MDI’s Defense Comes Up Huge in 24-19 Win at Morse [PHOTOS]

The MDI Trojans Football Team beat Morse on the road 24-19 in the last regular season game on Friday, October 13th as the defense played with a CAPITAL D!

In the 3rd Quarter with Morse driving the Trojan Defense stuffed them at the Trojan 6 yard line with a minute left to go in the 3rd Quarter.

And then again, with the game on the line, and MDI up 24-19 stopped the final Shipbuilder drive with 2:11 left in the game.

MDI won the coin toss, and as they are oft-likely to do, deferred choosing to get the ball in the 2nd Half

MDI Defense showed they meant business from the opening possession, forcing the Shipbuilders to run the ball over on downs, with MDI taking over on the Morse 45 yard line with 9:41 left in the 1st Quarter.

It took just 47 seconds and the Trojans were in the end zone, on Jacob Shields 43 yard touchdown run. The 2-point conversion was no good, (A problem the Trojans will need to fix as they head into the playoffs), and MDI led 6-0 with 8:54 left in the 1st Quarter.

After Morse and MDI turned the ball over on downs, Morse took over on the MDI 35 yard line with 3:55 left in the 1st Quarter.

It took them 4:05 to tie the score, on a 8 yard run by Breaden Cunningham. The 2-point conversion was no good and the game was tied 6-6.

The Trojans took over at the 32 yard line but Morse intercepted Spencer Laurendeau's pass, and took over at the MDI 23 yard line with 8:55 left in the 1st Half.

But, again the Trojan's Defense stiffened and forced a turnover on downs, with MDI taking over on their own 35 yard line with 5:52 left in the Half.

The Trojans scored on Laurendeau's 9 yard run.. The 2-point conversion was no good and MDI led 12-6. with 4:37 left in the 1st Half.

But with 52.9 seconds left, Callin Gould ran the ball in from 37 yards out for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good and the game was tied 12-12.

MDI-Morse Football October 13, 2023 Photo Walter Churchill

MDI then pulled out the flea-flicker from deep in Coach Mark Arnold's playbook. Laurendeau took the snap and lateraled the ball to Jacob Shields who threw a 51 yard bomb to a wide-open Jarron Biekert for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion was no good, and MDI led 18-12 with 18.4 seconds left.

But the scoring wasn't over. Calin Gould threw a screen to Tyson Pinkham who raced down the sidelines for a 54 yard touchdown. Rather than going for 2 points, the Shipbuilders called on senior Chase Roth-Wells for the extra point. His kick sailed thru the uprights and Morse led 19-18 at the end of the 1st Half.

MDI scored on their opening possession in the 2nd Half, as Laurendeau ran the ball in from 21 yards out. The 2-point conversion was no good, and MDI led 24-19.

The Trojan Defense then stopped Morse's final 3 possessions, forcing the Shipbuilders to turn the ball over on downs, punt, and then run out of time.

MDI is now 6-1 while Morse is 5-2. Now everyone waits for the final Crabtree Standings to determine who has the #2 seed and the bye, and who is the #3 seed and will host a playoff game on Friday, October 20th.

Stats

MDI Rushing