MUS Sports News

Owls Pitch Shutout in Game Two

In a virtual carbon-copy of the first game of the season against East, game two revealed much of the same as the MUS varsity football team used a powerful running game and an aggressive, pursuing defense to overcome their competition, the Patriots of Jackson (MS) Prep, 27-0, last Friday night in Mississippi.

The Owls (2-0) wasted little time jumping on Prep (0-1), the Mississippi state runner-up in 2003.  MUS took the opening kickoff and used 13 plays, including 11 runs, to score as QB Rob Park went in from 1-yard out.  Ben Tacker added the PAT to give the visitors the early lead just 5:49 into the game.

Few fans knew at the time that Park’s score would be all the points the Owls would need on this muggy, August evening as the defense dominated from the outset.  Prep had only 46 total first-half yards, and out of their initial seven first-half drives, five resulted in punts, one in a missed field-goal, and the last in a turnover.

But even though their offense struggled, the Patriots remained only seven points behind late into the half.  Yet two Prep miscues in the final two minutes of the half all but sealed the Owls’ win.

First, junior Donnie Malmo blocked punter Swayze Waters’ fifth punt of the evening, and LB Mason Mosby returned the ball to the Patriot 6-yard line.  On the next play, Park hit WR John David Lawhorn for the touchdown, and Tacker’s PAT gave the Owls the 14-0 advantage with only 45 seconds remaining.

Then, on the Patriots’ next play from scrimmage, senior Joey Friend forced QB Stewart Hood to fumble, and John Stokes’ recovery had MUS threatening once again a the Prep 21.

Three plays later, the Owls found themselves at the Prep 16 following a defensive pass-interference penalty.  With only 4 seconds remaining, Tacker’s 33-yard field-goal attempt was good, and MUS went into the lockerroom leading 17-0.

With this large lead, the Owls found themselves in a similar position as they did against East in game one, so they once again would employ a similar gameplan, play defense and protect the football, that worked so well against the Mustangs just a week earlier.

After having forced a quick three-and-out on the initial Prep possession of the half, MUS took over and physically punished the Patriots.  From the Owl 29, MUS used 10 plays, including nine bruising runs by RB Warren Grimm, to score as Grimm went in from 7 yards out.  Tacker’s extra-point extended the advantage to 24.

Prep did not give up as they continued to fire, yet the Owl defense stood firm.  CB Philip Flinn got for his second interception of the season to stop one Prep drive, and that turnover resulted in the final points of the game, a 29-yard Tacker field goal, with 8:18 remaining in the fourth quarter.  Those points culminated a 15-play drive that amassed 7:22 and decimated the Prep hopes on their opening night.

The fourth quarter saw many reserves play, and those young men performed well against the Patriot first-teamers by keeping them out of the endzone to secure the shutout.

Warren Grimm once again led the Owls to victory with a stellar rushing performance as he tallied 116 yards on 21 carries.  Kane Alber also contributed to the win with 77 yards receiving on four catches and 43 rushing yards.  But the defense dominated the game, yielding only 150 total yards to the Patriots , including only 34 yards rushing.  Prep averaged only 3.3 yards per play against this new, aggressive defense.

Next week the Owls take on the Eagles of ECS at Hull-Dobbs.  MUS will seek to avenge last year’s 27-0 loss and slow down Eagle tailback Hall Simmons, who had over 200 yards rushing last year.  Kickoff for the home-opener is set for 7:00 p.m.

Owls Start Strong in Opener

The fourth time was finally the charm.

Led by Warren Grimm’s 138 rushing yards and a stellar defensive effort, the MUS varsity football team won their first Bridges Kickoff Classic in four tries with a 31-8 trouncing of the talented East Mustangs.

The Owls (1-0) started strong to grab the early lead against the Mustangs (0-1).  Following an initial defensive stand, the MUS offense took over at their own 18 and began a very balanced drive.  The combination of Grimm’s hard-nosed running and senior quarterback Rob Park’s passing got the Owls into scoring position, and then, on the eighth play of the drive, Park hit senior wideout John David Lawhorn for a 19-yard score, a positive start to the 2004 campaign.  Kicker Ben Tacker added the extra-point to give MUS the early 7-0 lead.

The Owls wasted little time to add to their advantage.  Following another stop, MUS took over in East territory and barely broke a sweat as Park again hit Lawhorn, this time on the first play of the drive, in stride over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown.  Tacker’s PAT doubled the lead with three minutes left in the quarter.

Finding itself trailing, East knew they needed to answer, and they began their next drive.  But as they would most of the night, the MUS defense stepped up to squelch the possession as the Mustangs were forced to punt once again from deep in their own territory.

Seven plays later after the shanked punt had given the Owls a short field, Park went in from one yard out for the touchdown.  Tacker again was true to make the score 21-0 early in the second quarter as the rout had begun.

Following the 21-0 lead, the coaching staff knew they could rely on the defense to salt away the win.  At the half, Coach Burr’s defense had allowed only 74 total yards and had given East no scoring opportunities.  The goal for the second half was to play fundamental, physical football to minimize mistakes and maintain the advantage.

East came out in the second half trying to get back into the game.  Having forced an MUS punt, the Owls first of the game, the Mustangs looked to gain momentum as they began to move the ball.  However, the Owl defense stepped up once again as junior safety Donnie Malmo picked off a pass in MUS territory to keep the momentum with the Owls.

Six plays after East’s second turnover and 37 yards later, the Owls’ drive stalled inside the East 10, but Tacker continued his perfect evening as he added three points with a 26-yard field goal to give MUS a 24-0 lead, a virtually insurmountable advantage with only five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Even with such a large lead, the defense did not let up.  In fact, the Owl defenders added to the scoreboard as senior cornerback Philip Flinn picked off quarterback Brandon Small’s errant throw and returned it for a 21-yard score.  Tacker’s PAT made the score 31-0 as the teams entered the fourth quarter.

The large lead allowed the Owls to play many reserves in the fourth quarter.  East did add a meaningless score late in the game as Cameron Gray raced in for a 43-yard score to prevent the MUS shutout, but the game had been decided long before that score.

The 31 Owl points were impressive as the offense found a good balance led by stellar play from the offensive line.  Park went 6-14 for 85 passing yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 38 more yards and another score, while Lawhorn added three catches for 49 yards to go along with Grimm’s 138 rushing yards.  This output was outstanding but would not have been possible without the consistent play of the offensive line, which gave the quarterbacks time to throw and opened holes for Grimm and the other backs.

But as well as the offense played, the defense made the difference in the victory as they limited the large, athletic Mustangs to only 221 total yards.
The Owls will look to build on this good effort next Friday night as they travel to Jackson, Mississippi, to take on the Jackson Prep Patriots, whom MUS defeated last season, 21-16.  Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.