Despite setting four school records, the MUS varsity football team concluded its season last Friday night, losing 40-21 to the Baylor School in Chattanooga. Although the Owls refused to give up and played well in the second half, they had to overcome too large a deficit to advance and defend their consecutive state titles.
The Red Raiders (9-2, 3-2) looked dominant on their opening drive as RB Kevin Cooper, a University of Tennessee commitment, moved the ball deep into Owl territory with a 41-yard run on the second play of the contest. Two plays later, Cooper scored from 2 yards out to give the Raiders the early lead. However, on the PAT Lowell Hays blocked his fourth kick this season to keep the score at 6-0.
The Owls (5-6, 2-3) looked to respond with a score of their own, but turnovers, penalties, and mistakes hurt MUS much of the first half.
However, the visitors finally began to move the ball through the air as they had good field position throughout much of the second quarter.
Yet they still could not take advantage of the momentum. First, Zach Scott missed a 36-yard field goal early in the quarter following a 6-play drive. Then, as the Owls were threatening on their next possession, Baylor DE Sidney Tarver ended the drive as he intercepted a Michael-Park pass on the Baylor 19-yard line and returned it 81 yards for the score. The two-point conversion failed, and the score remained 12-0 with 2:10 remaining in the half.
But the hosts were not done in the first half.
Following a quick punt and a good use of times-out, QB Tyler Massey took advantage as he hit Brandon Joynes from 44 yards out on the first play of the possession to increase the Red-Raider advantage with only 42 seconds remaining. Tanner Taylor’s extra-point gave Baylor the 19-0 halftime lead.
Baylor extended the lead in the third quarter as they continued to pile up yardage. Another long Cooper scoring run as well as Massey’s 1-yard touchdown plunge with 3:21 left in the third quarter would extend the Baylor lead to 33-0 and all but end the MUS hopes.
Yet the Owls did not quit.
First, Park hit Lee Moore on a 93-yard touchdown catch, setting a school record for longest touchdown reception.
Even though Massey would add another scoring run with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter, MUS responded with two more scoring drives.
Senior Stephen Bowie caught Park’s second touchdown pass of the night, hauling in a 44-yard toss that culminated a 7-play, 87-yard drive and cut the lead to 40-14. Then Park found Collin Fountain from 7 yards out for another score with 8:27 left in the game, but the scoring ended there as the Owls’ season concluded.
MUS did set several school records in the game. First, Park threw for the most passing yards in a game as he threw for 440, besting the previous mark of 362 set in 2003. His 41 attempts also set a record. His 421 total offense yards from scrimmage bests another mark. And Moore’s 93-yard touchdown reception was the Owls’ longest pass play in history.
Although the Owls’ season concludes at 5-6, they fought hard this year and were competitive throughout while facing one of their most competitive schedules in school history. They will miss their 29 senior players, but they will look to their underclassmen to step up next year and provide leadership to get MUS back to its winning ways.