2005 Year in Review

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Mustangs Unable to Finish Off Comets

Friday night’s match-up between the #10 Morrison Mustangs and #6 Newman Comets turned out to be the classic that everyone thought it would be. Unfortunately, it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. In a 48-minute football game, the Mustangs controlled the Comets for 44 minutes before the wheels came off in the final four minutes. Trailing 19-8 with four minutes remaining, the Comets drove the field and scored with just over three minutes left with to cut the lead down to 19-16. Newman stopped the Mustang drive and on fourth down, Tyler Reyes broke through and blocked Ryan Schisler’s punt, which was then returned for a touchdown by Jordan Edwards with only two minutes to go. The Mustangs had their chances with the ball but were unable to convert and dropped a 22-19 heartbreaker on Senior Night.

Morrison came out and dominated the Comets with an 11-play drive that took almost six minutes off the clock and resulted in a touchdown. Sammy Biggs took the first play from scrimmage around end for four yards, before Nate McBride went off-tackle for five more yards. Nick Vandermyde picked up the first down with a five-yard run before he carried again for six more yards. The Mustangs went to the air next and Ryan Schisler found Greg Frickenstein over the top of the defense for 65 yards and huge first down. Schisler then carried for four yards before McBride rumbled for eight more and a first down. Three plays later, the ball rested on the one-yard line where Schisler took the snap and plunged forward for the touchdown. Jorge Hernandez added the extra point and the Mustangs led 7-0.
The Mustang defense then took the field in a frenzy and blew up the Comet front line forcing a three and out. The Mustangs were unable to drive on their possession and punted the ball back to the Comets putting them deep in their own territory. Newman started to drive at the end of the first quarter before continuing in the second quarter. Using the run, the Comets worked steadily downfield before facing a fourth and seven opportunity in Mustang territory. Edwards rolled out to pass and threw the ball across the middle only to have it fall incomplete. As the Mustangs began celebrating, a flag was thrown for a very questionable pass interference call. The penalty sustained the drive and led to a Newman touchdown two minutes later. Edwards ran in the two-point conversion and the Comets led 8-7.
Not to be outdone, the Mustangs came stampeding back and delivered the mail on the next drive. Sammy Biggs started the drive with a 26-yard run down the Mustangs side line and into Comet territory. McBride ran twice resulting in four yards and bringing up a third and six. This time Schisler went to the air and found Chuck Cady behind the defense for 49 yards and a touchdown. The two-point conversion attempt was no good and the ‘Stangs led 14-8.
Again the Mustang defense rose to the occasion and got the ball back following a short drive. Biggs again started the drive with a 26-yard scamper to set the ‘Stangs up inside Comet territory again. Schisler and McBride combined for nine yards before Biggs broke loose again, this time for 27 yards and a touchdown. Again the two-point conversion attempt failed, and the Mustangs led 19-8 with just over a minute to play in the half. Newman ran out the clock and the teams headed for the locker room with Morrison in control.
Both teams came out ready to play in the third quarter and worked each other into a stalemate. The Comets were contained on the ground but occasionally found success through the air. The Mustangs were unable to really sustain a drive and both teams ended up punting back and forth. In the middle of the quarter with the Mustangs backed up deep into their own territory and punting, Schisler reversed the field with a booming 53-yard punt that rolled to a stop around the Mustang 30. Dustin Vandermyde ended the quarter with a bone-crushing sack on Comet quarterback Jordan Edwards and with one quarter of the 2005 regular season remaining, the Mustangs continued to lead 19-8.
Through the first half of the quarter, the teams continued to stalemate each other until the Mustangs gave the Newman the ball on the 30-yard line following a punt with just over six minutes remaining. Edwards took over the game from there by leading the Comets downfield through the air. The Mustangs were able to get pressure on Edwards but the deflating play came on third and 23 when Edwards found Zac Homes for 21 yards. The Comets would convert the first down on the next play on a three-yard run by Nate Driessens. From there Edwards completed two more passes, the second of which was a 15-yarder that resulted in a diving catch in the end zone by Ben Warkins. The two-point conversion was good by Warkins and the score stood at 19-16.
An inspired Comet defense took the field and drove the Mustangs back eight yards on the next three plays forcing Schisler back to punt on fourth and 18. Needing it, the Comets sent all but one for the block and were successful as Tyler Reyes got a hand on the ball. Edwards then scooped it up and ran it back twenty yards to the end zone to give the Comets a 22-19 lead. The two-point conversion was stopped and the Mustangs trailed by three with two minutes to go.
Vandermyde returned the ensuing kickoff down to the Comet 45 where the Mustangs took over with the hurry-up offense. Three plays into the drive, Schisler found Biggs on a screen for 11 yards and a first down. Vandermyde ran for no yards on first down and Schisler’s next three passes fell incomplete giving the Comets the ball on downs with just 48 seconds left. Edwards fell to a knee twice to end the game.
Sammy Biggs led the Pony Express with 83 yards on six carries and a touchdown. Nick Vandermyde ran 13 times for 47 yards. Nate McBride had 44 yards on 14 carries and Ryan Schisler ran nine times for negative nine yards and a touchdown. Schisler was 4-11 through the air for 129 yards and a touchdown. Greg Frickenstein caught one pass for 65 yards. Austin Rickels caught one pass for four yards. Chuck Cady caught one pass for 49 yards and a touchdown and Sammy Biggs caught one pass for 11 yards.
Nick and Dustin Vandermyde led the defense with 13 tackles followed by Brent Beveroth with nine tackles, Austin Rickels, Ryan Schisler, and Zach Harridge with seven tackles, Nathan Neighbour with four tackles, Nate McBride, Greg Frickenstein, and Chris Scott with two tackles, and Mitch Stoermer, Sammy Biggs, Adam Rumfelt, and Ryan Scott with one tackle. Mitch Stoermer recovered a fumble as well to assist the defensive effort.
The Campaign for Champaign rolls into the playoffs next week as the #4 seeded Mustangs will host #5 Warren-River Ridge on Saturday, October 29, at 2 p.m. The Mustangs will look to win their first playoff game since defeating Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley in 1999.

by rustinl
2005-10-23 21:36:04