By: Becky Roa (September 27, 2003)

With his Mustangs down 26-20 in the fourth quarter, Mason’s Travis Greene returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown to put his team up 27-26, but the Mustangs could not hold the William Monroe offense in the last seconds and fell 33-27 at William Monroe Monday night.

"We played a heck of a game," said senior linebacker Chris Epling. Mason’s defense was key in staying neck and neck the entire game in part to Epling who had three tackles and one for loss. Senior Matt Williams had 11 tackles, Peter Dittmar nine, juniors Will Straub and Danny Johnson each had four and Paul Stroup had nine. 

With little action in the first quarter, the second quarter whipped up an exciting battle. William Monroe went up 7 – 0 on a two-yard run. Minutes later, sophomore Travis Greene ran six-yards for a touchdown and Peter Dittmar’s extra poit tied the game. 

Senior Dittmar caught a 65-yard pass from sophomore Eric Blush, but the extra point was blocked. Mason was now up 13-7 and the end of the half approaching, William Monroe completed a pass for 24 yards to end the half up by one, 14-13.

Early in the second half William Monore completed a 34-yard pass and scored but the Mustang defense blocked the extra point putting Monroe up 20-13. The fourth quarter came quickly and with the help of junior Steve Williams’ s one-yard run and Dittmar’s extra point, Mason tied the game at 20-20. Monroe quickly answered with a 14-yard pass but could not complete the extra point attempt.

Down six, the Mustangs’ Travis Greene returned an 80-yard kickoff return and scored. Under pressure, Mustang kicker Peter Dittmar put the Mustangs up by one after completing the extra point. But the game was not over yet, with seconds left; the Monroe offense quickly ran down the field and scored off of a one-yard pass to claim the battle 33-27. 

The Mustangs take a 2-2 record into their home game against Covington High School at 2 o’clock today..