In a game marred by injuries and delay, the home crowd sensed upset early in the contest.

The Houston Mustangs and their heralded ground attack came into the game as the #2 ranked team in the state. However, the Dragons started the game determined to stop the powerful Mustangs.

The Mustangs won the toss and received the opening kick-off, but went three and out on the first possession as the Dragon defense stifled the running game and forced Houston to punt. However, the Dragons couldn't get a first down either and were forced to punt. The Mustangs returned Sr. Robbie Seahorn's punt back to the 50 yard line giving the first good field position of the night.

Houston drove to the Dragon 28 when play was halted the first time due to a severe injury to Houston's Ryan Matthews. Play was stopped for 30 minutes while Matthews was taken to the waiting ambulance.

When play was resumed, Abe Felix took the ball over the left side for a 28 yard TD with 6:30 remaining in the 1st quarter. The PAT was blocked by Jr. Taylor Brashear, leaving Houston with a
6 - 0 lead.

The Dragons started the second their possession of the night at their 20 and promptly drove to the Mustangs 27. The drive highlighted by a 30 yard pass from Sr. QB Josh Smith to So. Brian Hall, was delayed at that point with the second injury to a Houston player Andrew Wilson. The officials sent both teams to the locker rooms while another ambulance was summoned.

After a 45 minute delay, the Dragons resumed their drive with a 27 yard touchdown pass from Smith to Sr. Rogers Thweat. After C.J. Passmore's PAT, the Dragons led 7 - 6 with 2:40 remaining in the 1st quarter. The Dragon faithful sensed an upset.

The Mustangs had other plans and struck quickly on a 57 yard touchdown pass from Harte to Jordan. The 2 point conversion was good with 1:41 left in the 1st Qtr leaving the Dragons down 14 - 7. The Dragons took the ball from their 20 yard line to their 44 highlighted by a Sr. James Smith (4/30yds) 20 yard scamper by forcing another punt.

From their own 30, Felix breaks through the line seemingly for another score only to be caught from behind at the 10 by Jr. Todd Madison. The Dragon defense, led by Hall (12 tackles), Sr. Jake Storz (11 tackles), Sr. Chris Hudson (7 tackles) held the Mustangs on 3 plays highlighted by Hudson's tackle of Felix behind the line of scrimmage forcing a field goal attempt which was blocked by Brashear. The Dragons took over at the 20, but were not able to move the ball. The Mustangs then scored their 3rd TD of the half with only :35 left for a halftime lead of 21 - 7.

The Dragons took the second half kick-off and started at their 26. They were able to mount an impressive drive down to the Mustang 6 yard line. Josh Smith (12/18/164yds) completed passes on the drive to Hall (3/83yds), Thweat (5/50yds), Brashear (1/6yds), Jr. Jon Scruggs (1/6yds), and Sr. Kent DeVinney (1/9 yds).

On 4th and 1 from the 6, the Dragons were called for illegal procedure, with the resulting 4th down play failing. Houston then drove 90 yards and scored on a 16 yard run to take a 28 - 7 lead. The next possession saw the Dragons drive from their 24 yard line down to the Mustang 10 with the help of a pass interference call where Josh Smith scampers in for the score with 8:32 left in the game.

The rest was all Houston, with the Mustangs scoring their final TD with 6:03 remaining.

The Dragons travel to historic Crump Stadium this Friday to face Hamilton in a game with play-off implications.

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2001 Houston Game