shutouts and a 30-0 rout in their quarterfinal game versus the Elkridge Hurricanes.

This semi-final game was played on a brisk Friday evening at Western Regional Park in Glenwood, Howard County.  WHC "Silver" proved to be too much for the Mustangs as they were defeated 22-8.  Addressing the team after the game, Assistant Coach George Bertsch insisted that "you cannot let a single loss define your season.  You scored against a team that just didn't give up points."

Reisterstown Mustang football is a member program of the Reisterstown Recreation Council, and affiliated with the Mid-Maryland Youth Football and Cheer League. For more information, go to www.reisterstownmustangs.org or
www.reisterstownrec.com/football.htm