Spencer Shuey, the Charlotte 250-pound linebacker-fullback named to the NC Shrine Bowl roster last week, was the major force in derailing the Mustangs at Gus Purcell Stadium Friday night.  They dropped their third straight by an almost identical score, 28-20.  Shuey began to wreak his havoc from the opening minute, intercepting a pass and galloping 36 yards for a TD.

But the Mustangs showed no sign of panic.  They were prepared to overcome whatever adversity might come their way.  This was a big game they were going to win.

Stuart Ahlum took over at QB mid-way in the 1^st quarter and promptly drove his teammates 85 yards to a score, passing the last 21 yards to Banks Jenkins.  But Shuey disrupted the Mustangs’ plans to knot the score by crashing through the middle to block Miller Snyder’s kick, leaving the score 7-6.

Myers Park held the vaunted South rushing attack in check throughout the 1^st half, forcing the visitors to resort to a screen pass for a score from mid-field to increase their lead to 13-6.  Brian Johnson tackled the PAT holder as he tried to scramble with an errant snap.   South Meck attempted a field goal in the final seconds of the 2^nd period, but Mustang senior defensive tackle, George Haddock, slapped it away.

The Mustangs came out smoking in the 3^rd quarter, with running backs Eric Williams and Tyree Simpson exploding through big holes for huge chunks of yardage.  They ran off 14 unanswered points as the Mustangs seemed to take control of the game. 

Leading 20-13 as the 4^th period began, Myers Park seemed on the verge of shutting the door or their south Charlotte guests as Tyree Simpson scooped up a fumble resulting from a vicious hit delivered by Gene Robinson, then streaked 24 yards to the South Meck 11-yard-line.  A TD at that point would have put the game out of reach, considering that the South Meck passing game is notoriously so poor.  But on 2^nd down, Simpson mishandled a pitch and the visitors pounced on the football.

The joy of receiving a reprieve gave way to a massive sense urgency as South Meck finally got its powerful running game on track, closing within a point of the Mustangs, 20-19 with a little more that 3 minutes left in the game.  Shuey, who had gained much of that drive’s 88 yards himself, bulldozed his way into the end zone to make a 2-point conversion, putting his team on top again, 21-20.  

But the Mustangs were confident as they lined up for the ensuing kickoff.  They would simply go to their 2-minute drill and take the win at the end, either with a TD or a field goal.  They had been gaining yardage at will all night.  Ahlum had shaken the demons that had had him by the throat a week ago and was enjoying a beautiful game, completing 8 of 14 passes with no interceptions.  Finally, when he was so very hot he was receiving a chance to go to  exclusively to the passing game.  On the sideline the senior QB had to be licking his chops.

But fate had a kickoff disaster awaiting Ahlum’s teammates.  South Meck recovered the football after a pooch-kickoff was muffed at the 35, and Myers Park was flagged when a player questioned the official’s call, then flagged a second time when others took up their teammate’s case.  It was a classic discipline break-down, as players seemed to forget Coach Ruark’s exhortations throughout last week to play that South Meck crowd with “hot hearts and cool heads.”  No doubt the MP coaching staff shuddered in disbelief.  What would it take to get the message across?  

By rule, both penalties were to be enforced, the first 15-yarder placing the ball on the Myers Park 20, and the second (measured half-the-distance to the goal), giving South Meck possession 10 yards from the Mustang end zone.  The visitors made their final TD with only seconds remaining, leaving the Mustangs choking on the agony of frustration for the third time in three weeks.

Myers Park, a 15^th seed, journeys to play East Forsyth (10 wins, no losses) next Friday in the opening round of play for the 2008 NC 4AA championship.  No doubt the Mustangs will bounce back more determined that ever, but there are rumors that several key players may be ruled ineligible this week because of poor end-of-term  grades.  Oh, puh-lease—say it ain’t so, teach!