Editor’s note: Jerry Lindsey took the photos.
The match up of the Fresh-Soph football teams from Riverdale High School and Morrison High School for the Morrison Homecoming could possibly be labeled a “mismatch.” This label is offered due to the statistics that read that the Morrison Ponies had eight possessions and scored a touchdown on each ownership.
The total offensive yards gained by Morrison was 360, compared to a Riverdale’s total of 95. The Ponies had four backs gain over 50 yards: Hunter Newman (105), Brehenan Linke (95), Kayden White (57), and Alex Anderson (56.) The visiting Rams never earned a rushing first down until the Rams broke a 43-yard run in the fourth quarter.
Their only score came with 1:10 remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, to end the 46-3 romp by the undefeated Ponies.
The undefeated Ponies took the field without quarterback Nathan Helms, end T. C. Ottens, and lineman Tyson Smith, due to their Varsity promotion, but the stampede of Ponies was not altered by the change in personnel. The Morrison defense continued a dominance that they have owned every Friday/Saturday night and their pride and confidence shows each week. The offense took the same pride onto E. M. “Bud” Cole Field Friday evening, September 28, 2018.
The first score was recorded by a powerful run by freshman Kayden White on a 41-yard score, followed by an Alex Anderson 2-point conversion from three yards out. The second drive covered 57-yards, and quarterback Hunter Newman gained 49 of those yards on two carries. Brhenan Linke added the conversion points to end the first quarter at 16-0. The strict Pony defense only allowed the Young Rams a -10 yards in three possessions in the quarter.
The second quarter opened with a pass completion from quarterback Bryce Ditto, after the ball was tipped by Braxton Houzenga, and ended in a 23-yard gain. The next play saw Hunter Newman intercept a Ditto aerial to give the Ponies the ball at their own 14-yard line. The interception set up a 16-play drive ending in a Newman 1-yard score and a Houzenga 2-point conversion, with 55 seconds remaining in the half and the score at 24-0. The ensuing kickoff was fumbled by the Rams and recovered by Morrison’s Thomas Schlafer on the Riverdale 48-yard line. With 49 seconds remaining, Newman connected with Alex Anderson for a 25-yard completion and again with White for an 18-yard score. Linke stamped the 2-point conversion on the scoreboard, and the half ended with the Ponies up 32-0. The stingy Pony defense had only allowed the Rams -3 yards rushing and the 23-yard tipped pass completion in the half.
The third quarter opened with the Ponies scoring after a nine-play drive ending with a Newman 18-yard scamper and a Linke conversion. The only Ram possession of the quarter was a three-and-out, caused by a Justice Imel 10-yard sack of quarterback Ditto and a negative 4-yard loss initiated by Nathan Schaefer.
The fourth quarter offense ended with a 3-yard score by Linke and a Houzenga conversion to end the Ponies total at 46 for the evening. The Rams’ scoreboard moved off of the zero, when Eaton Day kicked a field goal with 1:10 remaining in the game, showing a Homecoming win for the Morrison Ponies 46-3.
The final Morrison home game is scheduled for Friday, October 5, with the Fresh-Soph game starting at 5:30 p.m. against the Orion, IL, Chargers.
