2005 Year in Review

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Mustangs Defend Wooden Shoe

The Morrison Mustangs did more than just win the Wooden Shoe on Friday night. They clinched a playoff spot and might have knocked the Steamers from playoff contention by handing them their fourth loss of the season. The Mustangs were effectively able to withstand a rush of intensity by the Steamers in the third quarter and pulled away in the fourth quarter to take a 35-7 victory. The most important variable in the victory was the +5 turnover margin by the ‘Stangs, who took advantage of three fumbles and three interceptions that hurt the Steamers at costly times and set the Mustangs up with a short field several times.

The Mustangs set the pace of the game on just the third play from scrimmage, as Zach Harridge forced and recovered a fumble that allowed the Mustangs to go to work deep in Steamer territory. Ryan Schisler started the drive with a nine-yard carry before he was tackled for a loss of two on the next play. Schisler’s third down pass fell incomplete bringing up fourth and three. Sammy Biggs picked up the first down on an 18-yard carry around end setting up Nate McBride, who finished the drive with a four-yard run off-tackle to put the ‘Stangs ahead barely more than three minutes into the game. Shaun Vegter’s extra-point attempt was good and the Mustangs led 7-0.
Morrison came back and forced the Steamers into a punt and went back to work on another score. The drive looked to be in trouble early when the Mustangs faced third and seven, but Schisler looked long down the left sideline and found Chuck Cady, who went up and made a spectacular leaping catch for a Mustang first down inside the Steamer red zone. Nick Vandermyde followed with an 11-yard run and a two-yard run to bring up second and goal from the three. Again it was an off-tackle run by McBride for the touchdown. Vegter’s kick was partially blocked but was still good making the score 14-0. A roughing the kicker penalty allowed Ryan ‘Ogre’ Scott to kick the ensuing kickoff out of the back of the end zone for a touchback.
Fulton held the ball for the rest of the quarter and looked to drive early in the second quarter, when Tyler Manon broke loose for a 23-yard gain into Mustang territory. The drive would end three plays later. Facing third and four, Andrew Zahnley dropped back to pass only to have his pass deflected by Austin Rickels. Nick Vandermyde then dove over a Steamer to intercept the pass before it hit the ground. Morrison quickly began driving by using a balanced running attack. McBride kept the drive alive early with a 16-yard scamper around end before Sammy Biggs broke off a pair of nine yard runs for a first down. McBride ran for six more yards but a penalty backed the Mustangs into a third and long situation. McBride ran for three yards on third down and a quick screen to McBride netted two more yards, but it would not be enough and the Mustangs turned it over on downs. The Steamers threatened again when Ryan Damhoff broke off a 21-yard gain, but once again the Mustangs dug in their heels and held off the Steamers and got the ball back on downs. Morrison ran the clock out and took a 14-0 lead into halftime.
Penalties killed the Mustangs’ opening drive and forced them to punt from deep in their own territory. On the punt, the Steamers were able to break through and force Schisler to scramble. The result was a turnover on downs that gave Fulton the ball on the Mustang 25 yard line. Four plays later, Ben Kuebel ran it in from a yard out cut the lead down to 14-7 after Kuebel made the extra point.
The Mustangs started the drive with a little trickery, as McBride took the pitch, setup, and threw back across field to Schisler for a 16-yard gain. From there the drive stalled and resulted in Schisler throwing an interception on fourth and 11 that gave Fulton the ball on its own 35. Three plays into the drive, the Steamers fumbled and Dustin Vandermyde dove on it for the Mustangs to once again set up a short field.
Following the quarter break, the Mustangs finally started to pull away. Four plays after the fumble recovery, McBride cashed in on his third touchdown, this a one-yard run. Vegter’s extra point was blocked and Morrison led 20-7. Following a long kick return by Kuebel, Kuebel fumbled the ball on the first play of the drive to set the Mustangs up near midfield. Harridge was again the beneficiary of the fumble and was credited with his second recovery of the game. On the second play of the drive, Biggs took a handoff on the right side and cut all the way back across field and ran uncontested 50 yards for a touchdown. Schisler completed a pass to McBride for the two-point conversion to make it 28-7.
Fulton’s next possession lasted two plays before Greg Frickenstein intercepted a pass and returned it eight yards to set the Mustangs up with a short field again. McBride carried twice on the first two plays of the drive to give Morrison a first down. After that the drive stalled and Morrison quickly faced a fourth and ten. Following a time-out, Schisler threw a perfect pass out to Biggs who lost his defender and sprinted under the ball for a 37-yard touchdown pass that was the final nail in the coffin. Vegter added the extra point and the score stood at 35-7.
Once again, the Steamers’ drive lasted only two plays before this time it was Schisler that intercepted the pass and returned it 21 yards allowing the Mustangs to run out the clock and ice the 35-7 Wooden Shoe victory.
Nate McBride led the rushing game for the Mustangs with 112 yards on 16 carries and three touchdowns. Sammy Biggs followed with 110 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Nick Vandermyde tallied 35 yards on 12 carries. Ryan Schisler ran for 25 yards on 12 carries. Greg Frickenstein ran once for two yards and Brent Beveroth ran once for one yard. Ryan Schisler was 3-6 passing for 63 yards and a touchdown. Nate McBride was 1-1 passing for 16 yards. Chuck Cady caught one pass for 24 yards. Sammy Biggs caught one pass for 37 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Schisler caught one pass for 16 yards, and Nate McBride caught one pass for two yards.
Nick Vandermyde, Greg Frickenstein, Brent Beveroth, and Zach Harridge led the defense with eight tackles each followed by Roman Fernandez with six tackles, Nathan Neighbour with five tackles, Dustin Vandermyde and Ryan Schisler with two tackles, and Sammy Biggs, Austin Rickels, Chris Scott, Ryan Scott, and Daniel Deter with one tackle apiece. Zach Harridge recovered two fumbles while Dustin Vandermyde recovered one. Nick Vandermyde, Greg Frickenstein, and Ryan Schisler each intercepted passes.
The Mustangs (6-1) will next be in action on Friday night, October 14, when they host the Peru St. Bede Bruins (5-2) in the Homecoming game at 7:30 p.m.

by rustinl
2005-10-10 09:36:24