By Jerry Lindsey, Assistant Editor. Editor’s photo of first 2025 game, September 5.
The football atmosphere was perfect on Friday night as the (0-3) Morrison Mustangs hosted the (2-1) Forreston Cardinals on Hall of Fame Night. Former athletes of Morrison High School were recognized for their induction into the Morrison Hall of Fame, during ceremonies before and during the halftime of the September 19 game at Morrison.
The Cardinals set the pace early. They generated scores on their first three possessions in the opening quarter. The opening scoring drive featured a solid running game, as they marched 85 yards after receiving the opening kickoff to score. A failed extra point gave them a 6-0 lead. Their second possession saw them march 65 yards to up their advantage to 12-0; the two-point conversion made the score 14-0.
Their third possession generated a 47-yard march. It ended in a second quarter touchdown and two-point conversion. They created a commanding 22-0 lead, before the Mustangs had managed to earn a first down, during their first two possessions. A Jacob Strobbe fumble recovery excited the Mustangs in the second quarter. Brady Anderson immediately found the end zone, to put the Mustangs on the scoreboard 22-7. Teams traded possessions twice before the half ended. Mustang Carson White’s pass was intercepted, to end the first half with the Cardinals leading 22-7.
Forreston found the end zone again on their opening possession of the second half. They failed on their extra point attempt, to up their lead to 28-7. Morrison showed a revived offense. They immediately turned their next possession into a 78-yard scoring drive, ending with a 45-yard touchdown pass-and-run, from White to Jacob Banks. Joshua McDearmon’s extra point was good, closing the score to 28-14 with 7:52 remaining in the third quarter. The Mustang defense, led by three sacks by Noah Robbins, forced a Cardinal punt giving, the Mustangs ownership on the Cardinal’s 45 yard line. A 33-yard pass completion from White to Brady Anderson set up a nine-yard scamper into the end zone by Levi Milder. The deficit was reduced to 28-21 with 41 second left in the third quarter. The following kickoff pinned the Cardinals on their own ten-yard line. The quarter ended, and the Mustang fans were excited with the comeback effort.
The Cardinals used over six minutes of the fourth quarter to generate a 90-yard scoring drive. It was aided by two 15-yard Mustang penalties to extend the lead again, to 34-21. A two-point conversion moved the scoreboard to 36-21, with only 5:39 remaining for the Mustangs to respond. The third play of the Mustang’s next drive ended with a White interception. But two Cardinal snaps later, the Mustang’s Colin Renkes recovered a Cardinal fumble to reignite the Mustangs. The Mustangs’ hopes ended, when they turned the ball over on downs six snaps later. Cardinals returned to Forreston with a 36-21 win over the Morrison Mustangs.
The Mustangs will travel to Stockton, IL, to play the Blackhawks next Friday night, September 26, with a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.