Written and photos by Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey.
The annual IHSA State Football Playoffs carry a special excitement. The Round One contest at Morrison High School owned an extra challenge, because it included a game between two arch-rivals. The Morrison Mustangs and the Fulton Steamers have met on the gridiron for decades. This Saturday, October 28, 2023, contest revives many of those games in the minds of the alumni filing through the gates for the 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
The Steamers struck first at the 3:39 mark of the first quarter, when A. J. Boardman crossed the end line from the 5-yard line. The touchdown was set up by a 49-yard pass completion from Dom Kramer to Jacob Huisenga on the previous play. The extra point failed, and the Steamers led 6-0. The Steamers scored again on their next possession with a 1-yard plunge by Kramer. The Steamers took a 12-0 lead over the host and #5 ranked Mustangs.
Needing a spark to ignite the crowd, Brady Anderson strutted his stuff, by taking the first snap of the Mustangs’ ensuing possession. He evaded tacklers for a 62-yard touchdown, followed by an extra point kick by Josh McDearman. The scoreboard was reset to 12-7 in favor of the Steamers.
As the half wore down each team owned the ball twice and failed to penetrate the end zone. Then, Mustang Carson Strating intercepted a Kramer pass at the 44-yard line and rumbled down to the 5-yard line, before being stopped by the Steamers. Two snaps later, Anderson scored from the 3-yard line with 1:36 left on the halftime clock. McDearmon’s foot upped the score to 14-12, and this score would be taken into the locker room at halftime.
The Mustangs received the second-half kickoff on the 30-yard line and were only able to gain eight yards in three plays. This forced punter Daeshaun McQueen to take the fourth down snap, in anticipation of a Mustang punt. Instead, McQueen tucked the snap under his arm, scampered around right end, and broke tackles en route to a 37-yard gain and first down at the Steamer 24-yard line! An Anderson short gain and a Steamer penalty preceded a 15-yard pass completion from Colton Bielema to McQueen, to place the ball on the Steamers’ 4-yard line. Two snaps later, Strating scored and was successful on a 2-point conversion. The Mustangs held a 22-12 lead, with 8:21 remaining in the third quarter.
Third-quarter dominance by the Mustang defense was highlighted by a drive-ending interception by Camden Pruis at the Steamers’ 20-yard line. The next snap saw Anderson take the hand-off and gallop 80 yards. The scoreboard changed to 28-12 with 3:16 left in the third quarter. Halftime adjustments had held the Steamers to 0-yards rushing and only 23-yards passing in the third quarter. Defense allowed the Mustangs to take command of the contest.
The Steamers were forced to rely on the aerial game in the fourth quarter. However, they only succeeded on four conversions on ten attempts, which gained 24 yards. Meanwhile, the Mustangs found the end zone again on a drive of 50 yards. They featured two, 19-yard pass completions to McQueen, before Bielama connected with Blake Adams in the end zone to form the final 34-12 win.
The Mustangs advance to a second-round Playoff game against Kewanee/Wethersfield next [Saturday, November 5, at 1:00 p.m.,] at Wethersfield Memorial Stadium, Kewanee, IL.
