MUSTANGS RIDE AGAIN | Overton blasts Maud, 49-22

Overton now looks like the team that many were expecting them to be when the season began: an experienced, overpowering, destructive defense, and a not-as-experienced but talented offense that – under the guidance of coach Scotty Laymance – is going to outduel just about everyone they face.

In short – look out, district schedule.

The Mustangs finished up their non-district schedule on Thursday night in, of all places, Maud. But that overpowering defense did just that and the offense has gotten better. Ask Maud, who dropped a 49-22 game at home to Overton.

Rylan Holleman, an outstanding athlete, is now the starting quarterback, and there are some (in opposing teams’ uniforms) that likely wish he wasn’t.

Holleman went 14-of-18 for 137 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. His two touchdown passes were to Ivan Ransom and to Jacob Osburn. Ransom had four catches for 27 yards and the touchdown, and Osburn, 20 for 33 and a score.

Justin Weir had four catches for 44 yards; Brody Brown one for 24; Gabe Miller one for 5 and Kason Hawkins one for 4.

And the ground game? Hollman was a standout: 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 10 carries, averaging 13 yards a carry.

Gabe Miller had 75 yards and also ran for two touchdowns on 10 carries, as well, and Weir had 28 yards and a TD on five carries. Hunter Klima got into the act with five carries for 22 yards, and Jackson Furlow and Jorge Espinosa had three each – Furlow for 29 yards and Espinosa for 9.

Defensively, Weir had an interception return for 20 yards, a fumble recovery, and led the way with nine tackles, one for loss. Espinosa, Miller, Gunnar Whitfield and Colton Stinecipher all each had a tackle for loss, as well, and Whitfield had a sack.

Next Friday night, Overton – who has outscored its opponents 135-39, hosts Grapeland at Coach Chester Roy Stadium, a 7 p.m. kickoff. And that’s not just the district opener for both schools – it’s the third meeting since last September. Overton defeated Grapeland in Grapeland last regular season, and the Grapeland was the team that beat Overton in the third round of the UIL Class 2A, Division II playoffs.