McARTHUR DELIVERS 29-0 PAYCHECK TO ST. THOMAS
St. Thomas 0, McArthur 29
FORT LAUDERDALE -- McArthur had something to prove Friday night at St. Thomas, and they played like it.
From the time they stepped off the bus the Mustangs played angry, intent on avenging a controversial 14-12 loss to St. Thomas a year ago.
The Mustangs did what they came do to, scoring an emphatic 29-0 victory over the Raiders before a capacity crowd of more than 5,000. Ron Lambert scored three touchdowns and Errict Rhett rushed for 164 yards on 17 carries to lead the Mustangs, who started the season with a 2-0 record for the first time since 1967.
St. Thomas, ranked 10th in the state 4A poll, dropped to 1-1.
“This was payback,” said Rhett, who pushed his season rushing total to 353 yards. “The refs took it from us last year.”
The Mustangs scored an apparent winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter of last year’s game only to have it nullified by an erroneous penalty call. The referee who made the call admitted after the game the penalty was a mistake.
“You take something from us and you get payback,” said Lambert, who ran for three touchdowns and caught another. “We showed we can play with anybody in the county. We’re just starting.”
The Mustangs recorded the shutout despite missing defensive coordinator Tom Sergeant whose mother died Thursday in Ohio.
“The kids dedicated the game to him,” said Mustangs coach Roger Mastrantonio, whom was given a victory ride by his players. “The players on defense did most of the work tonight.”
The dominance was complete throughout as McArthur outgained St. Thomas 383 to 195, and took advantage of six St. Thomas turnovers.
The Mustangs were so emotional at the start of the game, they committed a motion penalty on the first play. From their 15, McArthur took 6 plays to go 85 yards and take a 7-0 lead with 8:56 left in the first quarter.
The drive was capped by Lambert’s run from 16 yards on a perfectly executed option play by quarterback Elton Green. A 39-yard run by Rhett and a facemask penalty against the Raiders keyed the drive. Todd Stricklin’s point after made it 7-0.
St. Thomas had its best chance of the half stopped at the McArthur 11, when safety Reggie Cook intercepted a Bobby Lawson pass at the goal line and returned it to the 6.
The Mustangs proceeded to go on a 94-yard, 10-play drive capped by a Lambert touchdown run from the 3.
Sun-Sentinel, September 17, 1988
