NORMAL – Morton High School head football coach Jason Thiry said he knew going into his team’s game against University High that his team would have to score at least four times to earn the victory against the Pioneers.
The Potters encountered two blocked punts by their hosts and came up one score short of their goal, as U-High defeated Morton, 35-21, at Hancock Stadium on Saturday.
U-High (1-0) marched 80 yards on 13 plays to earn the first score of the game, a two-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Arion Worthman to junior wide receiver Kane Wildermuth with 7:58 left in the first quarter. Junior kicker Luke Otto’s extra point put the Pioneers up, 7-0.
Morton (0-1) tied the score, 7-all, on a 25-yard touchdown pass when senior quarterback David Rossi connected with senior wide receiver Chase Taphorn with 1:57 left in the quarter. Senior kicker Connor Kindred’s extra point tied the score.
The Potters took a 14-7 lead when Rossi used a keeper play, rushing for 3 yards for a score with 3:10 left in the second quarter, followed by Kindred’s next extra point.
U-High closed the gap to 14-13 as Worthman connected for a second time with Wildermuth on a 45 yard touchdown score. But, to the surprise of the fans, Otto’s extra point strayed, smacking the goalpost’s right upright. It was a lead Morton owned going into halftime.
The Pioneers retook the lead early in the third quarter on a 12 yard run by junior running back Joe Johnson with 9:16 left in the third quarter, giving U-High a 20-14 lead after another successful Otto kick.
U-High’s first blocked Morton punt of the day came courtesy of senior defensive back Zach Zook with 8:04 in the third quarter. The block resulted in the Pioneers starting on their next possession on the Morton 5 yard line. Two plays later, Worthman dashed past defenders for a 1-yard touchdown. The Pioneers used a two-point conversion run by senior wide receiver Troy McBride to increase their lead, 28-14.
Morton’s final score came when Rossi connected with Taphorn a second time, for a 25- yard touchdown strike with 7:50 left in the contest, followed by another Kindred extra point.
U-High’s final score came into play thanks to defensive back Wildermuth and senior defensive back Dylan Farney blocking another Morton punt. Worthman would score shortly after that on a one-yard run. Otto’s extra point would lead to the eventual final score.
“We were happy to get out with a win because Morton is a really good football team,” U-High head coach Dusty Burk said afterward. “Obviously, special teams stepped up for us and played a key part in the game. Those two punt blocks were turning points in the football game.
“We’re happy with how our kids came out and attacked in the third quarter,” Burk continued. “I thought, overall that offense, defense, and special teams did a lot of good things. Obviously, being week one, we need to go watch film and find out about the things we need to improve upon, but, I’m certainly happy with the kids’ effort.”
“The style of offense U-High plays told us we were going to have to score at least four times to beat them today,” explained Thiry. “They beat us up front today and that was the big thing. They blocked two punts. When you get beat on the line on both sides of the ball and you give up special team plays like that, you’re not going to win football games.”
Morton players Chase Taphorn and Drew Taphorn are the sons of former Illinois State University basketball player Matt Taphorn.
Bloomington Central Catholic will host University High Friday at 7p.m. as part of the Intercity Doubleheader. NCHS will host Bloomington High School Friday at 7p.m. at Ironmen Field as part of that event. The games are being held in separate locations this year because of the renovations taking place during the week at the traditional site for the two-game event, Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University.
Also as a result of the renovation, U-High will play football on Saturdays for the next two seasons.