Briarcrest Recap

In their most complete performance of the season, the Owls jumped out early and were never threatened, claiming a 31-10 road victory over Briarcrest in their regular-season finale.

MUS scored on its first four possessions of the game, taking advantage of two Saint turnovers and a missed field goal, to build a 24-0 lead. The scoring started following a Briarcrest turnover, a fumble caused by Charlie Gerhart and recovered by Reid McKnett on just the second play of the game. From the Saint 37-yard line, the Owls needed 7 plays, 4 Gavin Gatere runs and 3 Brady Hughes passes, to score, Gatere going in on a 13-yard run. The visitors led, 7-0, just 4:51 into the contest.
 
Just three plays later, Briarcrest turned the ball over again, this time on an interception by Charlie Hottinger, giving the Owls possession at the Saint 30-yard line. After a 10-yard pass and personal-foul penalty moved the ball to the 12-yard line, Gatere scored his second touchdown of the game on a run around the left end to double the lead to 14-0 with 5:48 left in the first quarter before a stunned home crowd.
 
But MUS was not finished. After having forced a punt, the Owls took over at the Saint 35-yard line, their third straight drive starting in Briarcrest territory. Facing 3rd and 11 from the Saint 14-yard line, an incomplete pass brought on Joshua Wittber, who connected on a 31-yard field goal as the visitors led, 17-0, heading into the 2nd quarter.
 
Briarcrest finally put together a good drive when they got the ball back as they moved all the way to the MUS 4-yard line, but the drive stalled. They looked to settle for a field goal, but the 21-yard attempt was missed, and the Owls continued to keep the hosts off the scoreboard.
 
Taking over at their own 20, the Owls then put together one of their most complete drives of the season, having a nice balance of runs and passes. Hughes went 4-5 passing on the possession and had several good runs to move into Briarcrest territory. Having converted two 3rd downs and one 4th down, the visitors got to the Saint 25. First there, Gatere scored his 3rd touchdown of the game on a beautiful run that showed his vision and power, increasing the lead to 24-0 with 1:42 left in the half.
 
The Saints did hit a big pass before the half, 51 yards, to get to the MUS 10-yard line, but from there, the drive stalled, and Garrett Dane hit a 27-yard field goal to close the deficit to 24-3 at the break.
 
The Owls continued their offensive momentum to start the second half as they took the opening kickoff and marched, again with a nice balance of runs and passes. Freshman Tommie Reed’s 17-yard burst got MUS into Briarcrest territory, and two Hughes-to-Kyle Sneed passes moved the ball to the Saint 18. On the next play, Gatere almost added his fourth touchdown of the game, but he was brought down at the 1-yard line. Jackson Hood was the beneficiary as he finished the drive for his 4th touchdown of the season. The Owls were up, 31-3, after the 11-play, 81-yard drive that amassed 6:31.
 
Briarcrest would add a touchdown on their next drive, a 1-yard plunge, that was aided by another 51-yard pass, but from there, the MUS defense held, and the Owls cruised to the win, their 39th in the series out of 46 contests.
 
With the win, MUS is the West 4 seed and will play Knoxville Catholic, the Mideast 5 seed, next Friday night at 6:00pm at Stokes-Alston Stadium. The Spartans ended the Owls’ season last year.
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