Box Score
May 17th, 2003 Idaho Falls Mustangs vs. Helena Titans

IDAHO FALLS 55 HELENA 10

HELENA - After a slow start, the Idaho Falls Mustangs rolled the Helena Titans for a convincing 55-10 victory in Helena, Montana. The Mustang victory ensured the Mustangs either a 4th or 5th seed in the upcoming RMFL playoffs and mathematically eliminated the Titans, who started the game strong with the initial touchdown drive of the game, but ended badly with an injured player and an ejection, from 2003 RMFL playoff contention. The Mustangs, the reigning RMFL champion, now must wait until the conclusion of the Mini-Cassia/Boise and the Pocatello/Salt Lake games on May 31st to determine if they will be home on June 7th or away. The Titans, who last year upset the Mini-Cassia Bulldawgs in the first round of the playoffs on a Bryan Hilborn field goal in overtime, came 6 points short of playing the Mustangs in the RMFL championship, falling 23-17 to the Pocatello Silverbacks in the semi-finals.

The Mustangs racked up over 600 total net yards and 7 rushing touchdowns on the day, 2 from Jake Scouten (10 carries, 131 yards), 2 from Russell Cummins (9 carries, 115 yards) and 3 from quarterback, Cody Jackson (6 carries, 55 yards) as the Mustang offense riddled the Helena defense with big gains. The Mustangs averaged more than 9 yards on first down plays in the game. Mustang star receiver, Sean Powell went over 100 yards receiving on the day, including the only passing score for the Mustangs. Defensively, the Mustangs got better as the game wore on. Playing without star defensive players, Ron Childs and Donell McNeil, Idaho Falls gave up a long opening drive march by the Titans before clamping down the rest of the way. Defensive stars included, Rayce Bird (7 tackles), Scott Worthington (5 tackles), Ron Holyhoak (4 tackles) and Cody Hudson (3-1/2 tackles, 1 sack).

The Titans got a solid performance from tailback, Donny Kaneshiro, who scored the Titans only touchdown, capping their first drive with a 26-yard touchdown run, putting the Titans ahead 7-0. Even after the ensuing Mustang drive resulted in a Jake Scouten touchdown run, the Titans still lead 7-6. But the lead and hopes in the game became short-lived, as the Titans just didn't have an answer for almost everything the Mustangs threw at them offensively. Titan place-kicker, Bryan Hilborn connected on an RMFL record-tying 51-yard field goal in the second quarter and attempted a 50-yarder later in the game that was blocked. All-purpose athlete, Shane Jurasek ended up with a "triple-threat" game for the first time in the season. Jurasek rushed for 36 yard, passed for 72 yards and caught back-up quarterback, Lucas Anderson's only completion for another 31-yards. Spencer Steiner lead the Titan defense with 7-1/2 tackles.

The end of the game was marred with some controversy, however. As the Mustangs attempted their final extra point kick of the game, kick-snapper, Steve Burch became embattled with Justin and Travis Lamb of the Titans. Although Travis Lamb suffered a rib injury on the play, he picked up the only personal foul called on the play and was ejected from the game. Allegations that Travis Lamb was "kicked" by Burch flew around the Titan sidelines. Burch denies any kicking and states that he was "crashed" by the Lamb brothers (which is illegal by NCAA rules to "crash the center" in long-snapping situations; punts and conversion/field goal attempts). Burch suggests that Lamb was likely hit in the ribs by the Mustang guard covering the gap. The league has been asked by the Titans to review film on the situation as an appeal to waive further suspension for Travis Lamb who was ejected after the melee and for any potential league action towards Burch for what the Titans feel might be flagrant attempt to injure a player. Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, who was at the game did not see what happened, "I didn't see it. It all happened pretty fast and most of us were just watching the ball sail. Then you look back down and there is an altercation that the officials are sorting out. It's too bad. All the players involved have exuded class and sportsmanship in every game. I think emotions just run high when there is a pointless injury. The game was over at that point."

Idaho Falls

Helena

Scoring Summary:

First Quarter:

Helena: Kaneshiro 26-yard run (Hilborn kick) 5:18
Idaho Falls: Scouten 16-yard run (kick failed) 1:17

Second Quarter:

Idaho Falls: Scouten 29-yard run (Powell from Jackson) 9:52
Idaho Falls: Cummins 20-yard run (Waetje kick) 5:19
Helena: Hilborn 51-yard field goal 2:53
Idaho Falls: Powell 48-yard pass from Jackson (Waetje kick) 1:45

Third Quarter:

Idaho Falls: Jackson 2-yard run (Waetje kick) 7:04
Idaho Falls: Jackson 12-yard run (kick failed) 3:40

Fourth Quarter:

Idaho Falls: Cummins 15-yard run (Waetje kick) 11:49
Idaho Falls: Jackson 3-yard run (Waetje kick) 1:54

	Idaho Falls	Helena
First Downs	22	9
Rushes, Yards	30-336	27-150
Passes	21-30-0	5-19-2
Passing Yards	322	103
Sacked-Yds Lost	1-10	5-35
Total Net Yards	648	218
Punts, Average	0-0.0	4-36.3
Penalties, Yards	10-120	6-55
Fumbles, Lost	2-1	2-1

Individual Statistics:

Rushing: Idaho Falls - Scouten 10-131, Cummins 9-115, Jackson 6-55, S.Brown 5-35. Helena - Kaneshiro 10-73, Jurasek 4-36, Kendall 6-22, Huggins 5-15, Burch 2-4.

Passing: Idaho Falls - Jackson 21-30-0-322-1. Helena - Jurasek 5-15-1-72-0, L.Anderson 1-4-1-31-0.

Receiving: Idaho Falls - Powell 7-128, Scouten 5-64, Cummins 4-59, Spencer 2-29, S.Brown 2-26, Cook 1-16. Helena - Jurasek 1-31, Kaneshiro 1-15, L.Anderson 1-13, Stocker 1-13, McNellis 1-0.

Tackles: Idaho Falls - Bird 7, Worthington 5, Holyhoak 4, Hudson 3.5 (1 sack), Brasier 3 (blocked field goal), Jensen 2.5 (1 sack), Chacon 2.5, Richardson 2.5, Westbrook 2.5, S.Brown 2, Powell 2, Perez 2 (1 sack), Cook 2, Parkinson 2 (1 sack), Cummins 1.5, Hamilton 1.5, Moody 1.5 (1 sack), Burch 1. Helena - Steiner 7.5, Moe 6, Sanford 4, Herman 3.5, J.Lamb 3 (1 sack), Cannon 3, Huggins 2.5, T.Lamb 2.5, L.Lamb 2.5, Kimball 2, L.Anderson 1.5, Price 1, Kaneshiro 1, Hilborn 1, Dupler 1, Carpenter 1, Songer 1/2, Keleti 1/2, Strizich 1/2, Kendall 1/2.

Interceptions: Idaho Falls - Chacon, Richardson. Helena - None.

Missed Field Goals: Helena - Hilborn 50-yards (blocked).