Mustangs Declaw Wolves 28-14

The Malta Mustangs Football team is now 4-1 after their 24-19 win over the Wolf Point Wolves on Friday, September 23, in Malta.

At the conclusion of the game, the current Mustang football players took a photo with former Mustangs and future Mustangs to commemorate 100 years of Malta Mustang Football. The photograph was supposed to take place last week during Malta's Homecoming game against Shepherd, but the rain and lightning caused a delay that sent most fans home.

The Mustangs will travel to Conrad this Friday, September 30, to face the Conrad Cowboys.

The Cowboys have not won a game in 2022. Their most recent loss was to Fairfield last Friday, in which they lost 40-0.

In Malta's win over Wolf Point, sophomore quarterback Stockton Oxarart was seven-of-nine for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Oxarart was asked what was the key to their win.

"Throwing the ball," Oxarart said. "That's what got us to the end."

One of those touchdowns came early in the game, when Malta's offense saw 4th-and-11 at the Wolf Point forty yard line.

Oxarart connected with fellow sophomore Kyle Darrington for a 40-yard touchdown with 7:55 left in the first quarter.

"I saw them pressing on the left side and I know that Kyle is fast," Oxarart said. "So I knew that I was throwing to him and that he would beat his guy."

Darrington was asked about that same play.

"I knew that Stockton wanted to take a shot," Darrington said. "We wanted to score first in this game to show who was boss, and we did."

Darrington had a total of four catches for 132 receiving yards and two touchdowns. The second touchdown was a five-yarder, which put Malta up 12-0 with 2:14. Both two point conversion tries failed.

"I have been waiting for this night for a long time," Darrington said. "Me and Stockton have this chemistry, so we know how to connect on big plays. We gotta give a lot of props to our o-line too, they played awesome tonight."

Wolf Point's Gaige Bushman caught a 20-yard pass from Wolf Point quarterback and former Mustang standout Juliun Benson with 3:12 remaining in the first half. Benson proved to be a dual threat, passing for 162 yards (12-of-22), two touchdowns and two interceptions, and racking up 62 yards on the ground on 12 attempts.

Malta senior Camryn Mears had 21 carries for 127 yards and one touchdown. Spencer Gibbs had eight carries for 74 yards and one ten yard reception, in which he broke three tackles to score a touchdown at 9:20 in the third quarter. Oxarart connected with Eli Hanson for the two-point conversion, putting Malta up 20-7.

Treyton Wilke had five carries for 26 yards and Colton Honey had one catch for 32 yards and one rush for 13 yards.

Both teams were able to make plays in the backfield, but Malta's offense racked up a total of of 421 yards, which wouldn't be possible without wins in the trenches. Senior Reese Brown was asked how they were able to find success.

"More talking, communication," Brown said. "We are not getting upset at each other. We are all playing team football."

Being raised in Malta since birth, Brown was asked what winning meant on a night that the team celebrated 100 years of Mustang football.

"It feels great," Brown said. "The tradition is still alive. It makes it feel like it's more enjoyable for everybody when they come out."

Wolf Point's second and final score came at the 1:53 mark in the third quarter, a 21 yard pass from Benson to Preston Swenson. Swenson converted his second point after kick. The score was 20-14.

Late in the game, Malta's defense stopped Wolf Point from potentially tying the game. The defense needed a stop at Malta's 19 on fourth-and-two with less than 8 minutes remaining and senior Reese Brown tackled Benson, who reached for the line to gain, but fell a little short.

After strong runs from Gibbs and Mears, Mears scored from ten yards out to extend Malta's lead 26-14 with 1:37 remaining. Oxarart found Gibbs on the two-point conversion putting Malta up 28-14.

On the following drive, Malta freshman Dawson Hammond intercepted Benson to close the door on any late comeback attempt.

Oxarart, who also intercepted a pass, was reminded of his first interception during his freshman year.

"Last year, that was pretty hype," Oxarart said. "I remember when I got my first interception last year. It was the greatest thing in my life!"

Malta forced three turnovers, including a forced fumble by Gibbs, which was recovered by Kyle Darrington.