To win big-time, important football games, big players must step up to make big plays.
For the MUS Owls, the regular-season finale against CBHS definitely classified as a big game. And true to the saying, the Owls' big-time players showed up and gave a great performances as MUS claimed a hard-fought, 10-0 shutout of the Purple Wave before a sell-out crowd at Christian Brothers on the first cold night of the season.
The Brothers' offensive strategy was clear from the outset: run the ball right at the small Owl defensive front with their big offensive line, averaging 257 lbs., and their star running back, Justin Mosby. If MUS (7-3, 2-2) could get CBHS (7-3, 2-2) into 2nd- and 3rd-and-long situations and force the Wave to pass, Coach Alston and Coach Burr felt confident about their chances.
The Owls got off to a great start early in the first quarter. After holding the Brothers on their opening possession, MUS took over on their own 31.
The first play from scrimmage was a 34-yard John-Phillips-to-David-Thompson pass to move the Owls to the CBHS 30. Then, attacking on the ground themselves, the Owls got close to the end zone but eventually stalled at the 4. But Thompson came on and connected on a 21-yard field goal to culminate the 10-play, 65-yard drive to give MUS the 3-0 lead.
And on this night, Thompson's field goal was all the points MUS would need considering how the defense performed. The Wave were stifled throughout as Mosby could only rarely get past the Owl linebackers. Even though the tailback accounted for 109 rushing yards on the night, his longest run, a 21-yarder, ended in disaster for the Brothers as he was stripped, and MUS recovered on their own 6. That fumble seemed to deflate the Wave as they never again threatened the Owl end zone.
MUS got a little insurance early in the fourth quarter. After forcing a Brothers' punt, the Owls took over at their own 30. Mixing in the pass and the run, a balance that lasted throughout as MUS tallied 156 yards rushing and 158 passing yards, Phillips led his team down the field. On the first play of the 4th quarter, the junior quarterback narrowly overthrew an open Estes Folk in the end zone. Folk, the senior receiver, was playing his first game in over a month after suffering a high ankle sprain.
But Derek Clenin, who has not had the success rushing as he did last season, finally was effective on the ground. The next play after the Folk incompletion, Clenin took a handoff and powered his way in from 14 yards out to extend the lead. The Thompson PAT gave the Owls a 10-0 advantage, and MUS hung on for the victory.
The proven performers for MUS showed up for the Owls on this day. Clenin finished with 71 yards on 10 carries, and he also intercepted a pass. Phillips completed 13 of 24 passes for 158 yards, while Thompson caught 6 passes and Folk hauled in 5. And Ross Rutledge continued his consistent play as he tackled Mosby well and led the Owl defense, which only gave up 170 total yards to the Brothers and recorded their 3rd blanking in the last 4 games, an occurrence which has not happened since 1987. The senior running back also tacked on 55 yards on 14 carries.
The win gives MUS major momentum heading into the playoffs. The Owls will host Father Ryan, a 5-5 team which has lost 3 straight coming into the playoffs. The 7PM kickoff will mark the 5th meeting between the schools as the Fightin' Irish hold a 3-1 advantage.