2004 Year in Review

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Mustangs Take Big Season Opener Win in Ottawa

The Varsity and J.V. football teams left school a few minutes early on August 27 to board a charter bus headed for Ottawa, IL. This was the first game of the year and the Mustangs were hoping that all of the summer training they received would pay off, and it did.

After watching the Junior Varsity team shut out the Ottawa Marquette Crusaders 27-0 in the steamy weather, the Mustangs came out on the field ready to play. Morrison Kicked off the ball first, and forced the Crusaders to punt at the Morrison 45 yard line. After Sammy Biggs took the fair catch, Quarterback Mitch Stoermer managed to get a first down, but was forced to punt, giving the ball back to Ottawa-Marquette on their own 28. Don DeBernardi of the Crusaders took the Quarterback Keeper and ran downfield about 30 yards, and later in the drive did the same play, taking the ball into the end-zone. Matt Kistler received the kick and brought it out to the 38-yard line; Doug Vandermyde furthered the drive with a reception and a run to midfield, but early in the second quarter, Morrison’s strong drive was stopped.

Morrison’s defense forced the crusaders into a punting situation, and they fumbled the snap, giving Morrison great field position on the Crusader’s 28-yard line. Morrison pushed the ball to the 11-yard line, and Mitch Stoermer ran the ball the rest of the way to the end zone, tying the score at 6 after missing the P.A.T. On the kickoff, Ottawa’s John Dunn had a great reception, taking the ball 78 yards before being brought down at the 7-yard line. The Defense held the Crusaders until 4th down, when tight end Dustin Gama caught a pass in the end zone. A great stop by Zach Harridge of Morrison stopped the 2 pt. Conversion, putting the score at 12-6. On the following kickoff, Matt Kistler caught the kick and took it 80 yards into the goal. A successful P.A.T. by Matt Hook gave Morrison the first lead of the game, 13-12. With just minutes left in the half, Ottawa-Marquette managed to take the ball from their 27-yard line to the end zone, putting the score at 18-13 going into the half.

Morrison received the ball first after the half, and during the drive, Matt Kistler had a good run, putting the ball at the 44-yard line before Mitch Stoermer threw an interception to Ottawa-Marquette’s Phil Strever. The crusaders had a good drive, but the heat and fatigue started to set in as they fumbled on the 23-yard line, being recovered by Austin Rickels. Morrison was forced to punt later on the drive, but the Crusaders again fumbled, and Matt Hook fell on top of it. By the end of the 3rd quarter, Morrison had brought the ball to the 45 and was facing a punt in the beginning of the 4th.

Morrison’s defense again forced Ottawa-Marquette to punt, which Sammy Biggs took to the 26. A great run by Kistler put the Mustangs in a good position, but a great escape by Mitch Stoermer opened up the field and allowed him to throw it to Ryan Schisler, giving the Mustangs the first down. Sammy Biggs had a good effort, running the ball to the 5 before Greg Frickenstein pushed to the 2. Schisler had the catch for the touchdown, but the 2 pt. conversion was no good. On the kickoff, Brent Beveroth forced another fumble, which Morrison again fell on. The Mustangs steadily drove the exhausted Crusader Defense to their goal line, where Marcus Hill ran in for the touchdown, putting the score at 25-18. Matt Hook had a good kick, putting the Crusaders deep in their own territory, forcing them to pass due to time. Ryan Schisler picked off one of the attempts, allowing Morrison to take a knee and end the game with a final score of 25-18.

by larryg
2004-08-28 23:46:17