MUS Sports News

Ensworth Ends Owls' Football Season

Just as they had done to MUS in the first game of the 2011 season, the Ensworth Tigers took advantage of turnovers and broke several big plays as they advanced to the December 1 Blue Cross Bowl with a 28-0 win last Friday night over the host Owls. With the loss, MUS ends their campaign at 8-4.

In the opening contest of the 2011 year, Ensworth jumped out to a 21-0 first-quarter lead as they ultimately forced six turnovers in route to the 28-14 win. However, in this game, MUS was determined to get off to a good start, and they did have the early momentum. The Owls entered Tiger territory four times in the first half as they were winning the field-position battle early.

Unfortunately, MUS could not take advantage of the good field position with scores as they failed to take an early lead. Their best chance came early in the second quarter as they threatened. After having forced an Ensworth punt and having taken over at the MUS 41-yard line, Owl coaches did something they had not done all year: they lined Fernando Van Hook up at quarterback and ran him in the Wildcat formation, and they found success. Behind four consecutive Van Hook carries, MUS faced a 2nd-and-goal at the Ensworth 1-yard line. However, Van Hook fumbled at the goal line on his fifth run, and Ensworth’s recovery squelched that opportunity.

But as they had done much of the year, the MUS defense held the opposition as they kept Ensworth pinned back in their territory and continued to give the offense opportunties. Yet the offense could not take advantage of the good field position. Several missed chances, including not connecting on a 48-yard field-goal attempt by Gary Wunderlich, kept the game scoreless throughout much of the second quarter.

In fact, the defense played so well that Ensworth could do very little. Tiger star runningback Corn Elder was held in check for much of the first half as he totaled only 25 yards on 8 carries. Yet the Owls could not keep him stymied. On the last drive of the half, Elder broke two runs, the first a 13-yard scamper and the second an 81-yard scoring run as he evaded Owl defenders for the touchdown. In mere seconds, Elder had 119 rushing yards and gave his team the 7-0 halftime advantage.

The Tigers made that lead stand as they forced three second-half interceptions and continued to gain yards on the ground. Elder added two more scoring runs, 26 yards and 89 yards, and Rico Watson returned a Toby Baker interception 92 yards for a score, as the Tigers built a commanding 28-0 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Owls continued to play hard and moved the ball effectively at times, but they hurt themselves with turnovers to prevent any comeback.

The missed opportunities in the first half and the three big scoring plays for Ensworth were the difference in the game. Without Elder’s two long scoring runs, the Tigers gained only 201 yards of total offense and were held to 0-for-8 on third-down conversions. Yet Ensworth (11-1) made the most of their few opportunties as they advance to their second consecutive state-title game.

Though the program will miss its twenty-one seniors, Owl coaches are excited about the underclassmen and the opportunities they will have next season. 

Despite Slow Start, Owls Advance To Semifinals

Heading into its Division II-AA quarterfinal playoff matchup against McCallie, the MUS varsity football team and coaching staff knew that their opponent was no ordinary sixth seed. Despite its record (5-5), the Blue Tornado had been very competitive throughout the year and was playing its best football now, particularly after having upended fourth-seeded Battle Ground Academy in the first round of the playoffs the previous week.

And for much of the first half of last Friday-night’s game, the visitors were outplaying the Owls as they were controlling the line of scrimmage and moving the ball against the normally-staunch MUS defense.

Following a turnover deep in MUS territory inside of four minutes left in the half with the score tied at 7, the Owls knew that someone had to make a play to prevent McCallie from continuing to gain momentum. Facing 2nd-and-goal at the MUS 1-yard line, the Owl defense accepted the challenge as Heath Wilder forced a fumble from McCallie QB Trent Lusk, and James Prather’s recovery and subsequent run helped the Owls regain control, and they never looked back as they took the 38-21 victory.

MUS scored first as Fernando Van Hook evaded defenders and raced 56 yards on the Owls’ second offensive play to give the hosts the early 7-0 lead with 9:42 remaining in the first quarter.

But McCallie answered as Lusk went in from 2 yards to complete an impressive 17-play, 75-yard drive that amassed 6:36. Arturo Rocha’s PAT tied the score at 7 heading into the second quarter.

After the teams traded a series of four punts, McCallie made the first big play of the game as Hayden Cronan forced a fumble from Carlton McCord at the MUS 9-yard line, and he recovered it at the 6-yard line.

But then at the MUS 1, Wilder and his teammates took the ball back, and Prather’s 51-yard return allowed the Owls to retake momentum, and from there, they controlled the game.

MUS scored just four plays after the Prather recovery as Shane Tucker went in from 5-yards out to complete the 47-yard drive that took only 54 seconds. Gary Wunderlich’s extra point made the score 14-7.

The Owls continued to find offensive success in the second half as they scored on their first three second-half possession to assume control. First, Wunderlich tacked on a 31-yard field goal  after a 12-play drive stalled at the McCallie 14-yard line.

Then, just four minutes later, MUS struck quickly as QB Toby Baker found Devin Perry, and the speedy sophomore raced down the visitor’s sideline for the 79-yard score. Perry finished the evening with 135 yards on 7 receptions as his outstanding second half of the season continues.

And then Tucker added his second touchdown of the night as he initially bobbled the pass but ultimately hauled it in from Baker from 30-yards out for the touchdown to culminate the 7-play, 71-yard drive that took up 2:37. With Wunderlich’s extra point, the Owls were up, 31-7, early in the fourth quarter.

But much to McCallie’s credit, they did not quit as they put together two fourth-quarter scoring drives to keep the game respectable. Lusk found WR Sam Berry for both touchdowns, one from 20-yards out with 5:38 remaining in the game, and one from 15-yards out with 1:04 left in the game. Yet sandwiched between those scores was a Van Hook 4-yard run as the junior broke free for his sixteenth touchdown of the season that kept the Blue Tornado well out of reach.

Despite a slow start, the Owls ultimately found offensive success by being balanced. They amassed 483 total yards, including 255 yards rushing and 228 passing. McCallie did move the ball as they gained 21 first downs and over 350 yards of total offense, but they struggled to score until late in the game when the game had been decided.

The 38-21 victory advances the Owls into the semifinals, where they will meet Ensworth at home next Friday night. The Tigers and Owls opened the 2011 season as Ensworth defeated MUS at Stokes Stadium, 28-14. The Tigers forced six turnovers in that contest as they jumped out to the 28-0 lead, and withstood a late Owl rally. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm this Friday night.

Owls Conclude Regular Season With a Perfect Division Record

Behind two first-half touchdown passes and a Fernando Van Hook scoring run just 47 seconds before halftime, the MUS varsity football team built a 20-0 halftime lead and held on to claim a 26-10 victory over Briarcrest to conclude the regular season at 7-3, 3-0 in division play.

The defense, particularly in the first half, continued to be the team’s strength as it dominated the Saints in the first two quarters. Briarcrest, averaging over 324 total yards per game entering the contest, was held to a meager 29 yards in the first half as the Owls built their three-touchdown advantage.

MUS defenders forced four three-and-outs and allowed Briarcrest to cross the Saint 36-yard line only once in the first half as the defense never allowed the Saints to garner any offensive momentum.

Meanwhile, the offense took advantage of several opportunities to take control of the game.

First, after a defensive stop had given the Owls possession at the Saint 33-yard line, MUS needed only two plays to score as Devin Perry made a spectacular catch in front of the Briarcrest defender to score and give the visitors the early 7-0 lead with 6:31 remaining in the first quarter.

QB Toby Baker threw his second touchdown pass of the evening in the second quarter as he hit Carlton McCord on a receiver screen, and McCord raced down the sideline, going 42 yards for the touchdown. Unfortunately, Gary Wunderlich, who had made 78 consecutive extra points, missed the PAT, but the Owls still had a 13-0 lead with just under seven minutes remaining in the half.

And with the defense continuing to stymie Briarcrest, MUS added one final touchdown just before the half. Following a James Prather punt block that gave the Owls possession at the Briarcrest 23-yard line with just 1:15 left in the half, MUS needed only 3 plays to score. Baker’s pass to Shane Tucker moved the ball to the Saint 9-yard line, and from there, Van Hook scampered into the endzone to extend the lead to 20 at the break.

Briarcrest played much better in the second half and began to build some momentum behind its home crowd, yet MUS did just enough to maintain control. The Saints cut the lead in half at 20-10 by the start of the fourth quarter following a Thomas Farst 47-yard field goal and an Eric Foster 15-yard scoring reception from QB B.J. Nagle. The Saint defense forced the Owls to punt on all three of its possessions, giving the Briarcrest offense opportunities.

However, once cutting the lead to 10, the Saints could get no closer. MUS scored on its first possession of the fourth quarter as Tucker carried for 73 yards on 3 plays to get the ball to the 1-yard line. From there, the Owls overcame a penalty to score as Van Hook went in from 4-yards out. The PAT again sailed wide, but the visitors had regained control and went on for the 16-point win. 

As the top-seed out of the West, the Owls earned a first-round bye and in two weeks will play the winner of this-week’s McCallie-BGA contest. That game will be at MUS and will kick off at 7:00 pm. Briarcrest, which finished the regular season at 4-6, 0-3, will travel to play at MBA in the first round.

Defense Holds Spartans Scoreless

In its final non-conference game of the 2011 season, the MUS varsity football team shed a sluggish start offensively and ultimately tallied two fourth-quarter touchdowns to overcome a talented White Station squad, 20-0, on Senior Night at Stokes Stadium.

QB Toby Baker played a role in both touchdowns as he rushed for one score and threw for another as the Owls took advantage of another great defensive effort to extend a 6-0 halftime advantage.

Baker’s rushing touchdown followed a Spartan turnover, their third of the game. LB Heath Wilder appeared to have recovered a fumble and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown, yet a illegal-blocking penalty on the return negated that score and gave MUS possession at the White Station 35-yard line. From there, the Owls needed only 3 plays to score as Shane Tucker carried twice to get the ball to the Spartan 8-yard line, and Baker took it in from there.

Baker followed up that score with a touchdown pass on the next drive as he found RB Fernando Van Hook down the middle for a 23-yard touchdown. That play completed a time-consuming, 11-play possession that traveled 45 yards and took up 5:43. The completion was Baker’s first of the game but salted away the hard-fought victory.

Gary Wunderlich was responsible for the only points of the first half as he connected on two field goals. First, the sophomore was true from 48-yards out as the Owls took advantage of good field position and a Matt Bolton punt return. However, the drive stalled at the White Station 30-yard line, so Wunderlich was called on, and he delivered to give MUS the lead with 9:41 left in the second quarter.

His second field goal came early in the third quarter following a Spartan turnover. Trey Moore’s fumble recovery set the hosts at the White Station 14-yard line, yet the Owls went backwards. Facing a 4th-and-16 at the Spartan 20-yard line, Wunderlich connected again, his sixth field goal of the season, from 37-yards out to give MUS the 6-0 advantage with 10:19 left in the third quarter, and the game stayed that way until the Owls’ two fourth-quarter touchdowns.

Despite the offensive struggles, the defense continued to play very well as they limited the Spartans to only 137 total yards and forced three turnovers. The Owls now have not given up a touchdown for four consecutive games and have recorded five shutouts on the season.

The win improves MUS to 6-3, 2-0, and White Station falls to 5-4.

Next week is the regular-season finale for MUS as they head east to take on Briarcrest. The Saints, the four seed in the West in next-week’s playoffs, will be looking for their first division win of the year and be trying to avenge last-year’s 45-14 loss at MUS. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm in Eads.

Owls Claim Top Seed In Division

Coming off their Fall Break vacation last week, the MUS varsity football players and coaches were hoping to avoid a letdown as they had been playing at a high level, particularly in the final two games before the off week. In wins over East and CBHS, the Owls ran the football effectively and played smothering defense to win both games in dominating fashion.

The MUS coaching staff knew that last Friday-night’s opponent, St. Benedict, would present several problems for the Owls, and if the Owls did not play well, the Eagles, who were tied for first in the division, could beat MUS.

Fortunately for the Owls, the coaches’ message got through to the players, and they performed just as they had the previous two games, with a strong rushing attack and a stingy defense. In fact, the ground game opened up the passing attack, and the MUS offense was as balanced as it had been all season. The efficient, balanced offense and a defense that allowed only 162 total yards helped the Owls take a convincing 35-0 victory at St. Benedict to take over sole possession of first place in the division and secure the West’s top seed in the upcoming playoffs. 

QB Toby Baker threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as MUS kept the Eagle defense off balance much of the evening. Baker’s scoring run, a 1-yard sneak on the team’s second possession, gave the visitors an early 7-0 lead with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter. The sneak followed Baker’s 39-yard pass to Devin Perry, who finished the game with five receptions for 95 yards.

Baker followed up his scoring sneak with a 18-yard touchdown pass to Perry just 1:03 before halftime. That toss culminated a 9-play, 87-yard drive that took up 4:33 and gave the Owls the 14-0 lead at the break.

Though the contest was still close at the half, the coaching staff had to feel confident because despite two turnovers, MUS had moved the ball, amassing 235 net yards, and had held the leading back in the conference, Jordan Wilkins, to only 43 rushing yards.

The Owls took control of the game in the third quarter as they scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. Fernando Van Hook scored his ninth rushing touchdown of the season as he went in from 12-yards out to complete a 7-play, 65-yard drive that took up 2:07. Then just over four minutes later, Baker found Carlton McCord for a 30-yard passing play as the MUS offense moved 86 yards in only 4 plays. Gary Wunderlich’s continued to be perfect on extra points as his kick gave the visitors the 28-point lead.

The Owls added one final touchdown early in the fourth quarter as Shane Tucker, who finished with 143 yards on only 12 carries, went in from 1-yard out to increase the lead to 35 and force a running-clock situation the remainder of the game.

Even though MUS continued to play well offensively and finish drives with touchdowns, the defense is dominant right now as they have allowed only three points in their last three games. Owl defenders held Wilkins, averaging over 200 yards rushing coming into the game, to only 97 on 22 carries, and QB Nick Paige finished only 7-28 for 60 yards.

The win improves MUS to 5-3, 2-0 in the division and earns the Owls a first-round bye in the upcoming playoffs. They will play winner of the Mideast 4-seed/Mideast 6-seed contest in the quarterfinals, to be held at MUS November 11.

Next week, MUS concludes its home season with a non-conference game against White Station. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm at Stokes Stadium.

Owls Start Division Play 1-0

The Owls seemed to have found a formula that is working.

Having changed their offensive scheme two games ago, going from their traditional spread offense to an I-formation with a blocking fullback, the MUS varsity football team seems to like the change as they won their second consecutive game this past Friday night, defeating CBHS, 42-3, to improve to 4-3 overall, 1-0 in division play.

But another component of that formula is the defense.

Though the offense has been very efficient and has established themselves on the ground the past two contests, including last-week’s 41-0 blanking of East, the defense has been the foundation of the success as they continued to dominate their competition.

Against the Purple Wave, which entered the contest averaging over 30 points per game, the Owl defenders completely stymied them as they allowed only 166 total yards, 9 first downs, and 2 for 11 on third downs. 

CBHS crossed the MUS 25-yard line only once, on their opening possession, yet they were stopped at the MUS 20-yard line and were forced into a field-goal attempt. Zach Baddour connected on that attempt from 37-yards out as the visitors took the early lead, 3-0, with 8:39 remaining in the first quarter.

But the Wave never seriously threatened again as the Owl defense dominated the line of scrimmage. Taking away one long run, a 42-yarder by Kurtis Hicks on that opening drive, and the defense never allowed CBHS to break any long plays and frustrated them much of the game.

Meanwhile, the Owl offense played well for the second consecutive game as the switch to the I-formation continues to pay off. With seven offensive linemen in the game, including Brayden Phillips, the normal center, at fullback, MUS found room to run the football, and the backs took advantage.

Fernando Van Hook finished the game with 110 yards on 22 carries, including two first-half touchdowns. Carlton McCord also added one score, a 30-yarder, as he finished with 86 yards on 6 carries.  As a team, the Owls rushed for 210 yards and four touchdowns, Toby Baker adding the fourth on a 2-yard sneak late in the third quarter.

The success on the ground opened up opportunities through the air as well, and MUS took advantage in that area.

Baker went 4-5 for the game, connecting with Devin Perry on all four completions. Perry made some beautiful catches as he totaled 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Perry had receptions of 13, 35, 40, and 73 yards as he took advantage of a secondary keyed on stopping the run.

At the half, the Owls led 28-3, and with Baker’s sneak late in the third quarter and Perry 13-yard scoring catch early in the fourth, MUS forced a running-clock situation the remaining 10 minutes of the game.

With the loss, CBHS falls to 4-2, 0-1 on the season.

MUS is off next week for Fall Break. They will return to action in two weeks as they travel to St. Benedict. Kickoff on October 14 is set for 7:00 pm.

Owls Stymie Kimbrow, Dominate in Homecoming Win

For those who came to Stokes Stadium last Friday night to see one of the best ground games in high-school football, they were not disappointed.  However, no one expected the back who would put up massive yardage not to be East’s Brian Kimbrow.

While the MUS defense held the nation’s leading rusher to only 38 yards, well below his 300+ yard average, junior RB Shane Tucker was the standout on this night, rushing for 181 yards on 24 carries and four touchdowns and catching 2 passes for 44 yards and another score. Tucker’s five total touchdowns ties a school mark set by Andy McCarroll, who rushed for five touchdowns in a 1985 win against Harding. With the help of Tucker and the defense, the Owls sent the Homecoming crowd home happy with their 41-0 blanking of previously-undefeated East.

Tucker showed from the outset that he was ready to take over the game. After his 30-yard return of the opening kickoff, he carried the ball on all six plays of the possession, finishing the drive with a 28-yard scoring run that capped the 59-yard drive that took up 2:39. Gary Wunderlich’s PAT gave MUS the 7-0 early lead.

From here, the Owls scored on every first-half possession but one as they controlled both lines of scrimmage and established themselves up front.

Tucker added a 31-yard scoring catch and run on a screen pass from Toby Baker to double the Owls’ advantage early in the second quarter.

Tucker would go on to add three more touchdowns, all on short runs (8, 5, and 2 yards), as he continued to run hard and find the holes created by the offensive line. And when an Owl drive was stopped midway through the second quarter, Wunderlich continued his outstanding year as he connected from 46-yards out for his third field goal of the season.

MUS totally dominated the first half in route to a 38-0 lead. They held the potent Mustangs, who were averaging 34.6 points per game coming into this tilt, to only 1 first down and 25 net yards. Kimbrow garnered only 18 yards on 10 carries in the first half, numbers well below his average.  And while the defense was playing well, the Owls moved the ball as they picked up 14 first downs and 198 yards rushing to help build the large lead.

With a running clock in the second half, MUS defenders continued to pressure the East offense as they stymied Kimbrow, a Vanderbilt commitment, and the other Mustangs. East’s deepest penetration of the evening came on their opening second-half drive as they moved to the MUS 14-yard line, but they got no closer as the Owl defense stopped them on fourth down when Matt Bolton intercepted an Eddie Harper pass in the endzone.

The only points of the half came on another Wunderlich field goal as the sophomore connected on a 23-yard kick to culminate the 8-play, 29-yard drive that followed an East turnover at the Mustang 35-yard line.

With the running clock, the half went quickly as many Owl reserves saw action and held the large lead.

Ultimately, East managed only 96 total yards, including only 38 from Kimbrow on 16 carries.  Meanwhile, MUS picked up 325 total yards and did not turn the ball over, mistakes which have plagued them in their losses.

With the win, MUS improves to 3-3 while East falls to 5-1.

Next week, the Owls open division play as they take on Christian Brothers. Kickoff at Stokes Stadium is set for 7:00 pm next Friday night. 

Owls Fall Late in Olive Branch

Despite leading by ten points heading into the fourth quarter in their contest against Olive Branch, the MUS varsity football team knew that they would need to score more points to defeat the Conquistadors because Olive Branch had an extremely potent offense. Unfortunately, the Owls could not put any more points on the scoreboard, and Olive Branch found a way back into the game as they used trick plays and a powerful passing attack to score two fourth-quarter touchdowns and overcome MUS, 21-17, last Friday night at Leslie Pool Field.

Olive Branch took an early lead as the Conquistadors’ playmakers shined. OB used 9 plays to travel 80 yards for the score as QB Todd Mays found standout receiver De’Arthur Cowan from 14-yards out for the score on the opening possession. John Pittman’s PAT was good, and the Owls had found themselves down before they even had the ball.

The MUS offense eventually answered the OB score early in the second quarter following a fourth-down stop at the MUS 32-yard line.

After an initial 18-yard pass from QB Toby Baker to WR Spencer Gruber, RB Shane Tucker took over. He rushed three times, including his third run, a 35-yard scoring gallop, as the Owls needed only 1:13. A mishandled snap prevented the visitors from tying the contest as they trailed 7-6 with 9:50 left in the first half.

After a series of turnovers, including LB Peyton Klawinski’s interception and 40-yard return into Conquistador territory, the Owl offense set out to take the lead.  MUS needed eight plays, but they accomplished their goal as Tucker scored his second touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run. Baker found Fernando Van Hook for the two-point conversion, so the Owls took a 14-7 lead into the break.

MUS added to that lead as Gary Wunderlich connected on a 43-yard field goal late in the third quarter to culminate a 9-play, 32-yard possession.

But the Owls could score no more and watched the hosts slowly gain control of the game.

First, after MUS had forced a 4th-and-6 from the OB 49-yard line, the Conquistadors lined up to punt, but Wynton McManis faked the punt and fired a pass to Cowan for a 51-yard touchdown. Pittman’s extra-point cut the lead to 3.

And then Olive Branch recovered an ensuing onside kick and had the ball near midfield, looking to take the lead. But just as the hosts seemed poised to take control, the Owl defense stepped up, and senior LB Heath Wilder intercepted Mays to end a scoring threat.

Unfortunately, with the ball at the Conquistador 32-yard line, MUS could not take advantage of the good field position as OB held the Owls on fourth down and took over with 7:22 at their own 22-yard line.

From there, Olive Branch methodically picked up five first downs as they slowly moved down the field. Then, after a OB timeout, the hosts faced a 2nd-and-goal at the MUS 7, and Mays hit slot receiver Jalen Miller for the touchdown with just 42 seconds remaining.  Pittman’s PAT gave OB the 21-17 lead. Their drive covered 78 yards on 15 plays and took up 6:40.

MUS attempted one final drive, but Baker was intercepted on a deep pass, and the Conquistadors took the win as they take a 3-2 lead in the overall series.

With the loss, MUS falls to 2-3, while Olive Branch improves to 4-0.

Next week is Homecoming at MUS. The Owls will take on East High School to culminate the alumni festivities. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm at Stokes Stadium next Friday night. 

Owls Get Physical, Overpower Central

Behind a stifling defense that allowed only 163 total yards and a rushing attack that netted almost 200 yards, including 142 in the first half, the MUS varsity football team bounced back from last-week’s loss to South Panola with a businesslike 38-0 victory over a talented Central squad.

The Owls scored on their first four drives of the game as they established themselves early on the ground. The offensive line did a good job opening holes, and the starting backs, Fernando Van Hook and Shane Tucker, took advantage. Each scored in the first quarter as they ran hard inside and consistently got to the Central secondary.

Van Hook scored the team’s first touchdown on the opening possession as he went in from 5-yards out to culminate the 14-play, 62-yard drive that took up 6:10. Gary Wunderlich extended his school record for consecutive PAT’s with the extra point to give the Owls the 7-0 lead. On the drive, Van Hook had nine carries and even caught a pass for positive yardage.

Tucker scored his touchdown just 2:48 later. Following a short Central punt, Tucker broke off a 24-yard run to get the MUS close, and from the 4-yard line, he went into the endzone for the score. Wunderlich’s PAT doubled the Owls’ lead to 14-0 with 3:02 left in the first quarter.

On the ensuing Warrior possession, Central moved the ball and threatened to score following several Sammy Martin completions. They got as far as the MUS 10-yard line, but the Owls held on 4th-and-goal, and ultimately they were never threatened again defensively.

On the team’s next possession, sophomore Anthony Walton scored his second touchdown of the season as he had a 50-yard burst to complete the 6-play, 95-yard drive. Wunderlich again added the PAT.

And Van Hook completed the scoring in the half as he scored on a 1-yard run on the next drive as the Owls had complete control of the contest at the break.

In the second half, the MUS offense struggled early, but the defense never let Central get back into the game. The Owls mustered only 1 yard in the third quarter, but the solid defensive effort kept Central backed up and gave the offense short fields to work with. Wunderlich contributed the only points of the quarter as he connected on a 46-yard field goal, his first make in two opportunities this season.

The Owls finally broke the 35-point barrier and forced a running-clock situation when Lucas Crenshaw intercepted a Rod Richmond pass midway through the fourth quarter and took it back 34 yards for the touchdown. It was the sophomore’s first varsity interception, and the return ended the scoring at 38-0.

With the win, MUS improves to 2-2, while Central falls to 1-3.

Next week, the Owls make their second trip to Mississippi as they take on Olive Branch. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm against the Conquistadors.

Owls Fall In Batesville

Any time any high-school football team travels to Batesville, Mississippi, to play the South Panola Tigers, the 2010 USA Today national champions, the prospects of leaving with a victory are usually not very good.  In fact, MUS is the only team to defeat the Tigers in Batesville in the last ten years as they won, 21-19, in 2008. 

Last Friday night, the Owls returned to South Panola High School as they looked to repeat the success they had two years earlier. Despite having lost their season opener, MUS felt confident that they had a good game plan and could beat the Tigers if they avoided giving up big plays on defense and executed offensively.

Unfortunately, the Owls fought from behind from the outset and could never recover from some early long runs as they fell, 19-7, to see their record fall to 1-2.

Owl coaches came into the game confident that they had a good plan defensively to slow the powerful Tiger ground game. Consequently, they elected to defer after having won the opening coin flip as they hoped to pin the Tigers deep and establish themselves defensively.

However, the MUS defenders never saw the field as Tiger Antonio Conner took the opening kickoff and returned it 98 yards for the touchdown. Just 13 seconds into the contest, the visitors were down, 7-0, after Clayton Sibley’s extra-point.

The Owls tried to answer the intial score, but the South Panola defense showed just how powerful they are as their defensive line controlled the line of scrimmage. MUS lost seven yards on their first two possessions and had to punt twice.

The Tigers (2-1) added to their lead late in the first quarter after having taken over at their own 9-yard line following Toby Baker’s second punt. The big play of the drive came again from Conner, who busted through the line for 53 yards and was ultimately pushed out of bounds by safety Alex Dale. From the MUS 32-yard line, Quandez Lee carried eight consecutive times to get down to the 1-yard line, and from there Conner completed the 12-play, 91-yard drive that amassed 5:40. Sibley missed the PAT, but the hosts had increased their advantage to 13-0 headed into the second quarter.

Ladarius Strong added a third touchdown early in the second quarter as he went in from 11-yards out to culminate the 7-play, 86-yard possession. Once again, a big run set the touchdown up as Lee broke free for 51 yards on 3rd-and-1 from the South Panola 35-yard line to get the Tigers close. Tevis Flowers’ two-point run failed, so with 7:25 remaining in the half, the hosts led, 19-0, and many of the home faithful expected the game to turn into a blow-out.

However, the Owls did not quit. Though they did not score in the first half and missed several key opportunities, the coaches felt if they could take advantage of missed opportunities in the second half, they could still get back into the game.

Unfortunately, dropped passes, missed blocks, and a blocked punt all plagued the Owls in the third quarter, but the defense kept the score at 19-0 as they bottled up the Tiger running game and allowed only three first downs and 32 yards in the third quarter.

MUS finally scored early in the fourth quarter as QB Jordan Rodgers found back Fernando Van Hook over the middle, and the junior eluded a Tiger defender and raced into the endzone for the 51-yard touchdown. Gary Wunderlich added the PAT to cut the lead to 19-7 with 7:23 remaining in the game.

But the Owls could not gain another yard the rest of the game as the South Panola defensive line, which included several college commitments, put continual pressure on Rodgers when he was forced to pass. Though the MUS defense held the Tigers to 54 total yards and no points in the second half, the South Panola defense was just too stingy to allow the visitors to get back into the game.

Next Friday night, MUS returns home as they take on Central. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm at Stokes Stadium.