Hi Mustangs: This is an update to keep you informed of the progress of the 2005 Mustang football team.
Following the walloping they gave the Eagles from Washington High and the reclamation of the coveted Bell, your Mustangs dropped a close game to a very talented Lowell team to end the regular season. BUT, there's good news also. Today the Mustangs defeated Lowell in a hard fought, down and dirty playoff game at Kezar Stadium by the score of 24-22. They will play Balboa for the City championship in the Turkey Day Classic, Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24, 11 AM at Kezar stadium.
The 2005 Mustangs need your support at that game. Those of you who had such a great time at the Bell Game can show your continued support by showing up at Kezar Stadium and cheering them on to victory.
Make this a Thanksgiving Day you will remember forever. Do something different, do something hundreds of alumni will be doing, do something you might never have another chance to do; go to Kezar Stadium on Thanksgiving Day and root for your Mustangs.
Lincoln RB atones for fumble with winning TD
Rusty Simmons, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, November 18, 2005
Lincoln tailback David Henderson knelt in disbelief at his own 36-yard line, lamenting the thought of handing the San Francisco Section semifinal game to Lowell with a fourth-quarter fumble.
"I was saying to myself, 'How could you have done that,' " Henderson said. "I thought I had cost us the game."
Lowell did convert the fumble into a go-ahead touchdown Thursday at Kezar Stadium, but one series later, Henderson made sure he wasn't the goat. He ran 66 yards for a touchdown to give Lincoln a 24-22 win over the defending section champions.
Lincoln now plays top-seed Balboa in next week's Turkey Day Game at Kezar.
"He's as resilient as they come," Lincoln coach Phil Ferrigno said. "We knew he'd come back and make a play."
It took one more big play from Lincoln to secure the win. Lowell drove to the 10-yard line in the closing seconds, but was forced into a 4th-and-goal situation after a holding call. Lowell coach Danny Chan opted for a game-winning field-goal attempt from 29 yards with 17 seconds remaining, but the kick barely got off the ground.
"We don't pride ourselves (on the kicking game)," Chan said. "We'd rather run it in."
It was fitting that Lowell, which almost always goes for 2-point conversions, had to kick for the win. The teams appeared to be completely different than the ones that matched up six days ago in the regular-season finale when Lowell (8-3) beat Lincoln 30-19.
"I'd like to say I saw a renewed effort out of Lincoln," Chan said. "Unfortunately, though, there were a lot of plays we weren't focused on, too."
Lowell, which is known for running on nearly every play, threw a pass on the first play of the game. Carter Rockwell gave Lowell a 14-12 lead on just his second touchdown pass of the year, an 11-yard scoring strike to Phil Stern as time expired in the first half.
Lincoln (6-4) also managed to make big plays against Lowell's defense, which didn't allow many on its way to the earning the co-championship in the regular season. Henderson, who ran 20 times for 197 yards, broke off two 60-yard scoring runs in the second half.
"It shouldn't come down to one or two plays," Chan said, "and when we look back on this, we'll realize we made mistakes the whole game."
Playing with an increased energy level, Lincoln took advantage to gain a chance at its first San Francisco Section title since 1979.
"We looked at a lot of film from last week, but when you play this type of offense, it's all about desire," Ferrigno said. "Our guys showed that."
Lincoln's last regular-season title was in 1987, and it hasn't been in the Turkey Day Game since 1991.
"Some of the pressure's off now," Ferrigno said. "All week, people have been calling and saying they want to come to Turkey Day."