The MUS Owls used an aggressive defense and some senior leadership to overcome an early ten-point deficit and defeat the Eagles from ECS, 14-10, last Friday evening before a full house at Hull-Dobbs.
MUS (3-0) fell behind early against the Eagles (2-1) following a series of miscues. ECS stopped the Owls on their first possession and forced a punt. Taking over at their own 42, the Eagles began a balanced drive as they surprisingly threw the ball on their first two plays. Then, on the tenth play, ECS faced a 4th and 4 at the Owl 7-yard line. Taking the sure points, Jordan Thompson connected on a field goal from 24-yards out to give the visitors the early lead.
The Owls tried to come back, but again errors hurt their cause. Quarterback Rob Park’s second interception of the first quarter gave ECS the ball near midfield late in the first. Then, on the next play, running back Hall Simmons took the handoff off left guard and rumbled 51 yards for the score. Thompson’s PAT gave the Eagles a ten-point advantage heading into the second quarter.
For much of the second quarter, the teams could find little offensive success. The Owls finally started to hem Simmons in and kept him contained, and sure-tackling defenders like Joey Friend, Mason George, Donnie Malmo, Mason Mosby, and Will Pickens wrapped up well. However, the Owls also struggled offensively.
Yet late in the half, with a malfunctioning scoreboard, MUS finally put a drive together. Starting at their own 37, the Owls used six plays to get on the scoreboard. Park went 2 for 3 passing on the drive, including two big plays to John David Lawhorn, receptions of 19 and 28 yards. Park’s 1-yard sneak and Ben Tacker’s extra-point reduced the lead to 10-7 heading into the half.
The game remained 10-7 throughout the third quarter as neither team could sustain any drives. MUS did attempt a 46-yard field goal, but Tacker’s attempt was short as the Eagles held the lead.
Yet late in the third quarter, the Owls finally took advantage. Facing a 3rd and 8 at the ECS 46, Park hit Lawhorn, who ended with 5 catches for 125 yards, for 26 yards to the Eagles 20. Then, on the first play of the fourth quarter, Warren Grimm found his way out of a pile and scampered into the end zone, sending the home fans into a frenzy. Tacker added the extra point to give MUS its first lead at 14-10.
The defense now stepped up to secure this advantage. After a series of possessions, ECS made one more attempt to snatch the win. Beginning at the MUS 46, Simmons got the Eagles close with three straight runs, and following a penalty, ECS had reached the 15-yard line. Yet an offensive-holding call, a Mason George sack, and two incompletions ended the threat as the Owls took over on downs.
MUS then ran out the clock as Grimm, who had 82 yards on 17 carries, and Kane Alber picked up three key first downs as the clock finally hit 0:00 – approximately.
The Owls, who have not been 3-0 since 1998, held Simmons to only 47 yards rushing in the remaining three quarters following his 51-yard touchdown score, and held the Eagles to only 201 total yards in securing the hard-fought win.
MUS looks to extend their record to 4-0 as they take on Wooddale next Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:00 at Hull-Dobbs.