The Allen Mustangs overcame some hurdles in Friday night’s game against Mounds to get their third win in a row this season.

The district game, played at Mounds, was tied going into the fourth quarter, but the Mustangs came up big for the win by a score of 43-35.

“We started off pretty strong in the first half, offensively,” Head Coach Rob Green said, “and then, the last couple of series, we kept shooting ourselves in the foot.

But then we came back out after the half, and offensively, we pretty much dominated the game.”

Green said there were some defensive issues which the team will be working on in practice this week.

“Defensively, we kept playing hard, but we kept letting them go over the top of us,” Green said. “That’s something that we addressed Saturday with the kids. I said, ‘We put too much work into it to give them cheap scores like that.’”

Green said Allen ran the ball well.

“Brayden Tatum had close to 200 yards rushing, and Garrett had about 70, and we threw the ball efficiently also,” he said. “I think we were 11 out of 15 for about 170 yards, so I think we had about 470 yards of total offense.”

First Half

Allen scored early in the first quarter after senior Rodey Arnold recovered a Mounds fumble on the Mustangs’ 42 yard line to begin a drive.

Allen then drove down the field and into the red zone when freshman Brayden Tatum ran the ball in from 14 yards out. The two-point conversion attempt failed, however, making the score 6-0 Allen.

And that would be the only score for Allen in the first half. However, Mounds went on to score twice in the first period.

After the Mustangs turned the ball over on downs at the Golden Eagles’ 15 yard line with about three minutes left in the quarter, Mounds drove the field with a combination of rushing and passing, and eventually scored on a seven-yard rush. It was 7-6, Mounds, after a successful PAT kick.

Afterward, the Golden Eagles recovered an onside kick at Allen’s 42 yard line. Mounds scored on a 42 yard pass play, then kicked the PAT to make it 14-6, Golden Eagles.

And Allen remained in the hole for the rest of the half, and there was no scoring in the second quarter.

Third Quarter

The Mustangs received the ball to begin the third, then rushed and passed their way down the field, eventually scoring on a four-yard rushing TD by Brayden Tatum, who also rushed in for the two-point conversion to knot the score at 14.

Later, with a few minutes left in the third, the Mustangs drove the field from their own 31 yard line and scored on a 22- yard pass from freshman quarterback Garrett Nix to senior Chad Milne. Senior Clayton Shackelford kicked the PAT to make it 21- 14, Allen.

But Mounds responded with just under a minute left in the third with a touchdown and PAT kick to knot the score at 21 to set up a 36-point scorefest in the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Despite the scoring in the fourth quarter, Allen dominated offensively.

The Mustangs scored quickly in the period on a 16-yard rushing TD by junior Shawn Husband. However, the PAT was unsuccessful, making the score 27-21, Allen.

Mounds didn’t go far on the ensuing drive and was forced to punt. The Mustangs made

The Mustangs made short work of the next drive and scored on a rushing TD by Garrett Nix. Nix then passed the ball to Husband for the two-point conversion to make it 35-21, Allen.

The Golden Eagles’ next possession didn’t last long, and they turned the ball over on downs.

From the Mounds 29 yard line, Brayden Tatum rushed in for a touchdown. A pass from Nix to Milne secured a two-point conversion, to go up 43- 21, Allen.

The score essentially put the game out of reach for the Golden Eagles, but they continued to try. With just under five minutes to play, Mounds scored on a pass play, then recovered an onside kick.

The Golden Eagles quickly scored again on a 48-yard rush, then were successful on a two-point conversion to make the final score 43-35, Allen.

Mounds did try for another onside kick, but Shawn Husband recovered the ball, and the Mustangs kept possession until the clock ran out.

The Mustangs (3- 1/1-0) are scheduled to host Okemah (2-1/0-0) Friday for their second district game. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Game Statistics The Mustangs had 302 rushing yards, and 165 passing yards for 467 yards of total offense.

Offense Rushing

Brayden Tatum carried the ball 27 times for 197 yards, three touchdowns and one two-point conversion.

Garrett Nix kept the ball 18 times for 72 Yards and one touchdown, and Shawn Husband rushed three times for 27 yards and a touchdown.

Passing

Garrett Nix completed 11 of 15 passes for 165 yards, one touchdown, two two-point conversions and had one interception.

Receiving

Chad Milne had five receptions for 77 yards, one touchdown and one two-point conversion; Coyt Bell caught the ball twice for 36 yards; Brayden Tatum had two receptions for 30 yards; Quinton Walker had one catch for nine yards; and Shawn Husband had one reception for three yards and a two-point conversion.

Special Teams

Garrett Nix punted the ball four times for 140 yards for an average of 35 yards.

Defense

Caden Howard made three solo tackles and had six assists, Brayden Tatum had three tackles and five assists, and Quinton Walker had three tackles and two assists.

Other players with tackles and assists were, Shawn Husband, 2-5; Tagus Howard, 2-3; Davyn Wilson, 1-6; Gage Husband, 1-5; Coyt Bell, 1-3; Ethan Roniss, 1-1; Garrett Nix, 1-0; Emmett Koonce, 1-0; Will Kaminski, 1-0; Brayden Tatum, 0-1; and Quinn Corum, 0-1.

Standout Plays

Garrett Nix, Shawn Husband and Gage Husband each forced a fumble; Rodey Arnold recovered a fumble; and Brayden Tatum and Tagus Howard each made a tackle for loss.