Local Sports Journal

The Muskegon Mustangs used a balanced ground and air attack in their 55-0 win over Traverse City on Saturday. Muskegon tallied 288 yards on the ground and 270 in the air.

Opening up it’s offense early on is what Muskegon has done all season, and the Mustangs did it again with 34 first-half points. Twenty-one more  points came in the third and the game was out of hand.

Eric James started out Muskegon scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run. James finished with a pair of TD runs and had 61 total yards rushing.

Quarterback Aaron James continued his consistency throwing three TD-passes and finished with 250 yards on 12-of-21 passing.

Muskegon defense has had several shutouts this season and Kajuantae Pennington led with a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown that put the Mustangs up 14-0 in the first quarter.

John Ross led Muskegon receivers with a pair of touchdown receptions and had 147 yards. The first score for Ross was a 25-yard pass from James just before halftime. Ross made his second TD catch on a 48-yard pass from James early in the third quarter.

Maurice Sherrill had a strong ground game with 61 total yards and broke free for a 38-yard touch down run.

Also leading Muskegon’s ground attack was Rodney Anderson who had a 20-yard TD run and finished with 61 yards.

Anthony Crump had a 3-yard touchdown catch for the Mustangs.

Penetrating Traverse City’s offensive line was another key for the Mustangs getting seven sacks as a team.

Karey Morrow-Bey had a pair of sacks and finished with seven tackles. Hollsey James, Stephon Betts, Crump and William Bettens each had sacks for Muskegon. Kim Brown and Doug Woods combined for a sack as well.

The Mustangs head into the playoffs next week Saturday Aug. 17 and host their first-round matchup at Oakridge High School at 7 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

Traverse City 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 0
Muskegon 14 – 20 – 21 – 0 — 55

M – Eric James, 3 run (Jose Diaz kick)
M – Kajuantae Pennington 95 int. return (Diaz kick)
M – Anthony Crump 3 pass from Aaron Jame (Diaz kick)
M – Eric James 3 run (Diaz kick)
M – John Ross 25 pass from James (run fail)
M – Ross 48 pass from James (Diaz kick)
M – Maurice Sherrill 38 run (Diaz kick)
M – Rodney Anderson 20 run (Diaz kick)