Written and photos by Assistant Editor Jerry Lindsey
Friday, October the 13th, 2023, offered the Morrison Mustangs an evening to remember. They entered a rain-soaked field at Port Byron, IL, with the skies unrelenting as the game progressed. A chilly 55 degrees accompanied by a constant rain welcomed the hearty fans that ventured out into the unpredictable evening.
The Riverdale Ram Football program is in its first year of revival. The sport took a hiatus from competing due to low participation numbers, but the 2023 team is competing at a respectable level, with anticipation of future program growth.
The Rams struggled on their opening possession and gave the Mustangs the ball on the Ram’s 23-yard line. There, Chase Newman immediately took the first snap into the end zone, to open the scoring with 9:49 on the first quarter clock. An extra point attempt by Daeshaun McQueen failed, and the Mustangs led 6-0. On their second possession, the Mustangs needed only three plays to find the end zone again. Carson Strating bulled in from the 7-yard line and followed the touchdown with a 3-yard extra point conversion, to up the score to 14-0.
The second quarter saw the Mustangs dominate the action. Brady Anderson scored touchdowns with runs of 44-yards and 23-yards. Zach Milder finished the first half scoring with a 1-yard plunge, to create the halftime score of 37-0. With the aid of the muddy conditions, the Morrison defense held the Ram offense to one first down and a first-half total offense of -9 yards.
Weather conditions had fans hoping for a 40-point deficit to be created, to allow the continuous clock to hasten the game’s ending. The Mustangs surpassed the continuous clock restriction when Carson Strating scored a 27-yard touchdown with 3:27 left in the third quarter. The Rams responded with a 75-yard scamper for a touchdown, one minute later, to end the running clock and end the third quarter with the Mustangs leading 43-6.
With all players seeing amble action and the muddied jersey numbers becoming less legible by the few remaining viewers, Reynolds Reavy anchored a 60-yard drive that he ended with a 2-yard score. This was followed by a successful extra point run by Camden Pruis, to form the final 51-6 score.
The regular season, final game will be against the Erie-Prophetstown Panthers, at Morrison’s E. M. “Bud” Cole Field, next Friday night (October 20) with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.
