The Fellowes Falcons dropped their home opener Tuesday afternoon, a 23-3 decision to the Mackenzie Mustangs.

Running back Riddah Attiah led the offence for the Mustangs, scoring all three touchdowns and kicking three converts afterwards. His first touchdown was a 95-yard run on a punt return and the second was on a two-yard run. With the converts the Mustangs were up 14-0.

Attiah attributed his long run to some good blocking by his teammates.

Mackenzie went up 16-0 when Fellowes gave up a safety and two points when Mark Parsonage took a knee instead of punting out of his own end zone late in the first half.

Fellowes finally got on the board with an impressive 42-yard field goal down the middle by Mark Parsonage which made it 16-3 at the half.

Considering it was the first game of the season and the first game ever for about half of the Fellowes’ players, head coach PJ Weller was impressed with how the young team came out, especially in the poor weather conditions. They had to content with heavy rain most of the game.

His initial assessment is that the defence is ahead of the offence, and the offence needs to work on its blocking assignments up front.

He credited the defence with a goal-line stand late in the first half.

“The defence played well enough to win the game,” Weller said.

The Falcons next game is Sept. 21 when they travel to take on the Redmen in Arnprior. Their next home game is Sept. 28 when the RCI Raiders will be in town for a 12:30 p.m. start at Fellowes Alumni Field.

Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist

tina.peplinskie@sunmedia.ca