The Morrison Mustangs are a team starting a season under a new coaching staff and trying to find themselves. The Varsity team opened with two wins and is building confidence. They are returning to the playoffs that have eluded them for the past four years.
On Friday, September14, 2018, the path to a third win was against their State-ranked neighboring rival, the Newman Central Comets of Sterling, IL.
The sideline showed an anxious group of Stangs. They were ready to give these Comets their best effort, knowing they had no room for mistakes if they hoped to stay competitive.
Nate Ahlers, a Newman junior, received the opening kick-off at the 8-yard line. He started up field before cutting to his right and avoided tackles, until he was run out of bounds on the Morrison 5-yard line. Two snaps later, Brody Ivey crossed the goal; the Comets were up 6-0 with only 51 seconds elapsed off the clock. Maddy Jacobs added the extra point, and the Mustangs collected themselves for their first possession of the evening. Following Keegan Anderson’s return of the kickoff to the 33-yard line, they went three-and-out, gaining only four yards. The ball was returned to the Comets at their 48-yard line. Six plays later, Ivey scored from the 5-yard line and Jacobs’s kick made the score 14-0 at the 6:33 mark on the clock.
The Mustang’s next series quickly ended on the second play, when Nick Clevenger intercepted quarterback Jacob Schlegel on the 31-yard line. Connor McBride was given the next snap and skirted left end before being caught at the 1-yard line. This set up his 1-yard score on the next play. With 5:58 remaining in the first quarter the Mustangs were in a 21-0 hole. The pattern of three-and-out for the Mustang offense, followed by a scoring drive by the Comets was repeated three more times in the first half. The clock ran out on the first half; the Comets were totally in charge with a 48-0 lead. The Comet offense had collected 220 yards rushing and 25-yards on their only aerial attempt. Their defense had held Morrison to 20-yards rushing and 1-yard passing without earning a single first down.
The second half was played with a continuous clock to speed up the evident results. The third period saw only 31 total rushing yards by both teams. Newman reserves added a 2-yard score with 1:56 remaining, to end Newman’s scoring for the night. The Mustangs finally put a scoring drive together and completed the 12-play drive, with a touchdown pass from Schlegel to Anderson, for 36-yards with only 1:55 remaining. Brandon Zigler added the 2-point conversion, and the evening of Comet dominance was over. The final score on the board was 55-8.
The Mustangs will have to collect the few positives and regroup for a trip to Fulton, IL, next Friday night, and continue their pursuit for win number three.