The Sussex County Mustangs of the Junior Diamond Football League were gifted their second win of the season, and it wasn’t because of anything that transpired on the field. The Baltimore County Buckeyes forfeited the game to the Mustangs because they were unable to make the trip Selbyville the morning of Feb. 24.
The win helps the Mustangs (2-2) in the standings, where the team is currently in a three-way tie for third place with the Kent County Cobras and 49ers. But, with their offense struggling, Mustangs head coach Jerry Kraft had wanted his team to get some more game-time repetitions.
They only play six games in the regular season and practice twice each week, so now the Mustangs find themselves in a do-or-die situation if they want to make the Junior DFL playoffs starting March 17.
“We needed this game, Kraft said.
“We spent the past two practices preparing for the Buckeyes, and not playing is good for injuries — but right now we’re in a position where it does more harm than good,” he added.
The Mustangs will play the first place Cecil County Saints (3-1) Saturday, March 3, at 6:30 p.m., in what Kraft called their “biggest game of the year.”
“We need to win to assure ourselves of a playoff spot,” he explained. “If we win out, we have a chance at the No. 1 seed. But if we split, there are no guarantees.”
The Mustangs will close the regular season out with a home game against the second-place Norfolk Chiefs.
“We control our own destiny by winning football games,” Kraft said.