2005 Year in Review

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Curtain Falls on Mustangs

On August 10, the Morrison Mustangs started camp with high expectations and a goal of overcoming those expectations. Eighty-six days later, the Mustangs’ dream season came to a close in Dakota. The Dakota Indians (11-0) proved that they are well worth the number one seed as they dominated the Mustangs on both sides of the ball. Dakota rolled up 260 yards while holding the Mustangs to just 84 and cruising to a 32-15 victory. The loss brings Morrison’s final record to 8-3 with their three losses coming to teams with a combined two losses.

Dakota took the opening kickoff and controlled the clock as they would for most of the game before their drive faltered and the Mustangs took over on downs. Morrison’s possession would not have the results they wanted. On third down, Ryan Schisler rolled right and spotted Chuck Cady open behind the defense. Unfortunately his pass was a little short and was intercepted by Jared Benedetto and returned back to the Indian 25-yard line. Dakota would go in to score from there by continuing to ride fullback Matt Wenger. Wenger would add the two-point conversion and Dakota led 8-0 with 3:24 remaining in the first quarter.
Morrison came right back and put together a drive. Nick Vandermyde sparked the drive on the second play with a 17-yard run up the middle. The drive then looked to be in trouble but on third and 12, Schisler hooked up with Chuck Cady for a gain of 20 yards down to the Dakota 19-yard line. Vandermyde ran for three yards and Nate McBride ran for seven yards to set up first and goal from the nine. After the quarter break, Biggs ran twice for a gain of five yards before Vandermyde charged ahead for a gain of two yards bringing up fourth and goal from the two yards line. Biggs came through in the clutch by powering through the line for a touchdown. Jorge Hernandez added the extra point and the score stood at 8-7.
The Indians responded with a long 13-play drive that resulted in a five-yard touchdown run by Benedetto. The two-point conversion was again successful and the lead was extended to 16-7. Morrison’s next drive was unsuccessful and resulted in a three and out, giving Dakota the ball with a short field and two and a half minutes to work with. The Indians worked the ball down inside the red zone before the Mustangs responded and looked as if they’d be able to hold until halftime. Nick Vandermyde recorded a sack and a penalty forced the Indians into third and goal from the 20. On third down, Sammy Biggs flagged with a questionable pass interference call that gave the Indians first and goal from the ten. Again the Mustangs put up a front until the Indians finally punched it in with 23 seconds left. Another two-point conversion made it 24-7 as the final seconds ticked off the clocks and halftime arrived.
As they have all season, when faced with adversity the ‘Stangs responded. On the first play of the opening possession of the second half, Nate McBride took the handoff and raced 61 yards thanks to a pair of great seal blocks by Austin Rickels and Sammy Biggs and the Mustangs were right back in the game. Biggs charged ahead for the two-point conversion and the lead was cut back to 24-15.
Dakota came back with one of their typical drives as they kept it on the ground riding Wenger and Tyler Olsen all the way down into the Mustang red zone. With their season slipping through their season, the Mustangs pulled a stand and forced a turnover on downs swinging the momentum over to the visiting sideline for the first time all day. The momentum quickly swung back to the Indians as Wenger intercepted Nate Vandermyde’s pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown and a dagger in the heart of the Mustangs. Wenger added the two-point conversion to make it a three-possession game at 32-15.
Morrison seemed lost for the rest of the game. The offense struggled and was pushed backwards for a loss of 22 yards for the rest of the game. The Mustangs’ final two possessions resulted in punts on fourth and 32 and fourth and 31, each coming from the one-yard line. Meanwhile, Dakota was able to continue to run the ball and milk the clock and finally was able to fall to a knee and preserve the victory and move on to face Lena-Winslow, who defeated Newman 38-14 on Saturday.
Nate McBride led the rushing attack with 53 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. Nick Vandermyde carried eight times for 39 yards. Sammy Biggs ran for six yards on seven carries and touchdown. Ryan Schisler was held to negative nine yards on one carry and Nate Vandermyde had four totes for negative 29 yards.
Ryan Schisler was 2-4 passing for 25 yards. Nate Vandermyde was 1-2 for zero yards. Chuck Cady caught one pass for 20 yards, Nick Vandermyde had one catch for five yards, and Nate McBride had no yards on one catch. Jorge Hernandez was 1-1 on extra point kicks.
The Mustangs would like to thank everyone for their support on their Campaign for Champaign. The Hard Hittin’ Tour ’05 wouldn’t have been as much fun without you.
This year’s squad was anchored by a core of seniors who stepped up and were tremendous leaders both on and off the field. Congratulations on a fine career and good luck to this year’s seniors: #9 Mitch Stoermer, #21 Sammy Biggs, #22 Brent Beveroth, #24 Austin Rickels, #30 Kenny Benson, #33 Greg Frickenstein, #41 Alan VanRiet, #44 Roman Fernandez, #45 Ryan Schisler, #51 Zach Harridge, #55 Adam Rumfelt, #60 Dustin Vandermyde, #63 Ryan Scott, #70 Charles Bull, and #75 Adam Landheer.

by rustinl
2005-11-06 16:50:31