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.