The Morrison Ponies entered the last game of the 2014 season with a record of four wins and three losses and a desire to finish better than just .500.
Riverdale received the opening kickoff, but Grant Slater ended the Rams’ opening possession with an interception at mid-field. The Ponies galloped into the end zone five plays later on a 39-yard pass from Dylan Keller to Cody Southern. Jarrett Ruchotzke carried the extra point conversion into the end zone, to give the Ponies a quick 8-0 lead with 3:39 left in the first quarter.
The Rams were three-and-out before the Ponies marched 63 yards for another score, as the quarter clock ran down to 1:27. This drive featured a 26-yard run by Tristan DeMay, a 13-yard gain by Cody Southern, and a 15-yard scoring run by Aaron Deter.
The Rams were only able to gain 16 yards on the ground in the opening quarter. So, they came out throwing on their first possession of the second quarter and immediately connected for a 58-yard touchdown. This move cut the Morrison margin to 14-6. Morrison responded immediately with Tristan DeMay skirting right end for a 35-yard score and Aaron Deter pushing in the two point conversion. The lead moved to 22-6 in favor of the Ponies.
Riverdale didn’t roll over. They went to the air on four of their next six snaps and and scored on a 29-yard completion. A two point conversion by Jacob Lester tightened the score to 22-14. An eight play drive by the Ponies ended in a failed fourth and eight. The Rams continued to air out the ball, but Ethan Fischbach ended the Ram drive with an interception in the end zone, with 19 seconds left in the half. The Rams were held to 0 yards on the ground in the second quarter, but found success with the pass by completing 4-of-6, for 113 yards.
Riverdale started their first possession of the second half with an 18-yard scamper by Jacob Lester, but returned to the pass and connected on 4-of-8. The drive ended with a failed fourth-and-two at the Morrison 16 yard line. Aaron Deter immediately started the march the other way with a 48-yard run up the middle, followed by a 13-yard jaunt by Cody Southern. The Ponies were on the Rams’ 24 yard line and moving. Four snaps later Deter bulled the final yard to stretch the Pony lead to 30-14 with 1:40 left in the third quarter. The Rams came out throwing on their next possession. Ethan Fischbach intercepted Dickson’s first attempt at mid-field prior to the quarter’s end. Morrison used the power running of Deter, Southern, and DeMay to earn a first-and-goal on the 10 yard line as the fourth quarter started. Riverdale stopped Southern at the 1 yard line on a fourth-and-two and took over on downs with 6:03 left in the game. Three snaps later, Lester fumbled in the end zone, and the Ponies sealed the win with a safety. The margin moved to 32-14 with 5:01 left in the season. The Ponies ran out the clock to seal a 5 win, 3 loss season.
The Ponies controlled the offensive numbers by gaining 354 yards on the ground, compared to the Rams’ 40 yards. Aaron Deter gained 160 yards; Tristan DeMay gained 87 yards; Cody Southern contributed 68 yards.
The Ponies showed continued development throughout the season. That was rewarded by many players receiving considerable Varsity minutes as the season progressed.