Protection guidelines once more as Morgantown stays excellent with 10-6 win over Musselman

MORGANTOWN — Andrew Phares and the top zone obtained alongside fairly properly Friday night time.

Morgantown Excessive wanted each little bit of it, too, because the Mohigans held off Musselman 10-6 at Pony Lewis Subject.

Phares, a senior receiver who additionally doubles as a defensive again, made performs from each positions, as MHS (3-0) remained excellent on the season.

The primary play got here on the Mohigans’ first possession, and Phares pulled off a double transfer that slipped him previous the Musselman defender that left him large open for a 40-yard TD move.

“I obtained the cornerback to chew and it was simply large open,” Phares mentioned. “Maddox (Bowers) simply threw an awesome move. I actually didn’t must do a lot however make certain I caught it.”

The second play got here on protection, which is hardly a shock anymore with this MHS bunch.

By way of three video games, the Mohigans have allowed simply 20 factors, and Musselman (2-1) was held to only 175 yards of offense.

The Applemen’s lone rating late within the second quarter was a present, coming after an interception return arrange Musselman on the MHS 12-yard line.

Musselman working again Blake Sanders scored on a 3-yard run with 9 seconds left within the half to chop the Mohigans’ lead 7-6.

MHS took a 10-6 lead within the third quarter on Aiden Stire’s 22-yard discipline aim, which is the place the sport stood within the fourth quarter when Phares got here up huge once more.

Musselman had pushed to the MHS 11, however was going through a fourth-and-19 from the MHS 20 following a penalty.

Phares stood one-on-one towards Musselman receiver Troy Woolaston, who’s listed at 6-foot-4, whereas Phares stands 5-9.

“I is perhaps 5-foot-8, someplace round there,” Phares mentioned. “I’ve obtained a 37-inch vertical. I can rise up there.”

He wanted to, as he leaped into the air to knock away the fourth-down try.

Woolaston ran his path to the top zone and Eli Fleming’s move was on the right track.

“As quickly as I noticed I used to be matched up with him, I knew they had been going to return at me,” Phares mentioned. “Our coaches inform us on a regular basis to be prepared and be sturdy. I needed to rise up there, however I obtained a hand on it, and it was simply one other play made by our protection tonight.”

The remainder of the sport was put into the palms of MHS fullback Caleb Nutter, who completed with 130 yards on 23 carries. Within the fourth quarter, Nutter had 9 consecutive carries that went for not less than 4 yards, because the Mohigans wore down on Musselman’s protection.

“He’s our outdated dependable,” is how Phares described Nutter. “He’s the strongest man on our group.”

“He will get stronger as the sport goes on,” MHS head coach Sean Biser mentioned. “He’s a bloody-knuckles sort of child. He by no means complains. If he will get drained, he’d by no means let you already know it.”

Bobby Powell added 85 yards dashing and Bowers threw for 120 for MHS. The Mohigans completed with 318 yards, however Biser mentioned the offense has to get going within the weeks to return.

“We in all probability left 14 factors out on the sphere tonight,” Biser mentioned. “We didn’t play as effectively on that facet of the ball. We did play effectively in spurts, however not persistently adequate.”

Good factor the Mohigans have had a stellar defensive unit thus far.

“I believe our protection is nice sufficient to assist us win a state championship,” Phares mentioned. “Protection wins championships, and we’ve labored so exhausting on that facet of the ball. Everyone is on the identical web page and it’s been loads of enjoyable to see how we’ve come collectively on protection. We simply hold pushing and we hold getting stronger on that facet of the ball.”

Field rating
Musselman 0 6 0 0—6
Morgantown 7 0 3 0—10

SCORING SUMMARY
MHS—Andrew Phares 40 move from Maddox Bowers (Aiden Stire kick)
MUS—Blake Sanders 3 run (kick blocked)
MHS—Stire 22 discipline aim

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: Musselman—Sanders 18-59 TD, Colton Shelton 1-56, Eli Fleming 4-(-4). Morgantown—Caleb Nutter 23-130, Bobby Powell 13-85, Bowers 6-6, AJ Thomas 5-3, Marcos Ullom 4-0, Jake Anderson 1-0, Staff 5-(-26).
PASSING: Musselman—Fleming 5-15 64, Zachary Miller 0-1 0. Morgantown—Bowers 7-8-1 120 TD.
RECEIVING: Musselman—Isaah Beard 1-34, Troy Woolaston 1-16, Miller 2-8, Sanders 1-6. Morgantown—Phares 1-40 TD, Jacob Keir 2-44, Thomas 2-18, Ullom 1-12, Powell 1-6