One has to reach out to the Morrison Mustangs, as the games wind down on a season that has not seen a win and has included only one touchdown in the last four weeks. In addition, on Friday, October 10, 2014, they had to travel to Rockridge High School and play the #4 ranked team in the IHSA Class 2A on Senior Night, which often creates extra adrenalin. Want more reasons? The opponent’s front line and line backing corp are listed at weighing 190, 260, 240, 190, 250, and 220 pounds. Also, this team has only one loss, and that was to the #1 ranked Newman Comets. But, it was Friday night, and a football game had to be played, and, so, it began.
The Mustangs won the coin flip and deferred to receive the kickoff in the second half, so the Rockets started their first possession at their own 45 yard line. Seven snaps later the Rockets scored on a 12-yard pass completion from Luke Johnson to T. J. Martens. That was followed by an extra point kick by Kyle Salmon, to make the score 7-0 at the 9:49 mark.
The Mustangs started their opening drive with Justin Jensen under center and Joey Brackemyer as a running back to accompany Andy Bird and Mason Sitzmore. The Mustangs went three-and-out, and the Rockets regained possession on their own 24 yard line after the Sitzmore punt. Quarterback Luke Johnson called his own number and found a hole over the left side. He out-ran the Mustangs for a 76-yard touchdown. With 8:08 left in the first quarter the Rockets led 14-0. Another three-and-out by the Mustangs preceded the Rocket’s nine-play drive, that covered 44 yards and moved the score to 21-0 with 2:01 left in the quarter. The next possession ended on the second snap, when Sitzmore fumbled, and Rockridge’s Logan Gilllespie scooped up the loose ball and returned the 25 yards to the end zone. The first quarter ended with the Mustangs trailing 28-0.
The Mustangs turned the ball over on downs, when Jenson failed to connect with Tristan Houzenga on fourth down on their own 28 yard line. Johnson immediately found Isaiah Kistler over the middle for 25 yards. He covered the last yards to the goal line with a quarterback sneak, and the score rose to 34-0 with 11:01 left in the first half. One minute later, Rockridge’s Nolan Stevens intercepted a Jensen pass and had an open field to score a touchdown. He chose to stop, hand off to a trailing lineman, and allow his teammate a chance to score instead. The bulky lineman took the handoff and celebrated, as he crossed the goal line, but a flag came out and the hand off was ruled as a “forward lateral.” The touchdown was nullified. The penalized play gave the Rockets the ball on the 10 yard line. It only took two snaps to score again, and the margin moved to 43-0 with 8:56 left in the first half.
The first half ended with the Rockets dominating offensively with 229 yards against the Mustangs’ 55. The Mustangs lost another player to injury, as Emmit Sheppard watched the rest of the game under an ice pack.
The second half was played with a “mercy clock” that only stops for time outs and injuries. The Mustangs owned the ball the entire third quarter, as they drove from their own 38 yard line, to end the quarter on the Rockridge 2 yard line.
Opening the fourth quarter, Andy Bird covered the two yards to prevent the shutout. Tristan Houzenga kicked the extra point to form a 43-7 score.
The Rockets controlled the ball the entire fourth quarter. They called a time out with two minutes to go, to allow the starting team to take a final snap on the last home game before the home crowd. They then put all Seniors in the lineup, to do the same.
The Mustangs will be in action again next week against Erie-Prophetstown at Erie, IL, with a 5:30 p.m. start for the Fresh-Soph game.