As one of the best high-school football rivalries in the city, the MUS-CBHS game is usually a close, hard-fought contest with many implications in the title race. In fact, coming into this game, the Owls held a 14-10 series lead but only a 15-point advantage in the total points scored in the series, 365-350. As with most great rivalries, these games usually come down to one or two critical plays that decide bragging rights.
The 2005 version of MUS-CBHS was no different.
For the first time this year, the Owls battled hard but came up short in a game that was nearly statistically even as CBHS was able to march down the field on the Owl defense late in the fourth quarter to win, 14-10.
On a chilly, breezy night, the Owls (7-1, 3-1) won the toss and elected to defend on the first drive. CBHS (7-1, 3-1) started off slowly as the MUS defense, which had allowed only 19 total points all season, forced CBHS to punt after just three plays.
Now with the ball at the MUS 44, the Owls proved that they were prepared for the Brothers. Using a balanced attack, they moved the ball 25 yards on 11 plays to the CBHS 31-yard line, but, following a roughing-the-kicker penalty, Chad Hazlehurst missed a 43-yarder as the Wave held.
But the MUS defense refused to give in. After the Owls had stopped the CBHS offense once again to give MUS excellent field position, they took advantage to set up Hazlehurst with a 46-yard try. This time, he connected, and MUS took a 3-0 lead with 1:51 remaining in the first quarter.
For most of the second quarter, both teams struggled offensively and could not muster any points.
However, with 3:00 remaining in the half, CBHS was able to capitalize on an interception thrown by QB Michael Park that gave the Wave the ball at the MUS 20-yard line. RB Henry Harris scored the lone touchdown of the half as he went in from 4 yards out to cap the 5-play, 20-yard drive. K Austin Cardosi tacked on the PAT to close the scoring for the first half.
Going to the break, both teams had played very well defensively as neither had gained more than 80 yards. MUS knew that they would have to play better offensively to win the game.
And they started strong. Just as it had in the first half, the MUS offense opened with a strong drive in the third quarter as they marched 80 yards on 10 plays for a score. The drive consisted of completions by Park of 13 yards to Drew Alston and 15 and 37 yards to Max Prokell to get deep into Wave territory. Once the Owls got close, Park sneaked in from 2 yards for the score. Hazlehurst tacked on the PAT to give the Owls a 10-7 lead
After the score, the MUS defense stepped up and held the Purple Wave to just 50 total yards in the third quarter and no points. But the Owls could not extend their slim lead.
The standoff continued for most of the fourth quarter as both teams continued to dominate defensively. However, with 3:00 left in the game, the Purple Wave stopped the Owls and began a drive at their own 18-yard line, needing to score to stay alive.
Behind the arm of backup QB Cannon Smith, who completed 9 of 14 passes to various CBHS receivers during the possession, the Wave moved the ball. Then, on the 14th play of the drive, Smith found Dejon Mack alone in the endzone from 19 yards out to put the Purple Wave ahead for good. Cardosi nailed the PAT to give the Wave the 14-10 lead with 0:46 remaining.
The Owls tried but did not have enough time to put together a drive, and for the first time in two years, they fell at home.
Despite the loss, MUS must find positives from the game. Remembering that they also lost a game last year at about the same point during the regular season should help them realize that their ultimate goal is not lost.
The Owls are off this week for Fall Break but will return to Hull-Dobbs on October 21 to battle Kingsbury in the final regular-season home game. Kickoff for the Homecoming tilt is set for 7:00 p.m.