Area Roundup: Mustangs’ heavyweights rally to complete perfect season
Submitted reports December 10, 2012 8:44PM
Updated: January 12, 2013 6:04AM
The New Lenox Mustangs have sported an outstanding youth football program for the past 48 years, but this season’s heavyweight team was special.
The 2012 Mustangs became the first team in program history to finish a season undefeated on the heavyweight level when they rallied from a 22-8 deficit after three quarters to beat the Tamiami (Fla.) Colts 40-22 in the National 14U Youth Football championship game over Thanksgiving weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The Mustangs trailed 14-8 at halftime and fell another touchdown behind after three quarters before outscoring the Colts 32-0 in the fourth quarter to complete an 18-0 season.
The Mustangs beat the Chicago Blitz 42-12 in the semifinals.
The Mustangs also were conference champions, knocking off the Orland Park Pioneers 32-8 in the title game.
College volleyball
USF honors: After leading University of St. Francis to its most successful season in a decade, seniors Ashley Richards (Wilmington), Jazzmyne Robbins and Dana Wettergren and freshman Megan Mowery received American Volleyball Coaches Association Mideast Region accolades.
Richards and Robbins were selected to the AVCA All-Mideast Region first team, while Wettergren garnered honorable mention recognition. Mowery was tabbed as the Mideast Region Freshman of the Year.
Richards, the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Setter of the Year, had 1,658 assists. That figure ranked fourth in the NAIA. In addition to her setting numbers, she had 178 kills (29 percent), 53 service aces, 286 digs and 35 blocks.
St. Francis (37-8) won the CCAC regular-season and tournament titles to earn its first NAIA postseason berth since 2002. The Saints upset No. 16 Doane 3-2 in the NAIA opening round before being eliminated from the national championship in pool play. The Saints’ 37 victories were the program’s most since 1994 (40-6).
