Editor’s note: Jerry Lindsey took the photos.
The official raised his hand to signal that all was ready for the kickoff of the Orion Chargers and Morrison Mustangs football game, on Friday night, October 5, 2018, and he didn’t lower it until Saturday night, October 6. Severe lightning and rain caused the Friday night game to be rescheduled for Saturday night, same time and place.
The #2 State-ranked Orion Chargers came to E. M. “Bud” Cole Field undefeated and flaunting a group of Seniors who realized that this is their year to shine. The opening minutes didn’t go as the Orion fans had hoped. Keegan Anderson caught a Nathan Helms pass and skillfully maneuvered through the Charger defense for an 80-yard touchdown, on the first play of the game. The Chargers were three-and-out and wondering what hit them. Reality notes that to upset a team of the caliber of Orion, this type of intensity and effort must be present on every play, with mistakes and turnovers totally eliminated.
The size of the Charger line took its toll. The Chargers were given possession of the ball in Morrison territory in eight-of-their-12 possessions, making the path to the end zone a shorter trip.
The Mustangs’ effort was one of their best of recent weeks, but the Mustang offense turned the ball over twice on fumbles. Defense was unsuccessful on fourth down attempts twice, and these change of possessions led to three Charger scores.
The Charger offense featured All-State candidate and future Iowa Hawkeye Logan Lee, who out-manned the Mustangs for touchdown catches of 13 and 25 yards. The aerial yardage ignited by quarterback Dawsen Schulenburg totaled 287 yards, and the ground game added another 214 yards, headed by Seth West’s 135 yards, for a game total of 501 yards.
The Mustangs opened the second half with a nine-play scoring drive covering 74-yards, ending with a Helms-to-Anderson completion for 20-yards and a touchdown. Dillon Still added the extra point kick to add a new dimension to the Mustang offense. The effort was there by the Mustangs, but the offense of the Chargers, which executed 20 plays that gained at least 10-yards (compared to Morrison’s six 10+ yard plays), was too much of a task. This is recorded in the final score of 49-13.
The evening’s weather affecting the timing of a game is unmatched, but loyal fans remember the last trip the Mustangs took to Rockridge, next week’s opponent. The weather caused a major delay that killed the Mustang’s momentum that had been close to upsetting the ranked Rockets.
Nine seniors played their last game on E. M. “Bud” Cole field: (03) Jarrett Wiebenga, (10) Jacob Schlegel, (22) Keegan Manard, (40) Brandon Zigler, (55) Dillon Still, (65) Brevin Pruis, (72) Preston Behrens, and (77) Jackson DuBois.
The Mustangs will journey to Rockridge next Friday, with a goal of closing out the season with the two, final, win options on the schedule.
