Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey submitted this report and photos.
Sporting events are determined by a final score, but the numbers included in the stats often tell the story of the contest. That was the situation when the Morrison Mustangs visited the Spring Valley Hall Red Devils, on Friday evening, September 17, 2021.
A final score of 44-20 included an impressive rushing statistic established by Morrison’s Carson Strating; he recorded a game-high total of 181 yards rushing on 38 carries. His rushing total was 87.4% of the team’s total on the evening. His three touchdowns were 100% of the team’s production, in the third loss of the young season. His total of 38 carries was 54% of the team’s snaps. Sophomore Straiting only recorded double digit gains of 12 and 34 yards while accumulating the 181 yards.
The Mustangs put themselves in the hole in the early minutes of the first quarter. Hall’s Mac Resetich skirted right end for a 43-yard touchdown with 8:11 left in the quarter. The Mustangs fumbled the first snap of their opening possession following the score, and Hall recovered on the Morrison 34-yard line. Five snaps later, Resetich found the end zone again with a 23-yard scamper. The Red Devils led 12-0, and the Mustangs had only owned possession of the ball for one play.
Morrison found the end zone with 2:04 remaining in the first quarter, on a Carson Strating 5-yard push over right guard. The 57-yard drive was highlighted by a 35-yard pass completion from Danny Mouw to Trey Strating ending on the 5-yard line, to set up Carson’s score. The ensuing possession by Hall started with a 48-yard run by Resetich to end the quarter, that was followed by a 1-yard score by Caleb Savitch to up the Red Devil advantage to 18-6. Morrison failed to convert a first down and punted on their next possession. Resetich returned the punt 86-yards to make the score 24-6 with 8:05 left in the half. Hall scored again at the 2:43 mark to establish a commanding 31-6 advantage. The Mustangs ended the half with a 59-yard drive featuring a Mouw-to-Andre McQieen pass of 34 yards. This set up a 1-yard Strating score to end the half, with the Red Devils up 31-12.
Big plays for the Red Devils expanded the score in the third quarter to 44-12. Their first possession ended with a Resetich 79-yard touchdown. The second possession ended with a 51-yard scoring pass to Resetich. However, the Mustangs were stopped on three possessions of the ball.
The Mustangs put together a scoring drive in the final quarter. It followed a fumble recovery on the Red Devil 30-yard line. Chase Newman scored the two-point conversion, to establish the final 44-20 win for the Spring Valley Hall Red Devils.
The Mustangs will travel to Sherrad, IL, next Friday, September 24, looking for the elusive first win at 7:00 p.m.
Top: Carson Strating receives one of his 38 carries, that totaled 181 yards against Spring Valley Hall. Middle: Carson Strating cuts inside a block by Logan Baker, enroute to a seven-yard gain. Bottom: Blake Adams wraps up Mac Resetich to end one of his eight carries, that totaled 142 yards. Resetich also returned a punt 86-yards for a touchdown against the Mustangs.
