Editor’s note: Photos are by Jerry Lindsey.
The threat of storms forced the school officials to play the Freshman-Sophomore football game between Morrison and Sherrard with a continuous clock. This means that that the clock would run continuously regardless of play selection or official whistles. The only time delay allowed would be for timeouts, injuries, or after scoring plays to allow teams to switch personnel. This decision hopefully would allow the Varsity game to begin earlier and miss the forecasted storms due in later.
The first quarter passed quickly with each team having one possession, until John Winkelman broke off a 79-yard touchdown scamper with 1:27 remaining in the first period. Brhenan Linke carried the two yards for the extra points conversion. The first quarter ended with Morrison up 8-0.
All second quarter scoring happened with the clock reading under two minutes. Morrison ended a drive that featured a 12-yard completion between quarterback Nathan Helms and T. C. Ottens, before Winkleman darted 12 yards into the end zone, to change the score to 14-0. Sherrard’s Walt Franck returned the ensuing kickoff from the 16-yard line to the 49-yard line. The next play saw quarterback Brady Hartman connect with Eli Bernier for a 51-yard touchdown, with only 1:22 remaining on the halftime clock. The time shortened half ended with the young Ponies up 14-6.
Each team owned the ball twice in the third quarter, with the Morrison defense holding the young Tigers to a total of -7 yards. The Tigers’ first possession was interrupted when Alex Anderson intercepted a Sherrard pass at mid-field and returned it to the Sherrard 7-yard line. Two plays later, Linke scored from the 4-yard line to up the advantage to 20-6.
The Morrison defense dominated the fourth quarter by holding the Tiger offense to -3 yards rushing and only 20-yards in the air. Meanwhile, the Pony offense scored on both possessions. Hunter Newman recorded his first High School touchdown, scoring from 10-yards out. Minutes later Alex Anderson scored his first touchdown to form the final score of 36-6.
The Morrison defense held the Tigers to -4 yards rushing and 123 passing.
Morrison offense recorded 199 total yards with the ground game totaling 176: Winkleman 102, Newman 23, Linke 14, White 13, Wolf 5, Anderson 6, Houzenga 4, and Helms 6.