Mustangs Football: Malta downed by Glasgow 35-0

Though the Mustangs were outmatched 35-0 by the Glasgow Scotties last Friday, the team's playoff hopes are still alive, because they still have a legitimate shot at the second seed in district 2B, though that spot currently belongs to the Wolves of Wolf Point.

This week the Mustangs will face a different pack of Wolves, the Cut Bank Wolves.

Like Malta, Cut Bank is 2-3, but 0-2 in 1B football. Their two wins were against 0-6 Three Forks and 1-5 Thompson Falls.

According to Malta Head Coach Nick Oxarart, Cut Bank runs the traditional Pro-I formation, and move the ball well, but they are not afraid to put their quarterback senior Jess Ray in the shotgun formation and attack defenses through the air.

Senior Reid VandenBos will led the rushing attack with fellow senior Adrian Growing Thunder.

VandenBos also lines up as a very dangerous tight end, and can be explosive at the position.

Seniors Brenden Johnson and Jaiden Little Dog will help bolster the team's offensive line, and will try to take advantage of Malta's youth on the line.

The defense they run will likely be a 4-3 base, with formidable size up front.

Last year the Wolves finished 2-7, with one of those losses handed to them by Malta in a 33-0 blowout, so the Wolves will be looking for revenge.

Malta is 4-0 in recent history against Cut Bank, dating back to October 27, 2007.

The game starts at 7 p.m. in Cut Bank on Friday.

In Malta's 35-0 loss to Glasgow last Friday, Malta was simply out matched and undisciplined.

"We didn't match Glasgow's intensity," said Malta Head Coach Nick Oxarart. "Glasgow made some great plays. They are a great team."

He went on to say that Malta had way too many penalties that game to overcome Glasgow who is ranked second in the state.

"We were able to run the ball on them at times," Coach Oxarart said. "We just weren't able to be consistent enough to sustain a drive."

Malta did have a few decent run gains against Glasgow but by that time, the game was pretty well over.

Boos led the team with 17 carries for 69 yards, though Glasgow's defense was stout only giving up a total of 54 yards on 28 carries (1.9 ypc), thanks to a few sacks in the game.

The Scottie defense frustrated many Malta players, including Jase Galt, who was 4 for 9, for 22 yards and one interception.

Malta only had a total of 75 yards, while Glasgow moved the ball with ease, racking up 423 yards, 227 on the ground and 196 through the air.

Malta had 45 penalty yards, while Glasgow had 19.

Glasgow had 16 first downs, while Malta had only four.

Both teams had two turnovers.

Tyson Carney provided one of Malta's only highlights as he picked off Jason Thibault near the end of the second quarter. He covered Glasgow standout Chase Fossum, who stands 6'5" and showed tremendous range, particularly in the red zone.

Carney nearly grabbed a second interception in the third quarter, as he played the ball at it's highest point and nearly had a one handed interception.

Though Malta lost to Glasgow, they are not eliminated from playoff contention, it seems as the Wolf Point Wolves will be the team standing in their way, though Malta can be their own worst enemy.

"We need to up our intensity and play with more emotion," said Coach Oxarart. "We need to pay attention to details. We need to beat the next two conference opponents (Wolf Point and Harlem)."