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.
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