The Morrison Ponies have had an up and down season and wanted to end the season on a high note and they accomplished that by shutting out the Bureau Valley Storm by the score of 20-0.
The first quarter set the tone for the evening as the Ponies took the opening possession 63-yards in eleven plays. Six different backs were handed the ball on the drive headed with gains by Austin Shoup of ten and five, Andy Bird of seven and nine, Triston Houzenga of seven, Mason Sitzmore of one and five , Drew Screnock of four and Christian Garcia contributed runs of eleven and the final 3-yard touchdown. Following the opening score, the defense stopped the Storm by forcing a three and out after Austin Keller threw quarterback Jacob Pogliano for a seven-yard loss on the third and nine pass attempt. The Ponies started the second drive on the 37-yard line and collected two first downs before Keller was intercepted by Pogliano on the BV 33-yard line. Only able to muster three yards the Storm returned the ball to Morrison on the Morrison 39-yard line. Each team faltered on their next possessions before the Storm put together a nice drive highlighted by a 34-yard quarterback keeper by Pogliano. The Ponies defense was challenged as the Storm was lined up on the eleven yard line with 21.9 seconds left in the half. A fumbled handoff moved the ball back to the 24-yard line and Tate Renkes intercepted Pogliano on the nine yard line to end the drive and the scoring threat and the half with Morrison on top 6-0.
Morrison received the ball with 7:52 on the clock after forcing a fourth down punt. Andy Bird carried twice before Keller connected with Mason Sitzmore for a 38-yard pass completion that placed the ball on the three-yard line. Austin Shoup crossed the end line on the next snap and the Ponies moved the score to 14-0 as Christian Garcia walked into the end zone to complete the two point conversion. Bureau Valley had two more possessions in the third quarter, but each time they were held to three snaps without a first down and forced to punt. Morrison ended the quarter with the ball on the 46-yard line.
Five plays into the final quarter the Ponies were lining up in a fourth and one on the 29-yard line when Shoup finished the drive with a tackle-breaking run into the end zone with 7:25 left on the clock. The Storm was forced to abandon their ineffective running game and went to the air. Pogliano flipped a screen pass to Gage Smith that gained thirty-five yards and then completed a ten-yard pass to Alex Johnson but they were unable to generated any more yardage as the Pony defense stiffened and the clock expired on the game and the season as the Ponies recorded a win in the books at 20-0.