With their 27-17 victory over Montgomery Bell Academy in last-Thursday’s BlueCross Bowl in Cookeville, the MUS varsity football claimed their second-straight football state title, their fourth in the last six years, and their fifth overall as they team continued the program’s greatest run in school history.
Quarterback Barry Brunetti threw for two scores, and Christian Kauffman added two field goals as the Owls led throughout the game to hold off the Big Red.
MUS scored first on their second drive as Brunetti found WR Hank Hill in the endzone for the 19-yard scoring toss to culminate the 7-play, 80-yard drive that amassed 2:14. Hill’s acrobatic catch was his fifteenth touchdown reception of the season, besting his previous season mark, and his twenty-first in his career, tying him with John David Lawhorn on the career scoring list. Kauffman’s extra point gave MUS the early 7-0 lead with 6:44 left in the quarter.
The Owls looked to add to the lead following a second MBA missed field goal, this time from 53-yards out. However, the Big-Red defense held and forced a punt as the quarter expired.
MBA moved the ball well in the first quarter and hoped that they could keep up with the potent Owls’ offense by controlling the ball and keeping the Owl defenders on the field, yet MUS defense seemed to stiffen each time MBA got into scoring position. Early in the second quarter, the Big Red again was moving the ball on the ground, but when QB Aaron Simonis’ pass on third down fell incomplete at the MUS 26-yard line, kicker Andrew Fletcher came out to try his third field goal of the game. This time, the snap was bobbled and fumbled, and the Owls took over at their own 44-yard line with 11:21 left in the half.
And MUS took advantage of the miscue.
Going 5 for 6 passing on the drive, Brunetti led the team deep into MBA territory, but after a sack on third down, the Owls had to settle for field-goal attempt. The reliable Kauffman made the kick from 27-yards out to increase the lead to 10-0 with 7:48 left in the second quarter, a score that would hold until the half.
Though MUS held the lead at the break, the game was very even as the Big Red had success running the football on the usually-salty Owl defense. Their 154 total yards, including 123 on the ground, showed that they could score and would be a factor as the game proceeded.
MBA finally took advantage of their rushing success as they began the third quarter.
Taking over at their own 37-yard line, they drove the ball deep into MUS territory, mainly with the running of back Fitz Lassing. The 6’3’’, 220-pound senior runningback averaged over 6-yards per carry in the first half and continued to move the ball in the third quarter.
However, just as they had done in the first half, once the Big Red got close, the Owl defense held, yet this time Fletcher’s field-goal attempt was good as he connected from 29-yards out to cut the advantage to 10-3 with 5:44 left in the quarter.
But MUS answered the score.
The Owls needed eight plays to travel 80 yards as Keith McBride went in from 7-yards out for the score. MUS had four plays on the drive over 11 yards, including a 26-yard pass from Brunetti to Matt Williams. Kauffman’s PAT gave the Owls the 17-3 lead with 3:31 remaining in the third.
But the Big Red stayed close.
Behind Lassing runs and Simonis passes, MBA moved the ball again, but this time, they took advantage as Lassing went in from 9-yards out for the touchdown. Fletcher’s extra point ended the 12-play, 57-yard drive that took up 4:05 as MBA pulled within 17-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Yet just as MBA players and fans started to believe that they could pull off the upset after their score, one McBride run countered the momentum and re-established control for the defending champs.
Taking over at their own 20-yard line and with MBA players exhorting their fans on the cold evening, McBride took a handoff on the first play and rumbled 39 yards into MBA territory. The run not only silenced the Big-Red cheers, but also calmed the Owls as they went in to score just 5 plays later. Bryan Crenshaw’s 6-yard reception off a Brunetti jump-pass gave the Owls back the two-touchdown advantage with 8:57 left in the game.
MUS sealed the victory with 2:37 left in the game as they took advantage of a muffed MBA punt. Driving deep into Big Red territory, the Owls had to settle for the short field goal, and Kauffman’s 20-yarder was true as MUS built the 17-point advantage.
MBA did not give up as they scored one final time with just 26 seconds remaining as Lassing went in on a 3-yard run, but they could get no closer as the Owl fans and players celebrated.
Brunetti, who went 21-27 passing for 247 yards and 2 touchdowns, was named the Offensive MVP, and Harrison Martin, who lead the team in tackles this season and had another outstanding game, was awarded the Defensive MVP honor.
McBride also played well on the cold night as he gained 141 yards rushing on 18 carries and had 27 receiving yards on 4 catches.
Hill once again led the receiving corps as he hauled in 6 balls for 76 yards and a score. He set two records on the evening as he re-established his own season scoring mark for receptions and tied the career scoring record.
Though they were not overly impressive and did not overwhelm MBA, the Owls won as they have all season: they played fundamental football and did not make critical mistakes. They finish the season with only 8 turnovers, a remarkable number, and had none this evening. They had only 4 penalties in this game and played well on special teams. As they have all season, the win was a team effort.
MUS finishes the season at 13-0, winners of 26 straight, and finish as the top-ranked team in the area by the Commercial Appeal and in the top-10 in several national polls. Congratulations to the Owls on the fabulous year.