The Morrison Ponies celebrated the 2014 Homecoming by returning to their winning ways on Friday, September 26, 2014, and sank the Rowboats from Amboy, IL, by the score of 30-14.
Morrison established their attack on the opening drive when they marched 55-yards to score, with the aid of a 16-yard fake punt run by Aaron Deter and a 14-yard pass completion from Dylan Keller to Matt Nichols. Two minutes later the Ponies struck again when Keller connected with Tristen DeMay in the right flat. DeMay outran the Rowboat defenders to complete a 75-yard scoring play to up the score to 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Amboy opened the second quarter with a drive that used three minute and 18 seconds and covered 65-yards, to close the score to 14-6. Ethan Fischback returned the ensuing kickoff to the 47 yard line. Aaron Deter carried the final 15 yards on the end of an eight-play drive, and the Ponies led 22-6 with 3:27 remaining in the half. Amboy gained two quick first downs in hopes of scoring prior to the end of the half but those hopes faded, when Thomas Ottens sacked the quarterback for a 7-yard loss, and Aaron Deter followed Ottens’ sack with another 8-yard sack, to end the half and protect the Ponies’ 22-6 lead.
Amboy owned the ball to start the second half. They were marching with the aid of a 17-yard pass completion before Fischbach intercepted a pass and returned it to the end zone. A “block in the back” penalty nullified the TD but gave the Ponies the ball on the Amboy 49-yard line. The Morrison drive ended five snaps later, when Amboy recovered a fumble and returned it to the 45-yard line. A five-play drive ensued featuring a 27-yard pass completion and an 18- yard touchdown run with 52.9 seconds left in the third quarter. The Rowboats closed in on the Ponies 22-14. Deter took the first handoff of the following possession and followed his blocking beautifully, to scamper down the right sideline for a 59-yard gain to the 10-yard line. Cody Southern crossed the end line two snaps later to advance the score to 28-14, before Deter earned the two-point conversion. The score rolled to 30-14. Amboy was driving in the final minutes, but the drive ended when Deter sacked the quarterback on the final snap, to secure the Ponies’ Homecoming win at 30-14.
Big offensive plays highlighted the Ponies’ offensive advantage of 272 ground yards, to 194 for the Rowboats. Aaron Deter ended the night with 142 yards rushing and two touchdowns.