Photos and report by Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey.
On a night of anticipation, Friday, October 6, 2023, the Morrison Mustangs became their own opponent and fell to the Rockridge Rockets 14-7.
Opportunity knocked early for the Mustangs, when Chase Newman recovered a fumble on the first Rockridge offensive play on the 19-yard line. A penalty sent the ball back to the 24-yard line. Two snaps later, Quarterback Colton Bielema was thrown for an 11-yard loss, before the drive was ended on the 33-yard line with an incomplete pass. From that juncture, the game turned into an exchange of possessions as each team struggled to earn first downs. The first quarter ended with a 0-0 score. The second quarter echoed the same on the scoreboard, with a halftime score still at 0-0.
Drizzling rain that fell during most of the first half ceased as the second half began, but the wet surface and temperature in the 50s did neither team any favors. This was reflected in the lack of offense generated by both teams. Morrison mustered seven total yards in the third quarter. Rockridge garnered 54 total yards. The fourth period would start without the end zone being touched by either team in the three earlier periods.
Chase Newman opened the fourth quarter with an interception immediately followed by a 30-yard pass completion from Bielema, and the hometown fans were finally excited. The next snap was given to Brady Anderson; he accelerated around the right end for 30 yards, to find the end zone and put the Mustangs on the scoreboard. Josh McDearmon upped the score to 7-0 with the extra-point conversion.
Two possessions later and with only 2:13 showing on the clock, the Rockets found the end zone on a 6-yard run by Alex Zarlatanes to change the scoreboard to 7-6. The all-important extra point attempt was blocked by Brady Anderson! The Mustangs only had 2:13 to control the ball to earn an all-important win. Failure to generate a most-needed first down forced a Daeshaun McQueen punt, and the Rockets owned the ball on their own 19-yard line, with less than two minutes remaining. Pass completions of 27 and 11 yards were around a 19- and 11-yard runs by Zarlatanes, which set up the ball on the 9-yard line with 18.7 seconds showing on the clock. Freshman Quarterback Cullen Schwigen calmly rolled to his right and connected with Reid Mueller in the end zone, to change the score to 12-7. On the extra point, Schwigen connected with a diving Liam Steele to earn the 2-point conversion, and the final score was established at 14-7.
As does any defeat, the hometown fans were sent home with feelings of disappointment. However, the bigger disappointment is reflected in some of the statistics of the game’s action. Morrison offense, which has been generating more than 400 yards per outing, was only able to generate 141 total yards on the evening. The key statistic that really stymied the offense was that, on the 12 possessions when the Mustangs owned the ball, they were whistled for a penalty on nine of the possessions.
The Mustangs will try to right the ship next Friday, October 13, as they travel to Riverdale, IL, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
