Editor’s note: Jerry Lindsey took the photo.
The 2018 football season closed for the Fresh/Soph Morrison Ponies, with the second undefeated season in a row and the development of many athletes that will contribute to the Mustang program for the upcoming season. The season finale on Friday, October 19, 2018, at Bureau Valley played out similar to the previous eight games–with the offense dominating the statistics and the defense raising havoc in the trenches.
Statistically, the Ponies offense racked up 313 yards on the ground and an additional 78 yards off the arm of quarterback Hunter Newman. Defensively, they stopped the Storm possessions with one fumble recovery, three interceptions, and one failed fourth-down attempt. The Fresh/Soph team allowed only one score in nine possessions. This has been the pattern the Ponies have executed against each opponent, and they were rewarded with a perfect 9-0 season ending record.
The Pony’s opening drive covered 91-yards in six plays. John Winkleman gained 33 yards, Alex Anderson gained 30, and Kayden White scored the touchdown with a strong 22-yard run. Anderson converted the two-point conversion, and the Ponies were in charge at the 7:33 mark. The Storm’s first possession was quickly ended with a Justice Emel fumble recovery, that turned into another score five plays later, as Newman and Anderson connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass. This moved the Pony’s advantage to two touchdowns, 16-0. The Storm responded on their next possession and scored, on a 56-yard scamper by quarterback Evan Eckberg, and the quarter ended with the Ponies still up 16-8. The Pony defense closed the door following the Eckberg TD, by only allowing the Storm 28 rushing yards the remainder of the evening.
The remaining three quarters were all Morrison’s. They gained 185 yards and recorded scores by Newman (31-yard run), Brehnan Linke (9-yard and 2-yard run), and Anderson (2-yard run.) While the offense was rapidly changing the scoreboard, the defense caused drive-ending plays, as Newman intercepted Eckberg two times and White once. White’s interception included 53-yard return before he was knocked out of bounds on the 9-yard line. Linke scored on the following snap. Other drives were shortened on strong defensive plays that created lost yardage by Emel, Tyler Shambaugh, Beau Brackemeyer, and Tyson Smith. This was truly a team effort!
The 300+ yards rolled up by the offense was accomplished by several Ponies: Kayden White (112 yds), Alex Anderson (75 yds), Brehnan Linke (53 yds), John Winkleman (42 yds), and Braxton Houzenga (15 yds.)
The first season under head coach Sammy Biggs and staff ends with no defeats, an aggressive offense, and a very stingy defense. Everyone is focused on the off season activities, that will bring renewed hopes to the Mustang program for the 2019 season.
