The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

The 6-man football state tournament could still have a Hollywood ending this weekend.

It just won't feature the Big Sandy Pioneers.

The Pioneers' final scene in this year's production faded to black (and orange) on a windswept and muddy field Saturday in the heart of Garfield County.

The stars of the afternoon matinee were the host and East Division champion Jordan Mustangs (11-1) from the opening curtain to the final credits in a 55-25 win.

"They played great defense. They had a great plan, and they went through with it," said Big Sandy junior running back Kade Strutz, tipping his hat to a team that gang-tackled him much of the day. "They executed their game plan, and we didn't."

"They played a lot better. They worked for everything they got," added Pioneer junior quarterback/defensive back, Parker Proulx. "Honestly, they deserved it today."

Jordan looked sharper, played crisper, and showed they have matured as a team since their season-opening loss at Big Sandy by a 44-28 count.

"I think they were more prepared than we were," Strutz said. "They took that loss and took it to heart, and it gave them motivation for the season."

The Mustangs' defensive focus on slowing down Strutz became obvious on the opening drive when they stifled him on four consecutive carries that resulted in just 12 yards. Going for it on fourth down, even with poor field position, became the order of the day for both teams as the gusty wind did not lend itself to the kicking game. Neither team converted a 2-point kick after a touchdown all day.

Jordan went 2-for-4 on fourth-down conversions and 3-for-7 on third down. Big Sandy could not match that clutch performance, finishing 4-for-12 on third downs and 2-for-8 on fourth down.

"On defense, we would get two or three good stops and then (allow) one long play (for a) first down," Pioneers coach Larry Jappe said.

The Mustangs capitalized on their excellent field position and ran a sweep-right with Edward Murnion carrying the ball 22 yards to make it 6-0 and put Big Sandy behind for the first time in 402 minutes, 7 seconds of football in 2019.

Strutz, who finished with game-highs of 29 carries and 173 yards, responded with a 42-yard burst down the left sideline that set up his 7-yard plunge that evened the score. With 5:54 to go in the first quarter, it looked like it would be a shootout.

Jordan displayed what became an irritating knack for turning imperfect plays into improvised scores on its next possession. Despite a fumbled snap, quarterback Keenan Murnion recovered and blazed 55 yards for a 13-6 Mustang edge.

Their next possession finished with a 2-yard Edward Murnion dive into the end zone for a 19-6 lead. Edward Murnion finished with 11 carries for 52 yards, and a game-high 4 touchdown runs on the ground while adding 4 catches for 111 hashes and two TD catches.

He caught the first with just a hair over 3 minutes remaining in the half from 17 yards out. Big Sandy responded with a long-awaited sustained drive that alternated punishing runs from Strutz and Chris Burns before the change-up of Proulx delivering a 16-yard pass to Clint Darlington to put the ball at the Jordan 8-yard line. Burns capped it with an 8-yard run up the gut to make it 25-12 with 33 seconds left in the first half. The Pioneers then got their first defensive stop to provide a measure of momentum entering halftime.

The teams traded fruitless drives to open the second half before a third-town toss for 20 yards from Keenan Murnion to Derek Reis set up another 2-yard Edward Murnion rushing TD. Dawson Murnion got into the family affair with a 42-yard scoring catch that stretched the Mustangs' lead to 37-12.

Big Sandy showed signs of life with a drive that featured Burns' runs primarily and concluded with a gutsy 5-yard push over the goal line with a second effort that broke multiple tackles. Pioneer fans' optimism would be short-lived, though, as the fourth quarter opened with Edward Murnion's second TD catch-and-run. He covered 54 yards on the toss.

Four plays later, Jordan made the best of a rare Big Sandy fumble, and Edward Murnion went off-tackle for a 17-yard rushing TD.

Strutz found the end zone again on his longest run of the day, closing the gap to 49-25 with 7:04 to play.

Unfortunately, Big Sandy would not score again, and Jordan would. Cole Murnion became the fourth from his clan to reach the end zone on Keenan's 7-yard dart for the final 55-25 tally.

After the final whistle, Jappe struggled to explain the game, which had been such an anomaly in an otherwise outstanding Pioneers season.

"We just didn't ever seem to be able to get in rhythm today. Our blocking wasn't great. Nothing was working right," he said. "I just don't know why ... I always think we can do better. To get this close and lose it, it's disappointing."

Strutz felt the disappointment but also refused to let it color his perspective on the season as a whole.

"This is definitely the best (season) I've ever had," he said. "It's just a pleasure to play with these guys."

Proulx said there were moments of Saturday's game he will always want back.

"I dropped a few (potential) picks," he said. "We missed a few blocks ... but I hope that we can be proud of what we gave and not have any regrets."

Senior Clint Darlington (8) jumps high for a pass from Junior Parker Proulx.

He and Strutz will return next year and look forward to making another playoff run.

"It's going to be a whole new team," Proulx said. "We lose some great seniors, but I think some young guys are coming up who are very good. I'm excited for Big Sandy football."

There is no guarantee for a rematch in 2020 on Jordan's field, despite the Mustangs' regular-season non-conference visit this year to Big Sandy. Yet if it can be arranged, next year's seniors want it.

"I would love the opportunity," Strutz said. "Love it."

Big Sandy finishes the 2019 season with a 10-1 record and a North Division crown.

Jordan can complete its get-even mission with a victory at home against defending state champion Wibaux (9-2) in a rematch of last season's championship game.