BY AARON PATTERSON
MICHIGANTOWN, Ind. — One year ago, it might have seemed like a long shot to even think about the Fountain Central Mustangs making it to a state title game.
Finishing the 2009 campaign with a .500 record would have been a drastic improvement over the 3-7 struggle of the 2008 season.
But with a 42-14 win over the Clinton Central Bulldogs, the Mustangs will have a spot reserved on the sideline of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis next weekend for the Class A state championship against Lafayette Central Catholic (14-0).
“This is really awesome. This was one of my biggest dreams growing up,” Fountain Central senior quarterback Scott Moore said. “My dad’s team (Seeger) made it when I was younger and it’s huge. But it’s still not over. We’ve still got one more game.”
It’s hardly surprising that the celebration following the Mustangs’ semis-state win was relatively mild-mannered. After all, winning a sectional or regional title was never their primary goal. And simply making it to next week’s title game won’t do.
The ability to stay focused and take the field as a family has so far led to a story-book season and is likely what helped the Mustangs put up 42 points on a Bulldogs team that allowed an average of only 13.2 all season.
It was the most points scored against the Clinton Central defense since Central Catholic lit up the scoreboard for 45 on September 4.
The Mustangs (14-0) scored four times in the first half, but none was more important than Moore’s 49-yard touchdown pass to Zach Robertson with only 28 seconds to go in the second quarter, putting Fountain Central up 28-14.
“That’s huge,” Moore said. “It was a play we had been working on all week and we knew we could get it on them.”
It was only one of four plays in the game of 30 yards or more for the Mustangs which used a balanced offensive attack to keep the Bulldogs guessing.
Moore also hit Brandon Bowlus for a 36-yard touchdown pass, ran one in for 33 yards, and handed off to Robertson, who ran 79 yards down the sideline for a score with just over six minutes remaining in the game.
“We knew we would just take what they’d give us,” said senior fullback Sam Shoaf, who led the Mustangs’ ground attack with 86 yards on 13 carries. “We attack from all angles and whenever we see where a weakness is, we’ll attack that the most.”
The win was No. 100 for Fountain Central coach Rick Malone who will attempt to win his second state title as a head football coach.
This one, he said, might be more satisfying.
“When you’re 25 years old and you go, you don’t appreciate what it actually takes,” Malone said. “I was too young back then to appreciate the struggles that most coaches go through to get there. I appreciate it much more now because it’s been 26 years. I’ve known a lot of great coaches who have never been there. I’ve very blessed to have a great bunch of kids and a great staff.”
The Mustangs aren’t planning on celebrating too long. And what was an eight-quarter season is now down to four.
“Just one more goal,” Shoaf said. “One more goal on the way to the dance and it feels awesome. We’re cutting it down by the half, a week at a time.
“It’s celebration tonight and back to work tomorrow morning. Ten o’clock, Saturday practice just like every week.”
