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Mustangs make debut tonight

JANESVILLE — They haven’t even played a regular-season game, and already Janesville’s expansion franchise in the Gridiron Football League has changed its name and team colors.

The Janesville Mustangs, who will open their debut season tonight on the road at Ameche Field against the Racine Heat in Kenosha, are now the Rockport Mustangs. And the team has ditched its original maroon color scheme for black and gold uniforms.

“We changed the name due to the fact that we had players were from Milton, Janesville, and Beloit. We wanted to be more attractive to sponsors,” said team owner and head coach Topher Diehl. “To alleviate that problem, we changed it to the Rockport Mustangs.

“As for the color switch, gold and black is, believe it or not, cheaper than maroon. And it was liked by the players.”

The Mustangs will open the season in the eight-man, full-contact league with 18 players on their roster..

“We’ve got a lot of great talent,” Diehl said. “For us the question is going to be on the offensive line. If we can fill that, we’re going to be an unstoppable team.”

Diehl is confident in the talent the Mustangs will field at the quarterback spot. Janesville’s Sam Parker and David Byerly of Rockton, Ill., have been running neck-and-neck for the starting job. In fact, the Mustangs’ playbook will incorporate several plays in which the two QBs will be on the field simultaneously.

“I’m very impressed with their arms and their accuracy,” Diehl said. “With our depth at receiver, it made the style of offense we’re going to play a no-brainer.”

Parker and Byerly will throw to a pair of speed wideouts: Sam’s brother, Curtis, and Janesville Parker grad Jake Schlegel.

The Mustangs also have two big receivers: 6-foot-2 David Harper from Whitewater and 6-3 Devin Stokes from Janesville.

“I want to spread the ball around so that the defense can’t guess what we’re doing,” Diehl said. “I wanted a team with multiple weapons and that’s what I got.”