Wolverines have too many weapons for Morris Area

FARGO -- No one had to tell the MACCRAY Wolverines they needed to run.

And after beating Morris Area 41-13 for the Section 6AA final Friday at the Fargodome, no one had to tell the Wolverines how to play defense, either.

With an already potent running attack, the Wolverines ground the Tigers with 318 yards rushing, but also picked up another 92 through the air, keeping Morris off balance.

"We have so many threats that can break it deep on just about any play," MACCRAY quarterback Justin Koenen said. "Our offensive line is just great this year."

The Wolverines will travel to Section 8AA champion Hawley Nov. 10 for the first round of the state Class AA tournament.

The semifinal and final rounds of the state tournament will be at the Metrodome.

Defensively, the Wolverines held Morris' high-powered aerial display to just 260 yards and only one touchdown. MACCRAY intercepted three passes, forced and recovered two fumbles, and kept Witt running for his life.

"Our defensive line didn't give him much time," said receiver/defensive back Zach Thissen. "And we just sat in Cover 2 for most of the game, which made it easier for us to sit there and wait for the ball to come to us."

MACCRAY set the tempo early on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Wolverines pressured on the perimeter, getting a sack on the first possession and collecting their first interception on the Tigers' second possession.

"You've got to take of the football and we didn't do that," Morris head coach Jerry Witt said. "Our offense has been our best defense on several occassions."

Offensively, MACCRAY scored on four of its five possessions of the first half, including drives of 78 and 90 yards. Brock Madsen scored twice on runs of 25 and 24 yards. He racked up a game-high 121 yards on just six carries.

Mitch Grussing, who also scored a touchdown in the first half, added 89 yards and Caleb Zimmer had 78.

"They were stronger and we knew they were very, very athletic," said Jerry Witt. "When you line us up, they were bigger than us on the line and taller than us at receiver and probably a half-step quicker."

Taylor Witt led Morris to their first touchdown with a 72-yard drive in the second quarter. He completed his first three passes, then picked his way to the Wolverines' one-yard line, where he snuck in.

Witt, the area's career and single-season passing yardage leader, found Tony Schultz for a two-yard score to finish out the half with a MACCRAY 26-13 lead.

Thissen struck a dagger into the Tigers' confidence immediately to start the second half, returning the kickoff 87 yards -- he even dropped the ball but it bounced back into his arms -- for the touchdown.

"Our plan at halftime was not to come out flat," said Thissen. "We wanted to score on our first drive and keep right on rolling."

Thissen capped the game's scoring with a five-yard run.

MACCRAY 41, Morris 13

MACCRAY (10-1)................................14 12 15 0 -- 41

Morris (8-3)...................................0 13 0 0 -- 13

MAC - Justin Koenen 2 run (run failed)

MAC - Brock Madsen 25 run (Zach Thissen run)

Mor - Taylor Witt 1 run (Nathan Lund kick)

MAC - Madsen 24 run (kick failed)

MAC - Mitch Grussing 1 run (pass failed)

Mor - Tony Schultz 10 pass from Witt (run failed)

MAC - Thissen 87 kickoff return (Madsen run)

MAC - Thissen 5 run (Tyler Steen kick)

MACCRAY

Team statistics

First downs: 20 ... Rushing: 51-318... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 8-11-92-0 ... Fumbles lost: 1 ... Penalties: 2-15

Individual statistics

Rushing: Mitch Grussing 16-89, Zach Thissen 1-5, Justin Koenen 12-48, Brock Madsen 6-121, Caleb Zimmer 12-78, Abe Winter 1-8 ... Passing: Koenen 7-9-71-0, Tyler Dammann 1-1-21-0, Tyler Steen 0-1-0-0 ... Receiving: Thissen 1-40, Grussing 3-16, Madsen 3-15, Winter 1-21 ... Punting: none ... Interceptions: Jay Hilbrands 1, Madsen 1, Thissen 1 ... Fumble recoveries: Koenen 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): not available ... QB sacks: Joe Plante 2, Shane Stavne 1

Morris

Team statistics

First downs: 18 ... Rushing: 17-55 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 26-43-260-3 ... Fumbles lost: 2 ... Penalties: 2-25

Individual statistics

Rushing: Tony Schultz 1-10, Travis Moser 9-51 ... Passing: Taylor Witt 26-43-260-3 ... Receiving: Schultz 9-72, Brett Anderson 2-26, Jared Harstad 4-26, Justin Lund 5-56, Craig Knochenmus 4-40, Matt Wohlers 2-14 ... Punting: Witt 1-30 ... Interceptions: none ... Fumble recoveries: Josh Johnson 1 ... Tackles (solo-assist): Schultz 4-5, Knochenmus 2-4, Kirby Sayles 0-5, Danton Hein 2-8, N.Lund 2-5 ... QB sacks: Josh Love 1