By Chris Campanelli (November 4, 2002)

The Mustangs fell victim to mistakes once again this weekend, allowing three Manassas Park touchdowns in the first four minutes of Saturday’s Senior Day home game. The Mustangs held Manassas’s 8-1 offense to only one more touchdown during the game, but were unable to get on the scoreboard themselves, losing 28-0.

But the Mustangs must count their losses in more ways than one. After losing first string quarterback Matt Williams two weeks before, the Mustangs lost quarterback Chris Campanelli to a knee avulsion (fracture) late in the third quarter, injuring him for what looks to be the remainder of the season. The Mustangs will most likely turn to third string sophomore quarterback Matt Lemen, who finished Saturday’s game.

The Mustangs’ early 21-0 deficit was a result of poor defensive play, followed by two fumbled kickoffs, one of which the Cougars recovered. The other fumbled kickoff led to a Mustang fumble in the end-zone, recovered by the Cougars. 

The Mustangs quickly changed this trend, stopping the Cougars on successive drives and moving the ball themselves with a combination of a solid inside run game and a successful passing threat, in the flats and otherwise. Senior quarterback Chris Campanelli threw for four receptions, and had no interceptions.

Although the Mustangs were unable to score during the game, its defense held for the middle 33 minutes of the game. The Mustangs held their own against the star Cougar athletes such as Price Ward and Howard Mighty, two athletes who will be all district competitors this year.

Late in the third quarter, cornerback and quarterback Chris Campanelli injured his right knee making a sideline tackle againts Manassas Park’s quarterback, running a quarterback keeper. Campanelli’s injury follows a series of Mustang mishaps during this long season. From day one, when the team learned that it wouldn’t have Kevin Kuhn and Dominic Clark back, to the loss of Anton Messinon, and later the loss of Chris Huffman and Matt Williams, the Mustangs have been constantly replacing starters. 

Stepping out of journalist character and into football player mode, I say "We’ve faced many obstacles this year, as individual players and as a team, with the losses of numerous key players, and with the problems created by the sniper attacks. We’re just playin’ for the hell of it now, trying to have some fun."

The Mustang’s face two more games in the coming week, Tuesday against Brenstville and Friday against Strausburg. 

	Manassas quarterback prepares for a toss that scores them a third touchdown
Number 55 Doug Andres holds Manassas' blockers but that's not enough to stop the Cougars.