Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote the article and took the photos.
A large crowd attended the Morrison High School facilities to give notice of recognition to the recent Hall of Fame inductees and watch the Morrison Mustangs challenge the Forreston, IL, Cardinals, in a “Northwest Illinois Upstate Conference” match up, on Friday, September 27, 2024. Before the game, team inductions took place at 6:20 p.m.:
1966-67 Boys Basketball (Team Managers Ted Busch and John Bramm; Coach Ray Gilbert; Assistant Coach Jeff Novack.) Pictured left-to-right are Jim Olson; Tom Milnes; Mike Beswick; Ken White; Bob Snodgrass; Bob Kahl.
2008 Softball Left, Head Coach Tammy Deter and Assistant Coach Tiffany Tipton; behind them, Assistant Coach Loren Tenboer.
At half time individual inductions were:
Ashlie (Patten) Lee, Softball, Volleyball, and Basketball
Luke Kemmer, Football, Basketball, Track, and Baseball
John (Woody) Bramm, Friend of Athletics, was represented by friend Jim Ridley and Pat Bramm, John’s widow.
Both High School teams entered the night with identical records of one win and three losses. They were hoping to make the State playoffs with strong efforts in their remaining schedules.
The first half belonged to the Forreston Cardinals. They controlled the ball and opened up a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, when Dane Setterstrom scored from 20 yards out. The extra point failed, but the Cardinals dominated the action of quarter one.
The second quarter also belonged to the Cardinals. The Mustangs’ offense failed to gain a first down in its only possession of the quarter. The Cardinals ended a 70-yard drive with 33 seconds left in the half, with a 5-yard score by Dane Setterstrom, to up the score to 12-0. The extra point failed, and the Cardinals took a halftime break leading the Mustangs 12-0.
Beginning the third quarter, the second half was a complete momentum reversal. The Mustangs stopped the first Cardinal possession with a three-and-out. Then, they completed a 55-yard march to the end zone with a 4-yard score by Reynolds Reavy. Joshua McDearmon kicked the extra point. He cut the Cardinal lead to 12-7 with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter. The next Cardinal possession was again limited to three snaps and a punt, as the Mustang defense stiffened again. Mustang Levi Milder immediately gained 12 yards around the right end. Reynolds Reavy sprinted 19 yards, before finding the end zone on a 13-yard scamper, to give the Mustangs the lead 13-12. McDearmon was successful with the extra-point kick, and the Mustangs led 14-12 with 3:12 left in the third quarter. The Cardinals occupied the ball for the remainder of the quarter but failed on a fourth-down pass into the end zone.
The Mustangs took possession, to open the fourth period on their 40-yard line. The Mustangs generated a 12-play/60-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard score by Levi Milder. McDearmon added the extra point. The Mustang lead expanded to 21-12 with 5:08 remaining in the game. The crowd was barely settled from the previous score, when Austin Boonstra recovered a Cardinal fumble on the first snap of their next possession. He lumbered 40 yards into the end zone to increase the Mustang advantage to 27-12. McDearmon added the extra point a third time, and the final score was determined with 5:08 remaining on the clock. The Mustang defense held the Cardinals scoreless the rest of the quarter and improved their record to 2 wins and 3 losses.
The Morrison Mustangs will go for victory number three, as they welcome the Dakota Indians (0-5) to Morrison, for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff, on Friday, October 4.