By Jerry Lindsey Assistant Editor
Homecoming is always one of the highlights of a student’s school year and the 2025 festivities at Morrison High School were no exceptions as the summer temperatures enhanced the week’s scheduled events. However, the results of the Friday night football game against Lena-Winslow threw a little dampen on the week as the Panthers controlled the Mustangs and easily throttled the Mustangs to earn a 46-7 victory.
The Panthers came to Morrison ranked #3 in the IHSA Class 1A Rankings and wasted no time in setting the pace for the evening. After winning the coin toss and electing to kick-off to the Mustangs, they held the Mustangs to –1 yard in their first offensive series and immediately found the endzone with a 43-yard scamper by Alex Schlichling opening the scoring. The extra point was good, and the Panthers led 8-0 with only two minutes off the clock. The Mustangs failed to generate any positive yards on their second possession and immediately saw the Panthers march 49-yards in three plays to up the margin to 16-0. Again, the Mustangs failed to generate a first down and gave the Panthers the ball on the 43- yard line. Four snaps later Schlichling rambled twenty-two yards into the endzone, and the ensuing extra points upped the score to 24-0.
The second quarter wasn’t any better for the host Mustangs as Lena-Winslow generated second quarter scoring drives covering 64 yards, 60 yards and 47 yards and established the ‘running clock’ for the second half by establishing a lead of 40-0 at halftime.
The Panthers continued their offensive prowess and immediately generated a 47-yard scoring drive on their first possession of the second half and owned a 46-0 advantage before the Mustangs touched the ball with 2:44 remaining the third quarter. They used the time to move the ball to the 11-yard line to open the final period.
The fourth quarter opened with a Mustang penalty that moved the line of scrimmage back to the 31-yard line. On the next snap Carson White connected with Brady Anderson and he eluded several tacklers to find the end zone. McDearmon easily recorded the extra point kick, and the Mustangs were on the scoreboard. The final eight minutes were used by the Panthers to grind out small yardage plays and end the game with a 46-7 victory.
The Mustangs will travel to Dakota High School on Friday, October 10 with hopes of rebounding from the Homecoming loss and recording a win against the (1-5) Indians with a kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m.