It was a stressful and emotional week. It was not certain how the events of the week would affect the games that were postponed from Friday evening, September 30, 2016. But, on Saturday, October 1, the Mustangs came out with a fired-up effort and played the hosting Fulton, IL, Steamers a lot tougher than the final score of 35-13 appears.
The Mustangs opened with a new offensive look. They went to the air seven times in their first two possessions of the opening quarter, with the first appearance of Ethan Fischbach running out of the “shotgun.” Quarterback Reilly Dolan attempted eight passes and connected only on two; two were tipped, and another was dropped in the first quarter. The Steamers were unable to earn a first down and only gained 12 yards on the ground, as the first quarter ended without a score.
Fulton lit the scoreboard first with a 67-yard drive that featured two impressive plays. Sweenie found Cole McClary wide open in the right flat, for a 16-yard completion, and another 28 yarder to Ty Paulline, to grab a 14-0 lead. The second score came with only 1:50 remaining in the half. Sweenie found Paulline open in the right flat, and he walked into the endzone untouched. The Mustangs scored with 31.9 seconds left in the half. A drive that started on the Morrison 33-yard line was aided by a Fulton personal foul and a spectacular one-handed catch by Fischbach to complete a 28-yard pass. Nathan Bush finished the drive with a 2-yard plunge. The half ended with the Steamers holding a 14-6 lead.
To open the second half, Morrison’s defense forced the Steamers to punt, after three plays failed to earn a first down. Fulton’s kickoff pinned the Mustangs on their 8-yard line, but two Fulton penalties and a 13-yard run by Bush set up a 35-yard touchdown by Bush, closing the score to 14-13. McClary returned the ensuing kickoff out to the 42-yard line, then he teamed with Sweenie for a 19-yard pass completion. That was followed by a 23-yard reverse by Pauline, and the Steamers were first-and-goal on the three yard line. Michael Pidde took the next snap in for the score, advancing the Steamers’ margin to 21-13. The Mustangs responded immediately by taking possession on their own 35-yard line. Using eight rushing plays took them into the “red zone.” Bush and the offensive line ignited the Mustang loyals. He found a hole over left tackle and bullied for a ten-yard gain, then moved the massive pile of Steamer tacklers another nine yards, before he was blown dead by the officials on the 13-yard line. The drive ended two snaps later when Fulton’s Pidde recovered a Mustang fumble on the 13-yard line.
To open the fourth quarter, following another Fulton penalty, the Steamers started their drive on their own 8-yard line. A 14-yarder and an 8-yarder by Pidde–combined with a Morrison penalty–moved the ball out to the 31-yard line. There, Sweenie and Tyler Bruggenwirth connected on a 52-yard pass completion. That set up an Austin Schroeder 18-yard touchdown pass completion to Paulline, and the score moved to 27-13. The Mustangs had only 9:59 left to cut into the Steamer lead. Dolan went to his playmaker, Fischbach, but he was covered and intercepted by Bryce Grant on the Fulton 40-yard line. Eight plays later, the Steamers were first-and-goal on the three-yard line. Sweenie mishandled the snap, and the ball squirted across the goal. Lineman Nate Wierema fell on it for the touchdown with only 4:18 remaining. Dylan Keller returned the kickoff out to the 42-yard line, where Nathan McLuckie intercepted a pass that bounced off of Keller‘s hands on the next play. Any hope for a resurgence faded. The Steamers ran off the remaining 3:51 to record a 35-13 win and accepted the Wooden Shoe as a symbol of the victory.
Morrison utilized seven ball carriers to mount the 207 rushing yards, with Nathan Bush leading the team with 68 yards. The Steamers recorded 201 yards rushing, but outgained the Mustangs in the air, 204 to 41.
Morrison 0 – 7 – 6 – 0 = 13
Fulton 0 – 14 – 7 – 14 = 35