Written by Jerry Lindsey
The week of anticipation and comparing the undefeated teams from Morrison
and Sterling Newman came to a very disappointing end, as the #1 ranked
Newman Comets wasted no time in showing why they are ranked as the best
team among the Class 2A schools in the state by defeating the Morrison
Mustangs 54-0.
The opening possession belonged to Morrison on their own 40-yard line when
the snap went over quarterback Reilly Dolan’s head and landed on the
26-yard line. Two attempts to recover ended with a Luke Wilkens punt and
the Comets owning the ball at midfield. The Comets own a reputation of
grinding the ball up the middle until the opponent weakens and that game
plan was no different on this night. On the third snap Easton Bianchi
quick-stepped through Mustang tacklers and squirted 44 yards for a Comet
score. A Brycen Bartel extra point kick cleared the crossbar and quickly
the Comets were up 7-0. Aaron Deter returned the following kickoff to the
32-yard line and the Mustangs were eager to try the Comet defense again.
Two snaps later Bianchi fell on a Mustang fumble on the Morrison 34-yard
line and the next play Landon Vassey connected with Bianchi in the right
flat and he easily sprinted into the end zone to up the score to 14-0.
Another high snap handicapped the Mustang on their next possession and
Wilkens punted from the Mustang 15-yard line after three plays netted a -15
yards. Bianchi received the punt at midfield and returned it to the Mustang
25-yard line. Two snaps later Cade Gorzny scampered up the middle for a
24-yard touchdown, and Bartel successfully made the score 21-0 with the
clock reading 5:46 remaining in the opening quarter. A seven play series
followed and the Mustang could only generate one yard even though they were
awarded a first down by a Comet penalty. Following a Mustang punt, Newman
fumbled and Ben Brackemeyer recovered it on their own 32-yard line with
hopes of initiating a successful drive as the quarter ended.
The second quarter opened with another Wilkens punt that went to a waiting
Bianchi at the 38-yard line, and he again left tacklers in his wake enroute
to a 62-yard touchdown return and the Bartel extra point expanded the score
to 28-0 with the dazed Mustang showed little sign of recovery. Another three
and out for the Mustangs gave the Comets a first down on their own 25-yard
line and on the first snap junior Luke Olson rammed up the middle for a
42-yard gain. That surge set up the next Comet score five plays late when
he carried over from the 5-yard line and a 34-0 score caused many of the
earlier excited Morrison fans to look for their keys.
The half ended four minutes later with the offensive stats telling the
entire story as the Comets recorded over 300 yards and the Mustangs
recorded a -40 yards on the ground.
The second half started without any question of the final outcome and the
Mustang were unable to find the offense that had earned them a 3-0 record.
With two possessions in the quarter they gained a total of one yard and the
the Comets expanded the score with a 2-yard score by Olson and a 43-yarder
by Gorzny, and the third quarter ended with the continuous clock running and
a score of 47-0.
Newman reserves played the final quarter and added a touchdown with a
3-yard run by Dylan Schmall and the painful evening ended for the Mustangs
with the Comets owning a 54-0 victory.
Easton Bianchi ended the evening with 94 rushing yards plus a 62-yard punt
return to key the Comet offense, but the Comet defense can’t be ignored as
they held the Morrison Mustang offense to a total yardage of -11.
The Mustangs have a week to regroup and prepare for a Homecoming contest
against the Fulton Steamers in the annual Wooden Shoe game next Friday
night at E.M Bud Cole field.