BY ERIC STARLING/For the Reporter

MILLBROOK— Traveling to Stanhope Elmore Oct. 11, the Thompson Warriors were looking to get back to their winning ways, but fell just short, 45-42.

The Mustangs opened the game with their first of two successful onside kicks.  However, both teams found the early going tough and couldn’t get anything going on their first possessions.

With the Mustangs driving into Warrior territory, the defense forced a fumble giving Thompson the ball at their own 22-yard line.  Thompson marched all the way down to the Stanhope 2-yard line, only to be forced to go for the field goal.  David Buckelew’s field goal attempt sailed wide right leaving both teams scoreless.

Thompson’s defense forced their second fumble on the next series and Zach Brammer soon connected with Eric Reeves for the 10-yard touchdown pass.  Buckelew’s point after attempt was good and the Warriors led 7-0.

Dee Tolbert added a touchdown run with 9:34 remaining in the second to put Thompson up by two scores.  Then the Warriors watched things unravel before the half.

The Mustangs got on the board with a field goal at the 5:46 mark, and then swapped possessions with the Warriors.  Driving the length of the field by pounding the ball on the ground, Mustang sophomore, B.J. Smith rumbled nine yards for the score with 31 seconds remaining in the first half.

The Warriors tried a little trickery with Reeves dropping back to pass after the reverse from Tolbert.  The ball bounced off Tolbert’s hands and into the hands of the defender and on the very next play, the Mustangs scored on a 22-yard pass.  With just eleven seconds left in the half, the Mustangs were now up 17-14.

“We called a high risk, high reward play late in the first half, and we weren’t successful,” stated Coach Mike Montgomery.  “We made too many mental errors that cost us this game, but we can overcome them.”

Stanhope built their lead to 31-14 early in the second half, before Brammer hit Christian Jetzel in stride for what looked to be a pivotal play to get Thompson back in the game.  The 33-yard pass play led to a Tolbert 2-yard dive into the end zone.  Jetzel would get another catch for 62 yards and a touchdown later in the fourth.

Both teams alternated scores in the fourth with Thompson missing a point after touchdown.  With the Mustangs leading 45-34, Brammer directed his Warriors down the field for the score hitting Reeves from four yards out to pull Thompson within five.  Running from the wildcat, Tolbert took the snap and ran it in for the two point conversion making it a field goal difference.

Thompson’s attempt at the onside kick failed and the Mustangs ran out the clock to secure the win.  Brammer finished the night 19-of-23 for 304 yards and five touchdowns.  Reeves had ten catches for 139 yards and four scores.