The Mustang Bronco offensive line is due a nice gift from Pryce Burgess this week.
After totaling 108 of the team’s 289 rushing yards, the senior running back knew he would have to line something up for his teammates up front.
“I’m going to have to take them out for a nice meal,” he said.
“Or maybe just get them a candy bar.”
Mustang’s rushing attack fueled a 41-13 win over Springdale Har-Ber (Ark.) Friday night at Bronco Stadium.
Senior Jay Bedford looks for a hole during Mustang’s 41-13 win over Springdale Har-Ber on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Bronco Stadium. Bedford rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown. (Photo by Shelly Holinsworth / Freelance Action Photography)
Burgess and fellow seniors Jay Bedford and Antone Prince led the charge as the Broncos fully committed to the ground game, rushing 44 times on 68 plays. Bedford reeled off 60 yards with a touchdown while Prince totaled 68 yards on 13 attempts.
“Our running back core is so deep,” Burgess said after the win. “We have unlimited dudes that can run the ball, which makes things easier on all of us. We all know that we have another guy that can come in when someone needs a breather.”
Burgess rushed for 70 yards in the second half, including 51 on a 93-yard drive in the third quarter. The march was capped by a five-yard Tristen Russell touchdown for a 34-7 lead.
Prince also had the hot hand late, rushing for 46 yards in the second half. Bedford was efficient throughout and punched in a two-yard score early in the fourth quarter, icing the game at 41-13.
Bedford, who leads the team with 187 yards on the season, says it doesn’t matter who carries the ball or when. All Mustang’s running back committee cares about is the scoreboard.
“I feel like our friendship makes the rotation easier,” he said after the game. “We really don’t care who goes in. If I go in first, it’s cool. Or if they go in first, it’s fine too. We really don’t care about all of that. We’re team players first, just trying to get the win.”
Russell added 53 yards on five carries and went 20-for-24 through the air. He passed for 301 yards with three touchdowns, including two scores to Oklahoma-commit Jacobe Johnson.
Johnson caught a 23-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter. Later he caught a pass in the flat before dashing 46 yards for a score that gave the Broncos a 17-7 lead.
Russell also hit Air Force-commit Keegan Bass for a 12-yard touchdown on the team’s opening drive of the second half. Bass caught five passes for 79 yards.
Senior LeBryan Hayes finished with a team-high eight catches for 61 yards. Senior Evan Rader caught a 50-yard bomb that set up Bedford’s touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Senior Jaxon Bobbitt leaps to bring down Springdale Har-Ber quarterback Luke Buchanan during Mustang’s 41-13 win over the Wildcats on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Bronco Stadium. (Photo by Shelly Holinsworth / Freelance Action Photography)
Mustang’s defense allowed 321 total yards, including 207 on the ground.
The Broncos (2-1) had trouble bottling up Har-Ber quarterback Luke Buchanan early in the game, but settled down in the second half.
Buchanan rushed for 100 yards on 18 carries with a touchdown. He was sacked twice by senior Kaden Jones and was picked off late in the game by junior safety Zach Warren.
Mustang held its opponent under 400 yards total and 300 yards passing for the third straight game to open the season.
The Broncos finish off non-district play at 2-1 and head to Yukon (1-2) to take on the rival Millers next week. It is the first time the two teams will meet in a district matchup.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
