Lightning struck the Huntingdon Mustangs from two different directions Friday in Milan as the Milan Bulldogs handed the Mustangs their first loss of the season, 34-9. The defeat dropped Huntingdon to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in region play. The game marked the Mustangs’ third straight road contest to start the season.
Mother Nature delivered the first strike, delaying play for over an hour with 3:19 left in the third quarter and Milan holding a 27-9 lead. The second came from Milan senior running back Jaydon Peete, who scored two touchdowns and intercepted a pass to lead the Bulldogs.
Peete, last year’s Class 2-A Mr. Football, ignited Milan in the second half. With the Bulldogs trailing 9-6 at halftime, he returned the opening kickoff of the second half 90 yards for a touchdown to give Milan its first lead of the night. He scored again on a 19-yard run just before the lightning delay, capping a drive that began at the Mustang 28 after he intercepted a Kenton Smith pass.
Huntingdon appeared in control during the first half despite offensive struggles. After taking the opening kickoff, the Mustangs went three-and-out, but for the second straight week the opposing returner fumbled the punt. Keimonte Strayhorn recovered at the Milan 35.
Helped by 20 yards in Bulldog penalties, the Mustangs drove to the Milan three. But the Bulldogs stopped Braylin Dearmon at the one-yard line to deny Huntingdon a score. Milan then moved out to its own 23 before Tyreke Hutch stepped in front of a Zak Summers pass and raced 32 yards for a Mustang touchdown. Greyson Anderson’s PAT attempt struck the upright, leaving Huntingdon ahead 6-0.
Milan answered with a 12-play, 80-yard march, capped by Carson Kelley’s 21-yard touchdown run. Aiden Pennington’s PAT attempt hit the upright to keep the score tied 6-6.
The Mustangs pieced together their lone sustained offensive drive, moving from their 28 to the Milan 12. The 16-play series chewed up 9:08 of clock and included their only pass completion of the night, on fourth down to the Bulldog 22. The drive stalled, but Anderson drilled a 29-yard field goal to put Huntingdon back in front 9-6.
From there, Milan seized control. The Bulldogs reeled off 28 unanswered points in the second half while shutting down the Mustang offense. After Peete’s kickoff return, Kelley added his second touchdown on an eight-yard run, and Terrence Moses capped the scoring with a 15-yard run with 3:07 left.
Milan outgained Huntingdon 275-127, rushing for 240 yards and passing for 35. The Mustangs managed 107 rushing yards and 20 through the air. Hayes Eubanks carried eight times for 32 yards, while K’Shun Carter led the defense with 14 tackles.
The Mustangs will play their fourth straight road game Friday when they travel to Halls for a region matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
