By Brandon Sumrall / Special to the Advertiser

With a 36-20 homecoming win over the Keith Bears on Oct. 5, the Isabella Mustangs will now look to a big regional matchup against Maplesville next week that may decide second place in the region.

Isabella got its offense rolling quickly on Friday night, as the Mustangs would put together a 68-yard scoring drive with their opening possession that would be capped off on a 9-yard touchdown run by Scottie Johnson. Lance Price would add the two-point conversion to give Isabella an early 8-0 lead.

A second and 11 by the Bears at their own 41 would result in a fumble that would be covered up by Reid Mitchell while setting up Isabella at midfield.

The ensuing Mustang possession looked poised to stall on a fourth and 20 at their own 35. However Jarret Baker would find Jonathan Alstott for a 35-yard touchdown reception that would make it a 15-0 Isabella lead late in the first quarter.

Keith would get their offense going on their next possession, as Levi Thomas would break through the Isabella defense and go 78-yards for a touchdown to cut the Isabella lead to nine at 15-6.

A pair of scoreless possessions by both teams would see the Mustangs’ next possession end on a third and 6 fumble at the Bears 10-yard line, where Keith would come up with the first turnover of the game.

The turnover would do little to help the Bears chances, as the opening play of the drive would see the snap fly over the head of quarterback Jared Edwards, who would have no choice but to fall on the ball in the end zone for a Mustangs’ safety that would make the score 17-6 at the half.

The Bears would receive the second half kickoff but would see the possession come to an end on a second and 6 from their own 44, as Mitchell would come up with his second fumble recovery of the night that would set Isabella up at the Keith 37.

Seven plays later, and Cole Atchison would go in from 17 yards out to put the Mustangs up 24-6.

The turnover bug would strike the Bears once again on their next possession, as a fourth and 32 at their own 21 would see another Keith fumble. This time it would be Kendall Reeves that would fall on the ball, this time in the end zone to put the Mustangs up 30-6.

The Bears were far from ready to quit, as three plays later Kendarius Perry would break lose for a 45-yard touchdown run while Edwards would add the two-point conversion to make it 30-14 in favor of Isabella with 2:00 remaining in the third.

Isabella would answer right back with a 65-yard scoring drive that would end on a 21-yard touchdown run by Alstott to bring the score to 36-14 in favor of the Mustangs with 9:21 to play.

Again, the Bears would answer with a score of their own, this time on a 58-yard scoring drive that would end on a 39-yard touchdown run by Ledell Jackson.

The Keith touchdown would manage to cut into the Mustang lead, but it would be too little too late, as Isabella would hold on for a 36-20 win.

“It was a big win for us. We lost the last two games to some really good teams and had a chance to win both games,” said Isabella head coach Tate Leonard. “I am proud of our guys. We have a lot of guys hurt right now and a lot of new guys in new positions, but we are going to keep playing. This win helps us get in the playoffs, and next week have a big battle and we plan on giving them everything we’ve got.”
Atchison led the Isabella running game with 161 yards on 23 carries with a touchdown.