Football: Mustang’s gutsy performance not enough in 24-17, playoff loss at Broken Arrow

BROKEN ARROW – Mustang showed guts. But on Friday, guts just wasn’t enough.

With their backs against the wall, the Broncos fought back, tying the game twice in the second half before falling behind 24-10 with 9:17 remaining. They scored with 4:35 remaining to pull within a score, but after a 22-yard completion from Chandler Garrett (Sr.) to Bobby Brown (Sr.) with just over a minute left, facing 4^th-and-52, Mustang’s season came to an end.

“With this offense, we’re never out of the game,” Garrett said after loss. “We’re tough as nails and we’re going to fight until the very end, so the thought never crossed our minds. I still don’t think we’re out of the game, the clock just ended.”

Garrett’s gutsiest performance of his career was overshadowed in defeat. The Wyoming-commit went 29-for-46 for 371 yards and a touchdown. His decisions were critical down the stretch, going 18-for-28 in the second half with a score and converting on third down five times and fourth down once.

Mustang’s defensive performance was overshadowed as well, giving up just 224 total yards and holding All-State-caliber running back, Jamall Shaw (Sr.) to 96 yards on 29 carries. Quarterback, Cade Yeager (Jr.), was the key for Broken Arrow. He went 9-for-11 for 172 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard scoring strike to Brendon Franklin (Sr.), following a 23-yard missed field goal by Mustang’s Eric Carreon (Jr.) for a 17-10 lead in the third quarter.

The Bronco rushing attack didn’t play much of a factor. Senior backs, Aaron Kinchion and Terran Daniel, combined for 36 yards on 19 carries. Garrett had a six-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, but finished with negative yardage after sacks.

Mistakes plagued each team. Mustang lost a fumble and threw an interception while Broken Arrow lost a pair of fumbles with two picks. Mustang was penalized 12 times for 72 yards and BA was penalized six times for 60 yards. A muffed punt by Dylan Doran (Sr.) early in the game also cost the Broncos as BA scored three plays later to tie the game 7-7.

Mustang graduates a group of seniors that reached the playoffs three straight years, falling to BA in the semifinals in 2013, falling to Union in the semis last year and Friday’s loss to the Tigers.

“There’s really nothing like it,” an emotional Garrett explained. “Mustang had a winning tradition, but was in a slump before coach (Jeremy) Dombek came in. We turned things around and I hope it’s something the underclassmen will be able to do for years.

“I can’t really express how much I love them,” Garrett continued about his teammates. “I spend more time with them than I do my own family. I know more about them than anyone else. They are family.”

Broken Arrow advances to the Class 6A-1 semifinals with the win and will face Edmond Santa Fe next weekend at a neutral site in Oklahoma City for a chance at the state title game.