Mustangs Make IFL History!

Win back-to-back Ironman Football League Championship by defeating the Wauwatosa Spartans 17-14 in OT.

The Madison Mustangs became the first team in Ironman Football League history to win Back-to-Back Championships and go undefeated in both seasons; and also, perhaps, a part of the best Ironbowl in IFL history.

The Madison Mustangs have had a target on their backs the entire 2009 season, but none bigger then in these playoffs. The Mustangs narrowly beat rival the Muskego Hitmen in the NFC Championship and met their match in Ironbowl XIII against the Spartans. The Mustangs defeated the Spartans in week 2 55-19, but that was a long time ago and both teams are different now.

The Ironbowl, being played at the Wisconsin Dells Center, started very good for the Mustangs, after the Stangs D held on a Spartans 4th down attempt in Stangs territory, the Mustangs O scored on their opening drive of the game. A key 48 yard run by HB Kyle Brodd got it down inside the Spartan 5 with the drive capped off by a 4 yard reception by WR Reggie Davis from QB David Pietrowiak, 7-0. The Spartans responded well and continued to run the ball with HB’s Cedric McFadden and Bobby Windom behind their huge offensive line. However the Mustangs D held strong, bending but not breaking and ended the 1st quarter 7-0. In the 2nd quarter the Mustangs played very uncharacteristic football for them. Stangs QB David Pietrowiak threw 2 interceptions in Spartan territory, both by CB Troy Uebele, giving the Spartans O more opportunity to wear down the Mustangs D. But again the Mustangs D continued to hold the Spartans out of the end zone and the first half ended 7-0. The 3rd quarter started the same as the first half with the Mustangs making uncharacteristic mistakes. As the Stangs were driving HB Kyle Brodd coughed up the ball and it was recovered by Spartans CB Tony Salvage. Three plays later Spartans QB Tony Henner hooked up with WR Raymon Porchia on an 18 yard TD reception. However the extra point was missed, making the score 7-6 Mustangs. Damage was done and the Spartans confidence grew even more. On the next Spartans offensive possession they continued to wear down the Mustangs defense with the run. HB Bobby Windom took the ball inside the Mustangs 1 yard line. The next play Windom, over right side gets stood up by the Stangs D line and stripped by LB Kenny Schillo. After the ball was batted around, it bounced up perfectly into CB Jim Gordon’s hands and he was off to the races. 99 yards later he found the end zone, ending the 3rd quarter score at 14-7. The 4th quarter the Mustangs O continued to make mistakes and their D continued to tire. Another fumble, this time by HB George Randolph, gave the ball and momentum back to the Spartans. Side note: the Mustangs turned the ball over 4 times during the game, 3 times in Spartan territory. The Spartans took advantage of it. After a dropped interception by Stangs CB Will Smith and a long scramble by Spartans QB Henner on 3rd and long, the Spartans pounded the ball right over the Mustangs tired D and into the end zone, this time a 1 yard run by HB Windom. The Spartans went for a 2 point conversion, and Windom connects again, tying the score at 14-14 with less than 2 minutes left in the game. The Mustangs got the ball at the 36 yard line and 2 time outs. 3 plays later QB Petro connected with HB Brodd on a 55 yard pass for a TD, however, there was an offensive penalty negating the score. 2 sacks later the Mustangs ran out of time and it was on to overtime.

The Mustangs won the toss and took advantage of it. With new life Petro pushed the past aside and began to drive the Mustangs down the field. Nickel and diming the ball down the field and sprinkling in some “honest” runs, the Stangs O passes into Spartan territory. Key 3rd down scrambles by Petro and passes to WR’s Zak Gordon and Reggie Davis get the ball deep into Spartans territory. But the biggest 3rd down of the game was a completion by Petro, sliding to his left, and connecting with WR Mike Darden down to the Spartans 11 yard line. On first down Madison runs a simple QB Iso play to get the ball into the middle of the field for a 30 yard field goal attempt. Long snapper DJ Meyer, Holder Dave Hebgen, and Kicker Jason Epps executed what they had practiced a thousand times and Epps connected on the 30 yard field goal and winning the game 17-14. A wave of Black rushed the field and swarmed Epps. The Mustangs have survived arguably the greatest game ever played in IFL history and won their 24th game in a row.