The Collegian

Issue date: 9/16/05 Section: Sports

After spending a week picking up the pieces following an opening season loss to Modesto, the Mustangs grounded the Siskiyous Eagles in a 17-14 win that was supermodel pretty in the final score only.

Due to the tight score that was maintained throughout, Delta's home opener held a consistent air of tension. But with both offenses going through long stretches where they sputtered worse than a car in a Meineke commercial, the game at times resembled an orphan that nobody wanted.

Delta quarterback Abel Werner, who took a bulk of the snaps, spent the day manufacturing yards and points by scrambling across the field. His pronounced limp after the game was a testament to his rough day at the office.

Said Warner, "Protection broke down and there were misreads by receivers, so I just tried to make plays. Their defense was well coached; they used different stunts, blitzes, and overall did a great job of disguising their schemes to stop our passing game. I took the hits, but I'll do whatever it takes to win."

The 2005 Delta Mustang model might have been established by the Eagles three-and-out drive late in the fourth quarter with the Mustangs clinging to a 10-7 lead.

"We knew that they like to run a lot of zones and traps," said DL Steve Dunnigan, "and since they don't pass very much, we knew we had to stop the run. That was obviously a key drive. I'm sure our offense will pick up, and if we can continue to hold up our end we will be bowl contenders again this year."

"Our defense is a unique combination of size and explosiveness. They have an ability to change directions and play with a high motor," said head coach Gary Barlow.

Lionel Scott's 26-yard scamper into the end zone with two minutes and change left seemed to be the game's exclamation point, giving Delta a seemingly comfortable 17-7 lead, but a quick Siskiyous 80-yard pass play rebuttal, and a successful onside kick contributed to the nail biting at Di Ricco Field with seconds left.

A fumble recovery on the last drive of the game by Leandrew Jenkins put an end to the late fourth quarter free-for-all.

Coach Barlow copped to the adjustment period, as Delta's high-octane offense of a year ago has so far been replaced by a grind-it-out style defined by defensive intensity. After the first two games the 2005 Mustangs have given up less than half the number of points as last year's squad.

"Our offense is not producing at the level it is capable of, and our defense had some lapses late in the game, but we are going to learn from our mistakes. We are not at all satisfied with this victory said

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