Editor’s note: Jerry Lindsey took the photos.
The scene Friday night, September 21, 2018, at Fulton High School is a perfect example of what small town football is all about. Picture two Dutch farming communities, with many players on both teams owning the same last name; cool fall temperatures; standing-room-only crowds; bragging rights for the Wooden Shoe trophy; a possible playoff win needed; it is the Homecoming game for the host Steamers.
The opening minutes changed the game plan for both teams.
Morrison’s starting quarterback, Jacob Schlegel, was sacked on the third play off the game, injuring a knee and causing his exit. The opening drive for the Steamers featured a 22-yard scramble by quarterback Max Lemke and a 33-yard gain by Kyler Pessman; it ended with a 4-yard score by Lemke and a 7-0 lead. Four plays later, Eli Pannell recovered a Mustang fumble on the 18-yard line. A Morrison penalty placed the ball on the 6-yard line, and Lemke scored on the next play. This gave the Steamers a 14-0 lead with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter.
Flashes of the 55-8 shellacking the Mustangs endured the previous week had to enter some Morrison fan’s minds, but it sure didn’t any of the Mustangs’. They mustered a defense that only allowed the Steamers 25 total rushing yards the rest of the game. Following the opening quarter excitement, the game turned into a defensive struggle. Fulton only earned one first down the remainder of the half. Morrison recorded two first downs and a total of yards gained of -4, created by two high snaps that set the Stangs back for losses of -15 and -13 yards, which killed potential drives.
The opening Steamer drive featured a 23-yard pass completion from Lemke to Nick McQuistion that placed the ball on the 26-yard line. Lemke again threw to McQuistion, but a diving Ryan Kennedy intercepted the pass on the 4-yard line to end the Steamer challenge.
Morrison got on the board with 1:39 remaining in the third quarter. It was the result of a nine-play drive covering 61 yards, featuring a 19-yard pass completion from sophomore Nathan Helms to Keegan Anderson and with a 7-yard score off tackle by Brandon Zigler. The missed extra point attempt left the Stangs trailing 14-6 entering the final quarter.
The defenses continued to dominate the game until the seven-minute mark. Fulton was pinned deep in their own territory and had to punt out of their end zone on fourth down. Morrison took possession on the Fulton 28-yard line. Seven plays later, the Mustangs were facing a fourth down on the 11-yard line and needing to get to the 5-yard line to earn a first down to continue the drive. Helms dropped back and found Sophomore T. C. Ottens in the corner of the end zone, to close the score to 14-12 with 3:13 left on the clock. The tying two-point conversion failed, as a Helms pass failed to connect on the back line of the end zone.
Fulton had to hold possession for the remaining 3:13 to earn the Homecoming win. Lemke connected with Pessman for a 26-yard gain and an all-important first down. Two rushes gained another first down. The clock ran down to 1:38 before Morrison drained its supply of time-outs. The Steamers kneed out the final plays to earn the Homecoming victory over their rival from the east.
The Wooden Shoe trophy was presented to the Steamers for the fifth consecutive year. The perfect Friday Night Lights scenario closed with the Fulton Steamers the winner, 14-12.
