Heading into the regular season, Mustang head football coach Randy Qual said that Mora has always taken pride in playing tough defense, but they would have to score early and often if they were going to contend in the West Central Conference. On Thursday night in Long Prairie, Mora did just that, as the Mustang defense set the tone early and the offense kept scoring.

Mora ran its way to a 49-0 season opening win against the Long Prairie-Grey Eagle Thunder.

After the opening drives for both teams stalled, Mora wasted no time in scoring on their second possession of the game. Tyler Jones, a junior tailback, scampered 71 yards for touchdown and after the two-point conversion was run in by senior quarterback Nick Bliss, the Mustangs led 8-0.

Dylan Graves halted the next Thunder drive with a nice interception at the Mustangs own 34-yard line. Mora then used more of a workmen-like drive as they scored again using seven plays to cover 66 yards. Nick Bliss finished the drive with a quarterback sneak. The two-point conversion was no good and the score was 14-0 Mustangs.

After forcing another Thunder punt, Mora took over possession and was driving for another score as the first quarter came to an end. Just 17 seconds into the second, senior receiver Jordan Johnson took a reverse and burned by the defenders for a 27-yard touchdown run. The two-point fell incomplete, and the Mustangs led 20-0.

Long Prairie-Grey Eagle had a nice drive going, but turned the ball back over to the Mustangs on downs with 5:36 remaining in the first half. A holding penalty on first down forced the Mustangs back to their 10-yard line, but even penalties weren’t stopping Mora on this night.

With a little more than a minute left in the first half, Mora upped the score to 28-0. This time it was Bliss using his legs to do most of the damage. He had runs of 12, 8 and 9 yards before going 44 yards for the touchdown. Senior wingback Joe Cannon then took a pitch for the two-point conversion. The first half would end with another stalled Long Prairie-Grey Eagle drive.