Mustang's high school football season is still 64 days away, but I can't help from getting excited.
Why you might ask? When I accepted the job as sport editor with The Mustang News, I didn't know what I was getting into. I was unsure of what to think of Bronco sports as a whole. The success of the 2008 team made my job a lot more fun right off the bat.
Every Friday night was not work but fun. I got to go out to games, watch a sport I love and then go write a story about it. I enjoyed covering the Broncos' high-flying spread offense and hard-nosed defense.
From the opening kickoff at Yukon to the last play at Broken Arrow Stadium in the semifinals of the playoffs against Jenks, it was a wild ride.
The upcoming season has me antsy, waiting to see what's in store. I am sure there will be exciting plays and games this season, but before we move on I would like to take one last look at the most memorable moments from the 2008 season. I have compiled my top 10 list of Mustang football memories from 2008.


10. Defensive shutouts
The Mustang defense pitched shutouts against Putnam City (34-0) and Westmoore (42-0). The Broncos' had two interceptions, a defensive touchdown and a blocked field goal against the Pirates in the third game of the season. MHS held the Jaguars scoreless to the tune of five turnovers on downs and two interceptions. Westmoore only gained 32 yards through the air.

9. Quick out
of the gates
It was a great way to start out the season, beating Bedlam rival Yukon 44-14. The game was all Mustang, as the Broncos jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and cruised from there. Yukon did not get a first down until there were 21 seconds left in the third quarter. The defense sacked the Millers quarterback 17 times. The win set a tone for the season.

8. Semifinals against Jenks
Just making it to the semifinals was an accomplishment, but travelling to Broken Arrow to play the defending state champions was an honor in itself. The Broncos led the Trojans 13-7 and even had a chance to extend the lead. A false start nullified a touchdown that would have put MHS ahead of Jenks 20-7. The momentum changed after a MHS failed fake field goal. Jenks went on to win 35-20, but Mustang players had nothing to be ashamed of — after all 12-1 isn't too shabby.

7. Smith sprints for four
Senior Hunter Smith had a career day against Westmoore in the first round of the playoffs. He carried the ball 10 times and racked up 142 yards and four touchdowns. Smith took the ball 75 yards on the first play from scrimmage for a touchdown. He added touchdown runs of two-, three- and 10- yards later in the contest. He led the Broncos rushing attack on the season with 1,058 yards and 18 TDs.

6. Off the crossbar
The Edmond Santa Fe Wolves tied the game up against Mustang late in the fourth quarter, forcing overtime. Hunter Smith scored for MHS, and Brian DiDonato added the PAT. Santa Fe scored on its first play and seemed to be getting ready for the next overtime. The only problem was they still had to make the PAT. Smith applied pressure from the right side, forcing the kick to sail to the left. The ball clanked off the left crossbar, and the Broncos won the game 27-26.

5. Trickery prevails
Mustang led 21-10 against Broken Arrow in the semifinals of the playoffs. The Broncos were faced with a fourth-and-three from their own 41-yard line. Mustang sent out the punt team. Quarterback Kyle Webster, in as the up-back, received the snap and rushed up the middle of the field for 56 yards to the Tigers' three-yard line. The play led to a key touchdown that widened the MHS lead to 18 points.

4. Webster back
in the saddle
Kyle Webster missed two games but couldn't stand the thought of skipping out on the chance to take out No. 1 at the time, Norman North. Webster came back only two weeks after an appendectomy. He led Mustang to a 30-29 win over the Timberwolves in a career-defining performance.
Webster rushed for 173 yards and a touchdown and completed 10 passes for 157 yards and a touchdown. He accounted for 330 of the Broncos' 384 total yards of offense.

3. Cohan magic
Jeff Cohan was the Broncos' knight in shining armor in a pair of crucial games. He was thrust into the starting job after Kyle Webster had an appendix burst. Cohan led the Broncos to a 27-26 win over Edmond Santa Fe. He completed 24 of 39 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Against Lawton, he completed more than 70 percent of his passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. Mustang won 40-19. “Cohan Magic” became a recurring chant in the stands during those two games.

2. DiDonato denies Tigers
Mustang held a commanding 28-10 lead with just more than two minutes left in the quarterfinals against Broken Arrow. The Tigers came back to score 13 unanswered points to cut the deficit to five. BAHS got the ball back with 1:40 left and momentum on its side.
However, Mustang's Brian DiDonato slipped back into coverage unnoticed and intercepted a pass on the first play of the Tigers' drive. The play secured a MHS trip to the semifinals.

1. Quick Nick blocks PAT
Mustang almost squandered away a 30-7 lead over the No. 1 Norman North Timberwolves. The Broncos let their opponent score 22 unanswered points, including a touchdown with 1:15 left in the contest.
A simple PAT would tie the game. Nick Cartwright had other plans. He busted through the Norman North front line, along with a slew of Broncos, and batted the attempt away.
The block led to a win over the consensus No. 1 team in 6A.