2005 Year in Review

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Mustangs Roll Through Rams

The Morrison Mustangs continued to roll on Friday night with a very impressive performance against the Riverdale Rams. The Mustangs rolled up 459 yards on just 30 carries to average 15.3 yards per carry en route to a 54-14 thrashing of the visiting Rams. The Mustangs once again controlled the trenches allowing just 170 total yards against them. With the win, the Mustangs have outscored their first two opponents by a score of 104-22.

The Mustangs got started early off a defensive stop. The fun started with a 31-yard run up the middle by Nick Vandermyde on the Mustangs' first play from scrimmage. Six plays later, Mitch Stoermer rolled right and found Austin Rickels wide open in the back of the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown pass to put the Mustangs up 6-0 when the two-point conversion failed. Not going to lay down and die, the Rams came right back with a physical 13-play, 52-yard drive that finished on the first play of the second quarter with the Rams' workhorse fullback, Matt Moon, driving it in from four yards out to tie the game. The Mustangs faced their first deficit of the game with quarterback Beau Smith dove across the goalline to give the Rams an 8-6 lead.
That lead would last just three plays. After their first play went for no gain, Ryan Schisler threw to the flats for Sammy Biggs who ran for 16 yards before being hauled down. On the next play, Nate McBride scampered around end for 40 yards to put the Mustangs ahead 14-8; once again the two-point conversion failed and the lead stuck. The defense caused another punt and the Mustangs wasted no time in getting back on the board. Vandermyde carried the first two plays for 17 yards, before McBride ran for 17 more on the next play. On the fourth play of the drive, Biggs ran untouched down the left sideline for 41 yards and another Mustang touchdown. Following the trend, the two-point conversion was no good and the lead was 18-8.
Morrison dug in their heels on defense and held the Rams after they had started to drive and finally forced a punt that was almost broke by Biggs. This time the Mustangs would need five plays to score. Vandermyde carried for seven yards before Schisler passed to McBride for 11 yards and a first down. Biggs ran for 23 yards before being pushed out of bounds inside the Rams' fifteen-yardline. Two plays later, McBride ran it in from nine yards out before Biggs converted the two-point conversion to take a 26-8 lead. The defense would hold and the lead would stay the same as the teams headed for halftime.
Unlike last week, the Mustangs came out firing in the third quarter. Taking the ball on first possession, the hosts wasted no time in scoring with Vandermyde hauling the pigskin 56 yards on the first play from scrimmage to put the Rams in a 32-8 hole just twenty-four seconds into the second half. The Riverdale drive came to a screeching halt on just its third play when Schisler made a spectacular juggling interception while falling out of bounds to secure the ball on the Riverdale 43-yard line. Two plays later, Biggs broke around end and ran untouched, 41 yards to the promised land; Vandermyde added the two-point conversion to make it 40-8.
Frustrated to no end, the Rams gave up on the passing game but the Mustangs would allow no success on the ground either and forced a quick three and out. Mitch Stoermer avoided disaster on the first play from scrimmage as he avoided a sack deep in the pocket before rolling back to his right and finding Vandermyde for a two-yard gain instead of a 20-yard loss. Two plays later, Vandermyde broke up the middle for a gain of 14 yards on fourth down before McBride ran it in from 23 yards out for his third touchdown of the game. Brent Beveroth added the two-point conversion and the score stood at 48-8.
Yet to be satisfied, the Mustang second unit took over after the defense forced yet another Ram punt. On the first play of the drive, Nathan Neighbour broke loose for a 76-yard gain up the middle before being hauled out at the one-yard line. Following a penalty and the end of the third quarter, Beveroth ran it in from eight yards out to make it 54-8 after the two-point conversion failed. The Rams were pushed backwards on their drive and once again had to punt. Morrison began to drive the field again before a fumble turned it over the Rams with just five minutes to go.
Riverdale started the drive the field and finally scored on the final play of the game on a two-yard run that was called as the final seconds ran off the clock and cut the final deficit down to 54-14.
The Mustang rushing attack was led by Nick Vandermyde who ran for 136 yards on eight carries and one touchdown, Sammy Biggs ran for 107 yards on four carries and two touchdowns, Nate McBride gained 106 yards on nine carries and three touchdowns, Nathan Neighbour managed 80 yards on three carries, Brent Beveroth gained 21 yards on three carries and one touchdown, Roman Fernandez ran for six yards on two carries, and Ryan Schisler tallied one carry for three yards.
Mitch Stoermer was 2-3 passing for 15 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan Schisler was 3-4 for 29 yards. Austin Rickels caught two passes for 15 yards and one touchdown, Sammy Biggs had one reception for 16 yards, and Nate McBride caught one pass for 11 yards.
Greg Frickenstein and Zach Harridge anchored the defense with fourteen and twelve tackles respectively.
The Mustangs' Campaign for Champaign hits the road for the first time next Friday night, when the Mustangs(2-0) head south to Varna, to take on the River Valley Falcons(0-2) at 7:30 p.m.
For pictures of Friday night's game Click Here

by rustinl
2005-09-05 00:19:59