The Meridian Mustangs showcased their dominance on both sides of the ball in a commanding 56-22 victory over the Fauquier Falcons on Friday, Nov. 8. Leading 28-6 at halftime, the Mustangs never let up, finishing the game with an impressive offensive explosion and a defense that continuously shut down Fauquier’s attempts to gain momentum.
From the opening whistle, Meridian wasted no time in asserting their authority. The Mustangs struck quickly in the first quarter with a balanced offensive attack. They came out with their potent running game and ran the ball down the field for the touchdown. Quarterback Cruz Ruoff led the charge, orchestrating multiple scoring drives, while the Mustangs’ running backs, led by junior Oumar Thompson, powered through the Falcons’ defensive line for several big gains. Meridian scored four touchdowns in the first half alone.
Fauquier, on the other hand, struggled to find any rhythm in the first half. Despite a strong passing attack from Faquier’s quarterback and wide receivers, they were unable to finish multiple scoring opportunities.
By halftime, the Mustangs had already established a commanding 28-6 lead. Fauquier’s offense showed brief flashes of promise, but Meridian’s defense stifled any potential momentum. Fauquier’s lone touchdown in the first half came on their first drive of the game when they found the end zone from 63 yards out, but after that, it was clear that the Falcons had little room to breathe against the Mustangs’ relentless pressure.
The Mustangs came out in the second half with no intention of slowing down. Early in the third quarter, Meridian scored once more to make the game 35-28 to ice the game before it was over. Their rushing attack was never consistently contained, and the Mustangs ran down Faquier’s throats.
In the fourth quarter, Meridian tacked on three more touchdowns — two on the ground, and another through the air. The Mustangs’ offensive line dominated in the second half, giving Ruoff plenty of time in the pocket and opening up massive holes for Thompson to run through.
Coach Anderson was pleased with the win, saying it was “great to go out with a win, especially one like this.” The players were similarly pleased with the win,
“[It’s a] great feeling to blow someone out like that,” said sophomore offensive lineman Michael Mattoon. With the win, Meridian improves to 3-7 on the season and continues to build towards next year. The Mustangs will be looking to build on this dominant performance as they head into their next season.
Overall, it was a statement win for the Meridian Mustangs, who have now demonstrated they can dominate both offensively and defensively. If they continue this form, they’ll be a tough team to beat come next season.
