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.
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