Wildcats clinch conference title with 1-point win over Mustangs

A championship showdown Friday night in Fleming ended a perfect league record for one team. That team was not the Wildcats.

The Prairie Mustangs came to town last week for the North Central Championship. Both the Wildcats and the Mustangs boasted perfect league records prior to Friday night’s event. The Wildcats walked away with a 52-51 victory after an eventful evening.

Fleming won the coin toss performed by former Denver Bronco Mark Jackson. The retired wide receiver spent time prior to Friday’s game signing autographs for fans.

Captain Joel Muller opted to defer to the second half giving the Mustangs the opening kick off.

Prairie managed to convert a first down on their opening drive and found the end zone on second down. Their first penalty of the game would call the ball back.

They marched back up the field converting another first down; this time first and goal, but a fumble in the end zone recovered by the Wildcats would give Fleming the touchback and their first offensive opportunity of the game.

Three short plays and 15 donated yards from the defense later, junior Nolan Japp tacked on six for Fleming on a 27-yard run.

Prairie would answer back on their next possession with two first down conversions and eventually a touchdown. Their points after kick failed after a block by senior Joel Muller to bring the score to six-all.

The Wildcats would complete a couple plays before junior Blake Feather picked up 22 yards on a third and one.

The opening quarter ended with the Wildcats in scoring position on second down.

A pitch to Japp on third and goal added six to the Wildcats’ side of the board; junior kicker Kenny Bandy’s attempt at two sailed through the uprights and Fleming went up 14-6 early in the second quarter.

The Mustangs suffered a penalty on the kick off and fumbled on first down to give the Wildcats the ball in Prairie territory. Fleming capitalized on the possession with a 30-yard first down pass caught by junior Harry Harms and a seven-yard touchdown by senior Hayden Burr on the play that followed to bring the score to 20-6, Fleming.

Fleming gave up 15 penalty yards on Prairie’s next possession, which resulted in a first down conversion and eventually a touchdown on second down. Prairie made good on the extra two points to bring the score back within six, 20-14.

Senior Maddix Welch would drop back to receive Prairie’s kick off and return it to mid field after picking up 36 yards. Fleming ran four plays before converting to first down. Their second down put Japp in the end zone on a 27-yard touchdown run. Bandy booted the points after through the uprights and put Fleming out in front by 14, 28-14.

The Mustangs moved the ball up field on their next possession running eight plays and sitting in scoring position on third down when they fumbled a ball that was recovered by Japp.

Two downs later, the Wildcats would fumble and this time Prairie would recover at Fleming’s 20-yard line. They quickly put themselves in scoring position and punched one in for six with :29 left on the second quarter clock. Prairie earned two from the points after kick and the halftime score would read 28-22.

The Mustangs attempted an onside kick to open the second half; Fleming recovered. Their opening play of the third quarter found Japp in the end zone with just over 20 seconds off the clock. Bandy added two to put the Wildcats back up by 14, 36-22.

Prairie shaved a minute and 40 seconds off the clock running four plays before answering back with a TD and the score moved to 36-30, Fleming.

Welch brought back another big return for the Wildcats, this time 33 yards. Fleming would run a couple plays before a 15-yard pass caught by Harms would bring up first and goal.

A second and goal play put junior Blake Feather in for six; Bandy’s points after stuck and Fleming remained out in front, 44-30.

Prairie returned Fleming’s kick to mid-field to take over on their next possession. They called six plays before number seven put them in the end zone. This time, the Mustangs completed a single-point conversion that left them down by seven, 44-37.

The Mustang’s second onside kick attempt was recovered by Houser and gave the Wildcats the ball at their own 36-yard line. Fleming ran a couple plays before Prairie grabbed an interception off Wildcat quarterback Braylen Feather, a junior.

Prairie began their next campaign at mid-field. They chipped away at yardage and found themselves in a first and goal with :22 left in the third. That first down attempt would fail, but the second down that opened the fourth quarter gave the Mustangs their next six. With the score at 44-43, the Mustangs went for two that sailed through and they took their first lead of the game, 45-44.

Fleming’s possession that followed was unsuccessful and they turned the ball over on downs at their own 34-yard line. Prairie tacked on another six a few plays later to go up on the Wildcats, 51-44. The point-after kick would have made the spread nine, but a blocked kick by Welch held Prairie’s lead to seven.

Welch followed up his defensive efforts with a 25-yard return on the kick off. Japp took the call on third down for 48 rushing yards to put the Wildcats at first and goal. He’d take the call that followed and add his fifth TD of the contest.

No pressure on Bandy as the Wildcats found themselves down by one with just under three minutes left on the clock. Bandy made good on number five to put the Wildcats up, 52-51.

Prairie took over for their final offensive attempt. They’d complete a first down conversion from fourth down and suffer a holding call that put them at second down and 18 with 1:16 on the clock. The second down pass fell incomplete, but they picked up nine yards on third down.

In Wildcat territory with right at a minute to play, the Mustangs threw a pass that wouldn’t get past Japp. Japp’s tip put the ball just out of catching range for the Mustang receiver and saved the touchdown.

Fleming took over on their own 31-yard line for the final possession of the game. With :45 seconds, Braylen Feather took a knee as the clock wound down with the Wildcats on top by one, 52-51.

Friday’s win gave the Wildcats the top record in their league. They’re set for two more showings before post-season action.

This Friday, the Wildcats head to Idalia to face off with the 5-2 Wolves. Game time that night is set for 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, Fleming returns to their home field to take Cheraw. Cheraw held a 5-3 record after this week’s play. They’ll take on Genoa-Hugo this Friday before facing off with Fleming in the final regular season game.