Mustangs open district with tough test

NIXON — After two weeks of preparation, the Nixon-Smiley Mustangs are healthy and ready to take on their first District 15-3AD2 game of the season, an away bout against the Karnes City Badgers.

There have been similarities with this season and last season. The Mustangs have the same record as last year at this time, after suffering a tough loss to Falls City. Although many of the athletes who was on that team last season didn’t play much, the coaching staff hopes that they can use that experience to boost the football team and start the district off with a strong road win.

“Right now, it doesn’t matter what we did at the preseason,” Nixon-Smiley Head Coach Carlton McKinney said. “Everyone is 0-0. IF we can get off to a great start, we’re on the road, if you play well, it sets yourself up. Kids are in a good place right now.”

The Badgers’ offense will boast a big offensive line and a coaching staff that likes to run the ball.

“The coordinators do a really good job of scheming to get the advantage and use their size,” McKinney noted. “They’re going to be in spread most of the time, shotgun.”

McKinney stressed the importance of controlling the line of scrimmage, despite Karnes City’s size.

Defensively, the Badgers are sticking with their split defense, something the Mustangs have already seen before. With that in mind, the Mustangs are ready for what they’re calling a “smash-mouth football game.”

The biggest key for the Mustangs is to not blow assignments. Those big plays have been costly this season, whether it was a blocked punt, blown assignment in the secondary, or even an outside linebacker not picking up a back block. But if they can eliminate those mistakes, McKinney believes the team will always have a shot to be in the ball game at the end of the night.

The game tonight is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Karnes City.