Second-Quarter Surge Sparks Owls Over Cobras
With a 49-point second-quarter surge, the MUS varsity football team broke open a close game and ultimately cruised to a 56-18 victory over the Carver Cobras last Friday night at Hull-Dobbs Field.
As heavy favorites coming into this game, the Owls (4-0) hoped to start strong and put Carver (1-3) away quickly, and after their first offensive possession, the home team looked as if they would accomplish that goal.
Following a defensive stand, MUS took over at the Carver 22-yard line following a 6-yard punt. The Owls needed only three plays to score as QB Barry Brunetti hit WR Hank Hill from 10 yards out for the touchdown. Christian Kauffman added the extra-point as MUS went up, 7-0, just 2:18 into the game.
But instead of building on their good start, the Owls allowed Carver to stay in the game early because of mistakes.
An interception and a muffed punt by MUS kept the Owl offense off the field and allowed Carver opportunities to stay in the game. Fortunately for MUS, the defense held and kept the Cobras from turning the turnovers into points.
However, Carver finally took advantage of the Owls' third turnover of the quarter, a fumble caused by a bad snap, as William Lewis recovered the loose ball in the endzone for the score. The two-point conversion failed as Carver cut the lead to 7-6.
MUS answered the score on their next possession as David Tillman went in from 2-yards out to culminate an 8-play, 57-yard drive that took up 2:53. Kauffman's PAT extended the lead to 14-6 just five seconds into the second quarter.
The Carver offense finally moved the ball on their next drive as QB Jermaine Gray completed all three of his passes, the last being a 43-yard reception to Justin Lee as Lee beat his defender for the touchdown. Carver again failed on the two-point conversion, keeping the score at 14-12.
But the Cobra touchdown seemed to focus the Owls as they knew they were facing a dangerous opponent.
First, reserve QB Johnny Carson led a drive comprised of 9 runs that amassed 3:03. Tillman rushed for 33 yards on the possession, and Keith McBride accounted for 16 yards. Carson finished the drive with the final two runs, the last being a 6-yard scamper into the endzone. Kauffman's extra-point increased the advantage to 21-12 with 7:27 remaining in the half.
That touchdown sparked the team as they would go on to score three more touchdowns in a 96-second span to open up this close tilt.
A Brunetti 66-yard quarterback keeper, a Graham-Jones 52-yard interception return, and a Hill 20-yard reception from Brunetti ended all hopes of a Carver upset as MUS now led, 42-18, with 5:51 left in the half.
Carver refused to quit as they would score on their next possession, a 55-yard reception from Gray to Wayne Rich that cut the lead to 42-18.
Yet the hosts would add two more scores before the end of the half to put the game out of reach. Two 50-yard pass plays from Carson, one to Elliott Bryant and the other to McBride, would complete an amazing quarter as MUS went into the half with a 56-18 lead.
The second quarter saw nine touchdowns and a combined 419 yards of total offense by the two squads as MUS put the game away with the surge.
The second half went by very quickly because of the TSSAA 35-point running-clock rule. With the large advantage, many of the Owl reserves saw playing time as they gained valuable experience. Because of the running clock, MUS had only two possessions in the final half as they maintained the lead and won going away,
Next week, the Owls open conference play as they travel to CBHS (4-0) for their first road game of the season. Kickoff at Tom Nix Stadium is set for 7:00 p.m. next Friday night.
