The Mustang Broncos play in front of their home crowd for the first time this season, hosting the Class 6A-II Deer Creek Antlers tonight in a battle of two of the state’s top teams.
The Broncos (1-0) cruised to their first win last week with a 57-26 win over Southmoore. The Antlers moved to 2-0 after knocking off Edmond Memorial 39-14. They defeated Edmond North 49-20 in Week 0.
Deer Creek went 10-3 last year and reached the state championship game for the second time in school history. The Antlers fell to Bixby 63-14 in the state title game at UCO.
The Mustang Sports Review will be live from Bronco Stadium. Follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter (@MustangReview) for live updates and details throughout the game. Also, check out tonight’s game preview:
MUSTANG OFFENSE
The Broncos exploded for 478 total yards last week against Southmoore.
The passing game was on point as quarterback Tristen Russell (Sr.) went 20-for-26 for 359 yards with a school record seven touchdown passes. He also rushed for 25 yards and was poised throughout the game. Watch for the third-year starter to have a second straight big game.
Oklahoma-commit Jacobe Johnson (Sr.) and Air Force-commit Keegan Bass were nearly unstoppable and should be key players once again against Deer Creek. Johnson caught seven passes for 177 yards and three scores while Bass caught four passes for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
Mustang’s rushing attack totaled 115 yards on 29 carries last week. The Broncos may need to establish the ground game even more against the Antlers. Watch for Jay Bedford (Sr.) and Pryce Burgess to get things going tonight.
DEER CREEK DEFENSE
The Antlers return eight starters from last year’s defense, including linebackers Braden Beers (Sr.) and Maddox Canty (Sr.). They combined for 134 tackles last season, including eight sacks in 2021 and should be the centerpieces of the team’s defense again.
Also watch for safeties Adrian Homan (Sr.) and Teddy Amorosi (Sr.) as well as defensive linemen Caleb Simmons (Sr.) and Daxton Lewis (Sr.). Homan and Amorosi combined for 115 tackles in 2021 while Simmons and Lews combined for 10 tackles for loss and two sacks.
MUSTANG DEFENSE
The Broncos allowed just 270 total yards last week against the Sabercats, including just 61 yards on the ground.
Mustang’s defensive line and linebackers will be key to stopping a potent Deer Creek rushing attack. Watch for Kaden Jones (Sr.) and Louie Jones (So.) up the middle as well as linebackers Jaxon Bobbitt (Sr.), Hudson Conrad (Sr.) and Braylon Hood-Colbert (Sr.). Combined, Mustang’s front seven will have to pitch another fine effort to stop the Antlers.
The Bronco secondary will also have a tough Deer Creek passing game to deal with.
Watch for Johnson and Qualon Perry (Jr.) to make an even bigger impact this week as well as nickel Zach Doran (Jr.) and safeties Trevor Price (Sr.) and Zach Warren (Jr.).
DEER CREEK OFFENSE
The Antlers are led by quarterback Grady Anderson (So.), who passed for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns on the program’s freshman team last year.
Deontaye Wilson (Sr.) and Mason Miller (Jr.) are the key players to watch for Deer Creek. The running back combo rushed for over 1,500 yards last season with 15 touchdowns. Also look out for receivers Berkely Dalton (Sr.) and Bryson Rouse (Sr.), who combined for 900 yards receiving last season.
PREDICTION: MUSTANG 38, DEER CREEK 17
Deer Creek is a contender in Class 6A-II, especially with Bixby now in 6A-I, however, the Antlers lack experience at key positions, including quarterback and offensive line. It’s also hard to imagine any defense on the west side of the state has the firepower to stop Mustang’s offense.
Look for Johnson and Bass to once again catch multiple touchdown passes from Russell. Also, expect the Broncos to establish the run game even more and total more than their 115 yards on the ground from last week.
Defensively, Jones and company will be too much for Deer Creek’s inexperienced offensive line. Mustang’s front seven should once again shut down the run game. Expect multiple turnovers and a relentless attack on Anderson at quarterback.
