The Cutters scored on their first two possessions of the ball game to take an early 14-0 lead.  After punting the ball twice, the Mustangs brought in their veteran quarterback, Mike Whitaker, who was hurt in last week’s semi-final game against the Warriors.  The Cutters led at halftime 22-10. 

The Mustangs came alive in the third quarter and scored four touchdowns while missing only one PAT.   

Midway through the fourth quarter the Mustangs led 37-28.  A Cutters drive stalled at the 20 yard-line and Cutters kicker, Jeff Westell, hit a 37 yard field goal to make it 37-31. 

The Mustangs recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but the Cutters defense forced a punt.  On the first offensive play, Cutters quarterback Aaron White was intercepted by the Mustang cornerback.   

On first down the Cutters dropped the Mustang running back for a loss on first down and called time-out to preserve time on the clock.  Again, the Mustangs put the ball into the hands of their quarterback who was unable to complete a pass for the first down.  The Cutters took over with 2:04 left in the game. 

The Cutters offense moved the ball and made a first down but bogged down near the 50-yard line.  On 4^th and 1, the Cutters looked like they would hand the ball to Izzy Thompson for a first down.  Instead, quarterback Aaron White threw a deep pass with  

the wind over the middle to Jahkeen Gilmore at the 5-yard line.  The Mustangs’ safety got there too early and was called for pass interference giving the ball to the Cutters first and goal.  With 19.6 seconds left in the game, Thompson punched the ball in for a touchdown to tie the score at 37.  Westell’s PAT was good and gave the Cutters the lead 38-37.   

Westell’s kickoff sailed through the end zone.  The Mustangs took the ball at their own 20-yard line and completed two short passes.  With 3.4 seconds left in the game, defensive tackle Heath Johnson broke through the line and sacked the Mustang quarterback to end the game and secure the victory. 

The Cutters bench erupted onto the field and piled on top of Johnson. 

“This was a total team victory,” said Cutters head coach, Brent Slinkard.  “We needed every aspect of our game to win the championship,” he continued.  “When the defense had to stop the Mustangs, they did it.  When the offense had to score, they did it.  And when the special teams had to make a play, they came through.” 

The comeback victory in Interstate Bowl V was particularly sweet for the Cutters.  Their comebacks this year and last all fell short.  In the semi-final game last year, their winning drive stalled at the two-yard line as time expired.  They lost to eventual MFL champions, the Adams County Patriots. 

In July of this year the Cutters were down 20-14 to the Mustangs late in the fourth quarter.  With three seconds left White threw a 12-yard slant pass to Gilmore at the goal line but the ball fell short as time expired.