Mohawks fall to Mustangs

Mohawk running back Alek Samples (15) is greeted by a host of Hoxie Mustangs during a punt return Friday night at Parker Field. Also pictured is Piggott's Hayden McMillon (11). (Times photo/Tim Blair) [Click to enlarge]

The Piggott Mohawks and the Hoxie Mustangs ground-out an old fashioned 3A-3 football game Friday night at Parker Field, with the visitors from Lawrence County coming out on top of a 22-7 decision. On the night the Tribe got another big game from junior running back Alek Samples, as he once again rushed for over 100 yards...but the Mohawk defense didn't have an answer for Mustang sophomore Sebastian Irvin, who finished with nearly 150 yards rushing in the win.

The Mohawks kicked-off to the Mustangs to get the contest underway, and on his first carry from scrimmage Irvin broke-off a long gainer. But the Mohawk defense was up to the test on that drive, and the Tribe got the ball for the first time with 7:45 to go in the first quarter.

Despite a couple of good runs from Samples, and fullback Luke Yount, the Mohawks were forced to punt the ball back to the visitors after a halfback pass to Tanner Murray fell just out of his reach.

On the ensuing Hoxie drive the Mohawks got a big stop from Conner Rodery, and the Mustangs were also forced to punt the ball away. But, the Piggott drive would also stall, as a Jon Perkins pass was picked-off with 2:10 to play in the first quarter.

The Mustangs then answered with a scoring drive that was topped by a two yard touchdown run by Irvin, but again Rodery was the man for the Mohawks as he stuffed the two-point conversion attempt to make it 6-0 Hoxie.

The next Mohawk drive was also stifled by the Hoxie defense, as Perkins was sacked on third and long and Samples was once-again forced to punt the football away. Later in the first half the Mustangs mounted another scoring drive, despite good play by the Piggott defense, and that resulted in a field goal with 5:48 to go in the first half to make it 9-0 Hoxie.

Once again the Mohawk offense tried to move the ball against the stingy Mustang defense but on a fourth-down-and-four from the Piggott 43 Perkin's pass fell short and the Tribe turned it over on downs. That led to another Hoxie drive, and a failed field goal attempt as time expired in the first half.

In the second half of play the Mohawks continued to try to find seams in the Hoxie defense, while the Mustangs were able to tack-on two more unanswered scores. The first came on a ten yard run by Irvin with 11:45 to go in the third quarter, and the final was on a fumble-recovery and runback with 1:42 to go in regulation.

On the game the Mohawks were once-again led in rushing by Samples with 104 yards on 16 carries, while Yount finished with 42 tough yards on five carries and Spencer Coomer carried the ball six times for 21 yards. Irvin was the top rusher for the Mustangs, who finished with 294 yards in total offense to 233 for the Tribe. On the game Perkins was four for 19 passing for a total of 57 yards and two interceptions.

With the loss the Mohawks fall to 1-6 overall, and 0-4 in 3A-3 conference play, while the Mustangs improve to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference. This Friday night the Tribe have a 7:30 p.m. kickoff scheduled at Wilson as they visit the Rivercrest Colts. Last week the Colts fell at Cave City 14-19 as the Cavemen moved into sole possession of first place in conference. The Tribe will visit Manila on Friday, Oct. 30 and will close out the season by hosting Corning Friday, Nov. 6.