Coming off of the triple overtime loss to Orion, IL, the Morrison Mustangs traveled to Fulto, IL, with the hopes of turning the corner and registering their first win of the young 2014 season
The opening play of the game may have set the tone for the entire evening. Joey Brackemyer overthrew a wide-open Andy Bird off of a route that would have sent Bird on a touchdown scamper down the sideline. That missed opportunity was followed by a dominating offensive show by Fulton, as they recorded over 400 yards rushing against the Mustangs’ 95 yards. The ground game was so rewarding for the Steamers that they only threw one aerial, and it fell incomplete in the second quarter.
The first period saw the Mustangs go three-and-out on the opening possession and end the second possession with a Brackemyer interception by Fulton’s Jason Osborn. The Steamers used their slashing ground game to march their opening possession 75 yards in nine plays, to open the scoring at the 6:55 mark of the first quarter. Their second possession closed out the quarter.
Fulton opened the second quarter when Osborn galloped 56 yards for the Steamers’ second touchdown, just 13 seconds into the second quarter. The Mustangs had five second quarter possessions, but only earned one first down on a Brackemyer 16-yard scamper. In the meantime, the Steamers were rolling up 193 yards on the ground. Osborn broke loose for a 77-yard score. Trey Simmons recorded another touchdown from the one-yard line, to give the Steamers a 21-0 halftime lead.
The third quarter opened with the Steamers receiving the kickoff and taking the first snap of the half at their own 34-yard line. The first snap was handed to Trey Simmons, and he outran the field for a 66-yard touchdown that gave the Steamers a 28-0 advantage. On the following possession the Mustangs had to punt after three snaps which only netted two-yards. The low snap to punter Mason Sitzmore ended in a blocked kick, and the Steamers took over on downs at the 19-yard line. Five plays later the score was expanded to 35-0, with a two-yard plunge by Micheal Pidde. Tthe outcome was no longer in doubt with 7:30 left in the third quarter.
The ensuing kickoff was fielded by Andy Bird, who handed off to Mason Sitzmore on a reverse that saw some daylight up the right sideline. However, as he was hit about midfield, the ball squirted loose and was recovered by Fulton, and the Steamers were in control again. Their possession ended with a punt that was fielded by Morrison, fumbled, and recovered by Pidde at the Morrison 17-yard line. Four plays later Pidde, scored from the five-yard line. The Steamers were starting the “mercy clock” with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter and leading 42-0.
The continuous clock in the fourth quarter shortened the evening. Several younger players got some Varsity minutes. The game ended with Fulton kneeing down on fourth down at the four-yard line, graciously ending the evening without embarrassing the Mustangs on the scoreboard any further.
The Fulton Steamers were awarded the Wooden Shoe trophy with a final score of 42-0. It had made a home in Morrison for the past ten years in a row .