The Morrison, IL, Mustangs have played Princeton, IL, the last two years, and each game carries a poor memory. Last year the weather erupted at the half of the Fresh-Soph game. Eventually the game was cancelled, and the Varsity game was rescheduled for the following Saturday. The Tigers ended a long losing streak, while beating the Mustangs to open the 2014 season. The 2015 game in Princeton formed another bad memory on Friday, September 4. The Tigers throttled the Mustangs and sent them home, after monopolizing them for 48 minutes and dominating the scoreboard to the tune of 48-6.
The game started without any wind and a temperature of 90°. The Tigers carried a roster that named more Seniors than the Morrison roster named in total available bodies. To add to the hot evening, Princeton ran a no-huddle offense and called the plays from the sideline with very little rest between snaps. This hampered the undermanned Mustangs.
The opening drive by the Tigers took four minutes and 30 seconds to find the end zone after 13 snaps and three penalties. The Mustangs were introduced to an offense that had speed in the backfield and at the quarterback position. The Mustangs followed the Princeton scoring drive with three running plays that netted a negative-six yards, before a Justin Jenson punt gave the Tigers the ball at the Morrison 40-yard line. A 19-yard scamper by speedster Kai Tomaszewski was followed, two snaps later, by a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jake Reinhart to Tomaszewski. The lead expanded to 14-0 with 5:38 remaining in the opening quarter.
The next possession by Morrison started with a tipped pass from Morrison’s Dylan Keller that was grabbed by Merik Kennedy for a 44-yard gain. A 12-yard completion from Keller to Jarrett Ruchotzke totaled another 12 yards. A penalty was called on Princeton on the tackle, and the ball was placed at Princeton’s five-yard line. Andy Bird carried the first snap into the end zone. The Mustangs were only down by eight points as the first quarter ended, 14-6.
The second quarter totally belonged to the quicker Princeton Tigers. They added another 13 points and held the Mustangs to a total of 11 yards of total offense, in three possessions of the ball.
The second half started with a Morrison three-and-out, after three snaps that totaled a negative-9 yards, before turning the ball over on downs on their own 17-yard line. Three rushes by Jacob Smith covered the 17-yards and moved the score to 34-6 with 9:18 on the third quarter clock. The next Morrison possession netted a total of negative-one yard, before Jansen’s 12-yard punt placed the Tigers on the Morrison 42-yard line. Princeton moved the ball to the Morrison 20-yard line, where they were forced to attempt a 27-yard field goal. It fell short, and the Mustangs owned the ball on their own 20-yard line. They executed a six-play drive that featured a 16-yard pass completion from Keller to Cody Southern, before Jansen was asked to punt. Again the punt was a short one, and the Tigers had the ball on the Morrison 38-yard line. The quarter ended with the Tigers sitting on the 13-yard line following a 16-yard pass completion from Reinhart to Levi Bates. In took less than two minutes for the Tigers to expand the score to 41-6, as Reinhart found Bates in the end zone at the 10:16 mark.
The Mustangs had one more offensive possession. It saw an 8-yard run by Tate Renkes and an 11yarder by Ryan VanZuiden, but the drive ended with a Morrison fumble on the Princeton 23-yard line. One had to question the play calling of Princeton Coach Jesse Snyder, as reserve Brett Emmerson was given the ball on 11 snaps of the 12-play drive that crossed the end line with 42.3 seconds left in the game. That touchdown cemented the final score at 48-6.
The Tigers’ offense collected 315 yards on the ground, compared to the Mustangs’ 11. Reinhart completed seven out of 12 pass attempts for 106 yards, compared to Keller’s five for 13, which equaled 83 yards. The Tiger statistics showed five running backs with over 20 yards gained and ten plays that gained ten yards or more.
When the game ended, the Mustangs had two players on the bench with potential concussions. It was a rough night for the visiting Mustangs!
Editor’s note: Athletic Director Gregg Dolan reported Saturday, September 5, that one player definitely did not have a concussion. The second boy is being evaluated.
The Mustangs must hope for a quick heal and a cooler environment, as they host the (Sterling, IL) Newman Comets in Morrison next Friday night, September 11.