In a game full of big plays and momentum changes, the MUS varsity football team fell to cross-town rival ECS on the road, 21-12, last Friday night.
In front of a huge crowd, ECS (4-0) made numerous big plays which the Owls (2-2) could not answer as two fourth-quarter touchdowns ended the hopes of MUS.
Yet the Owls looked poised in the first-quarter as they jumped out to an early lead.
On only the second play of the game, John Stokes intercepted an Adam-Currie pass and returned it to the ECS 27-yard line.
The visitors wasted little time getting into the end zone from there. From the 5-yard line, Walt Wepfer outran the ECS defenders and dove into the right corner of the end zone to give MUS the 6-0 lead. However, Zach Scott could not connect on what would be a crucial PAT, and the score stood at 6-0.
However, for the rest of the quarter, MUS could not gain back their offensive rhythm and extend the lead.
Consequently, the Eagles took advantage of the inconsistent play and, after an interception return deep into MUS territory, reached the MUS 1-yard line. Currie ran a QB sneak into the end zone to start the second quarter and get the Eagles back in the game. Jonathan Hodges nailed the PAT to give ECS a 7-6 advantage with 11:56 remaining in the half.
The rest of the second quarter consisted of long but unproductive drives by the MUS offense, ending in perfectly positioned punts by Drew Alston. Consistently having bad field position, ECS could not put any more points on the board, and the half ended.
A halftime deficit was nothing new to the Owls, having trailed at the break in two or their first three games this season.
But ECS would not fold in this game.
Both defenses dominated for the entire third quarter, and neither team could score. Turnovers and penalties consistently limited the Owl offense, and the score stood at 7-6 heading into the fourth quarter.
After another great Alston punt positioned the Eagles deep in their own territory, the ECS offense made its first huge play just four minutes into the fourth quarter.
On a 2nd-and-13 from their own 12-yard line, Adam Currie found John Barry Jenkins behind the MUS secondary, and Jenkins outran his pursuers for the score. Hodges added the PAT to give ECS a 14-6 advantage.
But MUS refused to give up.
The MUS offense finally found some momentum on their next drive as Michael Park completed passes of 10, 7, and 11 yards, and he scrambled for gains of 8 and 9 yards to move the Owls to the ECS 1-yard line. Park then dove in from there to make the score 14-12 with 5:35 remaining. Forced to go for two, Park was flushed out of the pocket and had to make a tough pass, which was incomplete.
To keep their chances alive, the Owls then had to get a stop and get the ball back. And they accomplished their goal very quickly and forced the Eagles to punt.
Yet, after having taken over at their own 30 with just 3:53 to go, the Owls' bid for victory took a serious blow as Park was picked off on the second play of the drive at the MUS 41-yard line.
With the good field position, the Eagles had the chance to score and end the game. On a crucial 4th-and-9 from the MUS 30-yard line, Nick Crawford made a amazing, diving catch in the back of the end zone with just 1:54 left in the game. The PAT was good, and the catch subsequently ended the Owls' comeback attempt.
MUS will look to bounce back next week when they open the new sports complex against Chattanooga Baylor, which is led by former coaches Phil Massey and Bubba Burr. Festivities begin at 6:30, and kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.