Mustangs Defeat The Camels 14-7 and Move On To The State Championship

The Natrona County Mustangs traveled to Gillete to face the Camels in one of the two state 4A semi final football playoff games Friday night.

Both teams came into the game with a great deal of respect for one another.  The Camels had handed the Mustangs one of their three overtime losses during the regular season and the Mustangs had beaten the Camels in last year's state championship game.

Both teams came out a bit conservative on offense and it was a turnover with less than a minute to go in the first half that would open the door for a big play from NC to break the scoreless tie.  NC QB Sam Taylor dropped back to pass and would connect with WR Josh Seghetti down the sideline for a 75 yd TD and NC would lead 7-0 at the half.

In the second half, the Mustangs regained their momentum at the end of quarter number 3 and would march down the field to the Camel 1 yard line. On the first play of the 4th quarter, RB Brad Gillis would dive in to extend the lead for the Mustangs to 14-0.

That second TD sparked the Camels who rallied for a quick touchdown and with just over 6 minutes left in the game, Gillette trailed NC by only 7 points, 14 - 7.  NC and Gillette would both trade possessions and Gillette got the ball one final time with under 2 minutes to go in the game.  The camels drove the field, working passes down the sideline and using all three timeouts.  Will time running out, the camels had the ball inside the 10 yd line only to have an illegal motion penalty move them back to the 11.  After an incomplete pass, 26 seconds on the clock, Gillette was faced with a 4th and goal from the 11.  A quick pass from QB Fort intended for WR Nelson would fall incomplete.

The Natrona County Mustangs celebrated as the clock ran out and now the Mustangs will get an opportunity to repeat as state champions if they can beat the only other team who defeated them during the regular season - the Cheyenne East Thunderbirds.

NC heads to the state championship game in Laramie at War Memorial stadium next Saturday.