Football Team Completes Undefeated Regular Season, Looks to Playoffs

With their 59-7 victory over St. Benedict last Friday night, the MUS varsity football team accomplished something that they had not done since in sixteen years: finish the regular season undefeated. 

The Owls (10-0, 4-0) were never threatened by the Eagles (2-8,0-4) as they jumped out to an early 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter and then extended that lead by the half to 38-0 as they scored in all three facets of the game.

The MUS special teams contributed ten points, including the first touchdown of the game. After an initial stop by the defense, junior returner Hank Hill returned the SBA punt 40 yards for the score. Christian Kauffman added the extra-point to give the hosts the 7-0 lead just 1:38 into the game. Kauffman would later add a 40-yard field goal in the second quarter, his second longest make of the year, to increase the lead as the special teams continued to improve.

The Owl offense also got untracked early as they scored touchdowns in three of the first four possessions of the first half.

QB Barry Brunetti threw his eleventh touchdown of the year late in the first quarter as he hit Stephond Allmond from 28-yards out for the score to culminate the 5-play, 73-yard drive. Kauffman's PAT doubled the lead to 14 with 4:03 remaining in the first stanza.

After the Kauffman field-goal made the score 17-0, David Tillman scored the first of his two touchdowns of the night as he rumbled 15 yards on a 1-play drive following a Barret Folk interception. Kauffman's extra-point increased the lead to 24 with 7:17 left in the half.

Then after another Owl defensive stand, Tillman scored his second touchdown as he hauled in an 8-yard pass from senior QB Johnny Carson for the score to end an 11-play 53-yard drive that amassed 2:57. Kauffman again added the extra-point for the 31-0 lead.

And then the defense got in on the scoring as they added two touchdowns, with the first coming late in the half.

Following the Tillman touchdown reception, St. Benedict took over at their own 22-yard line. But on the second play of the drive, QB Siler Haynes was sacked and fumbled, and Michael Edwards picked up the loose ball and returned it 28 yards for the touchdown. The Kauffman PAT gave the Owls a 38-0 lead at the break.

With a 38-point lead and a running clock in the second half, MUS looked to finish the game quickly and play some reserves. However, the starters played one final drive to start the third quarter, and they made the most of it.

Taking over at their 37, the MUS offense needed only 4 plays to go the 63 yards as Brunetti found Taylor Reed from 20 yards out for the score, Reed's third touchdown of the season. Kauffman added the PAT for the 45-0 advantage.

And then just four minutes later, the defense added their second touchdown of the game as junior cornerback Mitchell Thompson recovered a fumble and returned it 28 yards for the score as Kauffman increased the lead to 52.

MUS scored one final touchdown in the fourth quarter as junior RB Daryan Barnes culminated an 8-play, 42-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 5:56 left in the game. Kauffman's eighth extra-point of the game finished the Owls' scoring at 59.

But St. Benedict did not quit as they scored on the final possession to end the shutout. Haynes found Trey Wilkins for a 49-yard reception with just 1:07 left, and Nick Stengel's extra-point finished out the game at 59-7.

With the win, the Owls increased their series lead over the Eagles to 2-0 and completed their first undefeated regular season since 1992. By winning the West Division, they have clinched home-field advantage until the title game. They begin the playoffs next Friday night as they take on the Mideast Division 4-seed, Battle Ground Academy. Kickoff for the quarterfinal game is set for 7:00 p.m. at Hull-Dobbs.