Mustangs Defeat Jefferson 31-17!

The Malta Mustangs (3-0) football team sent a shock wave through Class B football as they took down the Jefferson Panthers (2-1), a team that was ranked first or second by many around the state.

"I'm so proud of this team," Malta senior Stockton Oxarart told the PCN after the game. "This is the best team I've ever played on. This is just a crazy, crazy win."

When asked about the team's key to victory he shouted out his offensive line.

"Upfront, our line was crazy," Stockton said. "They were just defeating and they're holding their blocks, and everyone played well, it was a good game."

Malta gave up two touchdowns in the first quarter in Jefferson's first two possessions, but a 70-yard fumble recovery touchdown by junior Dawson Hammond gave Malta life prior to halftime (Kenan LaBrie forced the fumble).

Jefferson would extend their lead to 17-7 prior to halftime thanks to a field goal, but Malta would go on to outscore Jefferson 24-0 in the second half.

Malta was led by Oxarart, who threw for 200 yards and was 13-of-25. Oxarart scored two touchdowns on nine rushing attempts.

Senior Blaine Downing had 74 yards and one touchdown on 16 carries. Treyton Wilke had 45 yards on 10 carries.

Wilke was asked about his night, a night where several of his runs were able to keep Malta's offense moving.

"Well, I'm gonna just first of all, thank my offensive line," Wilke said. "In my opinion, this is the best line ever coming out of Malta. We have been in the weight room, the whole summer, every one of our linemen working hard. We all want to go far. Every person on this team wants to go far and that's what it comes down to. That's why we're such a great team."

The senior was asked how it felt to pick up such a big win on homecoming.

"It means a lot," Wilke said. "(A lot of people) in school were doubting us. Literally, everyone was saying Jefferson's going to come to town and kill us. Little did they know, here we are, upset. It's honestly, not even an upset. We knew we were going to win."

Junior Dawson Hammond led the receivers with four catches for 85 yards including a 53-yard catch. Wilke had five catches for 53 yards. Mason Simanton had two catches for 36 yards, Downing had one catch for 20 yards, and Trooper Stiles had one catch for six yards.

Landon Retan made 2-of-3 point and try attempts. He also made a field goal.

Retan and Simanton tied for the lead in tackles; both had 11. Retan had two tackles for loss. Downing had eight tackles and two tackles for loss. Wilke had eight tackles, one forced fumble,. Hammond had seven tackles, Straud Sims had seven tackles, Kohner Schipman had five tackles, Stiles had five tackles and an interception, Rylee Brusse had four tackles, and Oxarart had three tackles and an interception.

Stiles was asked about his interception, the first of two that Malta had in the win.

"I had just seen it come my way, went up and came down with it," Stiles said.

Last season, Jefferson defeated Malta 48-14 in the regular season, a game that many from this year's team remembers.

"It feels good," Stiles said. "We've been itching since last year during the first round of the playoffs. So to come back and battle (feels good). Our line, shout out to them, they worked hard, they're all outweighed by about what 40-50 pounds and they just got the job done."

Stiles was also able to grab a two-point conversion catch that put Malta up 24-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Though Malta did not record a sack, plenty of pressure was generated and it played a factor in a late interception. Downing was credited with the pressure.

"Oh, they're really big, but they aren't that fast," Downing said. "I think my speed was definitely a big help in that. That's how I was able to get in the backfield, get in that quarterback's face and do some damage."

Downing is a Saco High School student, but the MHS Homecoming festivities mean a lot to him, given that he is a Mustang football player. He was asked to describe what it is like for him.

"It's pretty crazy," Downing said. "I don't really get to experience that coming from Saco. Just to be able to come to Malta and experience that is really big for me."

Dawson Hammond made a couple of big plays as mentioned earlier, but he was asked about his 53-yard catch, where he beat two defenders for a deep throw by Oxarart.

"Well, I knew I dropped the first one, but I knew I'd be open," Hammond said. "So, I just had to block out the noise and lock in, and do what I do. That first one was a touchdown and I wish I could take that one back, but it's all right."