The Morrison Ponies learned a hard lesson Friday evening, September 12, 2015. Their offense out-gained the young Sterling, IL, Newman High School Comets by 92 yards, and the defense only allowed Newman four total yards in the second half, but the Ponies absorbed a 12-6 loss.
Morrison’s opening drive started on their own 35-yard line and ended ten plays later with a failed fourth-and-three on the Newman 23-yard line. The offense was generated on the ground with Tristan DeMay gaining 24 yards, Sebastian Larson collecting 14, and Nathan Bush carrying for six. Newman went three-and-out before recovering a Larson fumble on the Morrison 27-yard line. Sophomore Landen Vesley took the second snap and skirted left end for a 25-yard touchdown. The Ponies were down 6-0 with 1:37 left in the opening quarter.
Morrison’s next possession carried into the second quarter where it ended on the 43-yard line, with an Aaron Deter fumble that was recovered by Newman. Eight plays later, Easton Bianchi nosed in from the 1-yard line. The Ponies were down by 12 with 5:11 remaining in the first half. The Ponies went three-and-out. Newman ran out the clock to end the first half with the Comets on top 12-0.
The second half saw a spirited MHS defense only allow Newman four total yards the entire second half, but the Ponies were unable to fight out of the early hole created by miscues. The half opened with Morrison stopping the Comets with a negative-six yards on three plays before they punted. The first Morrison possession ended with another fumble, lost on the initial play of the drive. Newman would have the opportunity to run more valuable time off the clock. Following another three-and-out by Newman, Morrison generated a 70-yard scoring drive ending with an 8-yard scoring run by Bush. The drive featured runs of ten and 12 yards by Deter and DeMay, respectively, collecting 34 total yards on the drive.
Newman started the final quarter with the ball on their 38-yard line, where a fumble slowed their series and forced them to punt. The Ponies knew they would have to make this drive a scoring one, to pull out the win. The drive started with a Dolan fumble, that was recovered by Morrison, and continued for 14 plays, with two successful fourth-down conversions. The clock became the Ponies’ enemy. A third-down catch by Jarrett Wiebenga with 41.7 seconds on the clock gave Morrison a last gasp, but a pass from Dolan to Deter fell incomplete on the 7-yard line. The Comets only had to knee out 33.7 seconds for the win.
The Ponies will try to improve on their 2-1 record next week at Taylor Ridge, IL, against the Rockridge Rockets. Kickoff time is 5:30 p.m.