2007 Year in Review

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Defense Dominates

By Jerry Lindsey

If only one phase of the game between the two undefeated teams that met Friday night at Amboy had to be identified as the deciding factor, it would definitely be ‘the defense’. The Morrison Mustang’s defensive pressure wouldn’t allow any wind in the Clipper’s sails and the result was a 43-8 spanking of the previous unbeaten Amboy Clippers.

As in previous weeks, the Mustangs received the kickoff and quickly posted numbers on the scoreboard. Tyler Hayes received the kick on the 20 yard line and returned it to the Amboy 46. The first play resulted in a Morrison penalty that moved the ball back to the Morrison 49. The next snap was taken by Nate Vandermyde before he dropped back and spotted a streaking Nate McBride open down the left sideline. The perfectly thrown pass fell into the arms of McBride and he walked into the end zone for the opening score with only 28 seconds gone off the clock. Christoph Erber completed the extra point and the Mustangs were up 7-0.

The defense sent their message the first series of downs as Adam Cook stopped Taylor Kaleel for no gain , a penalty , an incomplete pass, and another run for no gain set up a Nate Vandermyde pass interception on the 22 yard line and the drive was ended.

McBride quickly moved the ball out to the 45 yard line, but the ‘Stangs were unable to move the ball any further and a punt gave the Clippers the ball on their own 40 yard line. Two rushes and an incomplete past later and the ball remained on the 40 yard line. A punt forced the Mustangs to start the next drive on their own 6 yard line. Matt Proud eased the pressure by carrying the first snap out to the 40.Two snaps later, Vandermyde found Dustin Jones for a first down on the Amboy 25 yard line. Following an eleven yard gain by Proud, Vandermyde again found Jones slanting across the Amboy middle and hit him for a 14 yard touchdown. Erber converted again to put the Mustangs up by 14 with 1:57 left in the first quarter.

The second quarter went back and forth with Morrison ending two of its three possessions with punts and the third possession ended with a failed 4 and 10 attempt. Amboy also owned the pigskin for three possession with one ending with an incomplete 4th and 8 pass in the end zone, the second with a punt and the third stopped by the half-time clock.

The halftime was extended by Homecoming activities and lightning flashes, before the teams returned with Amboy receiving the opening kick-off. A fired up Amboy eleven took the kick-off on their own 41 yard line and generated a thirteen play drive that ended with an eleven yard TD pass from Travis Nauman to Anthony Wells. A two point conversion made the score 14-8 with 6:21 left in the third quarter.

Whatever hopes the Clippers had were quickly vanished as ‘the Defense’, which had been stingy all night, was about to make it presence felt even more. Morrison earned one first down before a Vandermyde punt gave the clippers the ball on their own 14 yard line. On the third snap of the series, Ethan Goodenough chased Nauman down from behind and forced a fumble that Adam Cook tried to pick up and advance but wisely fell on at the 5 yard line. The first play gave the ball to Nate McBride who swept right end and broke several tackles before diving headlong into the end zone for the score. Coach Rickles called for the two point conversion which saw Vandermyde find Dustin Jones for the two point completion and the score was 22-8 with 3:45 left in the quarter.

The spark carried over to the defensive side of the ball as Amboy’s quarterback started to see more white jerseys in his backfield. They fumbled the halfback pitch on the first play and recovered it without a gain, but questionable pass interference gave them a first down on the next play. Two more plays only gained two yards before excellent pass defense by Derek Ward broke up the third play and forced a punt which the Mustangs grounded on their own 13 yard line. A 13 yard run by Proud was followed by two runs by McBride that totaled 53 yards and Tyler Hayes carried to the 14 as the third quarter ended.

The fourth quarter saw McBride skirt the end for a 14 yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Erber’s foot made it 29-8 with only 7 seconds off the fourth quarter clock. Erber’s kickoff was poorly handled and the Clippers started on their own 11 yard line. “The Defense’ forced a Nauman fumble which he recovered on the 2 yard line, but a piling on penalty moved the ball out to the 17. The next snap saw Nauman roll left and was caught by Adam Cook and sacked on the 8 yard line. As the Mustangs crowd yelled their approval, Travis Nauman lay in pain unable to move his right shoulder without grimacing in pain. The Amboy quarterback was assisted to the sideline and did not return the remainder of the evening. An Amboy punt gave the ‘Stangs the next possession on the 50 yard line where Nate McBride took the first snap and outran everyone to score his fourth touchdown of the night. The extra point by Erber moved the score to 36-8 with 9:54 left to play.

The ensuing series ended as quickly as it started with Goodenough recovering a fumble on the Amboy 41 yard line on the third play from scrimmage. McBride and Proud ran time off the clock and advanced the ball to the 15 yard line at which time the second team offense took over and finished the drive when a 4th and goal run by Seth Ashpole upped the score to 42-8. Andres Santacoloma was successful in his first extra point attempt of the game and the final score moved to 43-8.

The top-ranked Mustangs will travel to Bureau Valley next Friday night with every intention to build on the perfect 5-0 record.

The Fresh-Soph team shut out the previously undefeated Amboy squad by the score of 28-0 to start the Mustang ruination of the Amboy Homecoming celebrations.

by dzuidema
2007-09-29 11:58:21