MUS Sports News

Owls Suffer Road Setback

In its divisional matchup with Christian Brothers, the MUS varsity football team did not trail for almost the entire game. Unfortunately, the mere eighteen seconds that they did trail happened to be the last eighteen seconds of the game as the Purple Wave scored a late touchdown to win, 21-14, and hand the Owls their first divisional loss since September 21, 2007.

MUS got going early as Quay Stallworth intercepted CBHS QB Grant Powell on the first play of the game, giving the Owls possession at the MUS 49-yard line.

However, the visitors could not take advantage as even though they drove to the Purple Wave 4-yard line, they were stopped on 3rd-and-goal and were forced into a field-goal attempt. Gary Wunderlich’s 21-yard attempt sailed wide as he missed his first kick of his career, and CBHS held.

But the Owls came back on their next drive.

MUS took the first lead as QB Toby Baker found Landon Finney in the middle of the field for a 14-yard scoring toss. That play culminated a balanced, ten-play drive that included five runs and five passes and took up 3:13. Wunderlich’s PAT with 4:36 left in the first quarter gave the Owls the 7-0 advantage.

But the Purple Wave came back on its next possession as Ryan Eason, who finished with 108 yards on 14 carries, scored from 3-yards out to complete the 8-play, 71-yard drive. Paul Banks added the extra-point to tie the score heading into the second quarter.

The Owls retook the lead midway through the second quarter as they went on another ten-play drive. This time, Baker scored himself as he snuck in from 3-yards out. The big play of the possession was a 40-yard scamper by Forrest Baty to get the Owls inside the CBHS 10-yard line, and then Baker completed the drive from the 3. Wunderlich’s PAT was true to give MUS the 14-7 lead with 5:05 left in the half.

But CBHS answered just before halftime, again finishing off a long drive.

On the tenth-play of the possession, from the MUS 9-yard line, Powell hit Kendarion Jennings in the front corner of the endzone for the score as the Purple Wave traveled 65 yards in 4:49. With just 16 seconds remaining in the half, Banks added the PAT to tie the score again.

In the second half, both teams continued to move the football, but neither could take advantage as the game remained tied for much of the half.

The Owls’ best opportunity came on its first drive of the half as they used 15 plays to get deep into Purple Wave territory; however, facing 4th-and-1 on the CBHS 3-yard line, the Purple Wave defense stuffed Baker on a keeper for no gain and held.

MUS also missed a field goal that ended another promising possession early in the fourth quarter. The Owls reached the CBHS 17-yard line on its sixth play of the drive, but on 4th-and-1, MUS tried a field goal, but it traveled wide left, keeping the score tied at 14.

The hosts also had opportunities throughout much of the second stanza, but the Owl defense continued to hold, giving the offense additional opportunities.

A Henry Dickinson interception, a fourth-down hold, and a missed field goal all prevented the Wave from taking a lead on their first three possessions of the half.

Unfortunately, CBHS took advantage of their last drive.

Following an Purple Wave interception at the CBHS 14-yard line, the hosts needed only 5-plays to travel 60 yards. With just 18 seconds remaining in the game, Ramade Warren ran in from 10-yards out for the score. Banks added the PAT, and the Owls’ hope for the road victory ended.

Despite scoring only 14 points, the offense racked up 370 total yards on one of the best defenses in the area and played well throughout much of the evening. However, they could not complete scoring opportunties as they suffered three turnovers and two missed field goals.

With the loss, the Owls fall to 6-3, 1-1. CBHS improves to 8-1, 2-0.

Next week MUS wraps up the regular season with a home contest against Briarcrest. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm.

Owls Open Division Play With Win

Opening divisional play last Friday night against St. Benedict, the MUS varsity football team and coaches were looking for improvement after their off week and wanted to begin to peak as they look to the end of the regular season and the postseason.  With the 49-14 victory over the Eagles, the Owls accomplished both goals.

MUS (6-2, 1-0) jumped out early as they stopped SBA (6-2, 0-1) on the opening drive, forced a punt, and took over at midfield. Needing only 5 plays, the Owls scored as Fernando Van Hook went in from 11-yards out for the touchdown. Gary Wunderlich’s PAT gave the hosts the 7-0 lead just 2:51 into the game. 

But the Eagles showed that they have some explosive players as well on the ensuing kickoff. Taking the Toby Baker kick at the 6-yard line, Jordan Wilkins raced 94 yards for the touchdown. The Eagle extra-point tied the score at 7.

However, MUS quickly regained control and never relinquished it

Forrest Baty scored the first of his two touchdowns just 2:29 later to complete a 7-play, 65-yard drive as he ran in from 7-yards out as the Owls doubled their advantage.

Baker also added three first-half touchdowns as he snuck in once from 1-yard out and twice from 2-yards out.

Only a Trey Wilkins to Jordan Lee 25-yard halfback pass in the second quarter broke up the Owls’ momentum as the Eagles tried to stay close. Yet the MUS line play was too much for the SBA as the Owls took a 35-14 lead into the half.

In the second half, the hosts added two touchdowns on their first two possessions of the half to put the game away.

First, Van Hook scored his fifth touchdown of the season as he powered in from 4-yards out, and then Baty added his second score of the contest as he ran in from 13-yards out wth 4:25 left in the quarter. Wunderlich continued to be perfect on his extra-points as he made all seven for the game.

The Owls accomplished what they wanted as they won convincingly over an improving Eagle squad, played many players, and avoided any major injuries. They hope the momentum created from this victory carries over to the last two division games and into the playoffs.

Next week, MUS will play their first true road game of the season as they head to CBHS. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm, and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Tennessee.

Owls Outlast Spartans

Late in the third quarter of its game with White Station, the MUS varsity football team was struggling offensively as they had seen their early two-touchdown advantage evaporate. So to give his team a much-needed spark, Coach Bobby Alston and his offensive staff called a play that they had not used all season.

When senior RB Forrest Baty rolled left with the ball, the Spartans defenders, as well as almost everyone else in Stokes Stadium, expected Baty to search for a hole in the line and barrel through, just as he has done so many times this season. Yet just when Baty seemed to turn upfield, he stopped and fired a pass to an open Spencer Gruber, who broke a tackle and dragged another defender into the endzone for the touchdown.

The 63-yard halfback pass gave the Owls the advantage they would need as they ultimately went on to the 28-14 victory over the defending 6-A state champion.

MUS (5-2) opened up the first quarter with a 14-0 lead over White Station (1-5) following two scoring runs.

Toby Baker sneaked in from 1-yard out on their opening possession to complete an impressive 13-play, 80-drive that took up 4:52.

Then, after a Garrott Graham forced fumble and a Peyton Klawinski recovery on the ensuing possession, MUS needed 7 plays to go 42 yards for their second score as Fernando Van Hook went in from 8-yards out.

But the Spartan defense got the visitors back into the game in the second quarter.

First, Christon Stephenson intercepted Baker deep in MUS territory and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown as White Station cut the MUS advantage in half.

Then, after a Spartan defensive stop, QB Antonio Cheatham found Demarius Walls from 39-yards out for a second score as White Station tied the game following its PAT.

The contest stayed tied throughout much of the second quarter and well into the third as both defenses played well and controlled the game.

But at the 2:30 mark in the third quarter, Coach Alston pulled out the halfback pass to loosen up the aggressive Spartan defensive, and that play gave the Owls a lead they would never relinquish.

MUS added one final score in the fourth quarter as Baker found William Cross on a beautiful 30-yard pass that was tipped by a Spartan defender. However, Cross maintained concentration and hauled in the reception that sealed the Owls’ victory.

MUS is off next week for Fall Break. They next return to action October 15 as they open up division play against St. Benedict. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. at Stokes Stadium.