Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey wrote the report and took the photos.
Any football game that puts a W in the record book is a good game. The game Friday evening, September 24, 2021, at Sherrard, IL, was extra special, because it was the first win for new Head Coach Steve Snider, of the Morrison Mustangs. Conditions for the Tigers’ Homecoming called for rain, and the forecast was just that, as the skies drained throughout the evening.
Weather conditions forced the Mustangs to stay on the ground. Thomas Dauphin topped all rushers with 125 yards in ten carries. Teammate Carson Strating also surpassed the century mark, with 104 yards in 27 carries, as the Mustangs out-gained the Tigers by a margin of 297 yards to 20 yards. Sherrard scored first on a short 7-yard pass completion from Holland Anderson to Wyatt Dochteman, with 2:14 remaining in the opening quarter. The extra point failed.
The Tigers celebrated the lead and held it until the 1:09 mark of the third quarter, when Dauphin skirted left end and galloped 64-yards for the tying touchdown. Morrison’s two-point conversion failed, but the momentum was definitely in the Mustang’s favor. The defense held the Tigers to only five rushing yards the entire second half.
The fourth quarter saw the Mustangs take charge of the game. They recovered a Tiger fumble and intercepted a pass, to end two-of-the-three possessions of the Tiger’s fourth quarter. Meanwhile, the Morrison offense was rolling up 138 rushing yards. This included a game-winning touchdown by Dauphin, with 6:30 remaining in the game. The two-point conversion failed, but the game was secured. The Mustang defense smothered the Tiger offense. Mustangs held the ball for the last five minutes and 17 seconds, to give Coach Snider a taste of victory by a score of 12-6.
Defense dominance was highlighted by two Blake Adams interceptions and Nathan Schaefer’s fumble recovery, Quarterback sack, and two tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
The Mustangs will play on Friday, October 1, as they host Rockridge for their 2021 Homecoming game at E. M. “Bud” Cole Field, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Top: Thomas Dauphin (34) skirts left end on the way to a 35-yard touchdown. Middle: Rain was the main competition in Friday’s game at Sherrard. Bottom: Tyler Shambaugh (73) and Beau Brakemeyer (75) are the identifiable Mustangs in this pile that stopped a Tiger advance.
