Mustangs don't mind giving up their Thanksgiving

Top-rated Morrison heads to Champaign to play for 2A crown

By Erik Smith

For the Herald

MORRISON, Ill. — The Morrison football team has a lot to be thankful for this year, and playing for a state championship tops that list.

The traditional Thanksgiving Day family gatherings and meals that players and coaches normally would enjoy? Well, there’s always another day — or even next year.

“I don’t know if I’m cutting a turkey or anything like that, but we’ll be eating (together) since we’ll be at the hotel,” coach Cory Bielema said.

The top-ranked Mustangs (13-0), who will take on Maroa-Forsyth (11-2) at 1 p.m. Friday at the University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium for the Class 2A title, will be on the road today. Facing an almost 200-mile trek to Champaign, the team will leave Morrison around 11:30 a.m.

Along the way, the Mustangs will make a stop at Illinois State University, where they have been given permission to practice. That follows Wednesday’s practice at Augustana College’s Ericson Field. It’s all in an effort to get the players used to the field turf at Memorial Stadium.

“We’re getting kind of the university tour, I guess, so the kids should enjoy that,” Bielema said.

The coach wants to keep the practice routine as close to normal as possible.

“We’ve played on Fridays just about all year,” he said. “We’ll get a little driving in, then take a break from the driving and go through a normal Thursday practice.”

But Bielema knows it won’t be quite as easy to keep things “normal” Friday when Morrison takes the field in search of the school’s first football state championship.

“I’m preparing myself and the team like it’s going to be another Friday football game,” the second-year head coach said. “It’s going to look a little different, but once we’re inside the lines, it will be the same as any other game. That’s how we’ll approach it, and hopefully it turns out as such.”

And waiting inside those lines will be Maroa-Forsyth, which is in the playoffs for the sixth straight season and won the Class 2A title in 2006. In fact, if not for Morrison’s semifinal loss, the teams would have played for the title that season.

The battle-tested Trojans play in the powerful Okaw Valley Conference, which has teams in the Class 1A, 2A and 3A championship games. Tuscola in 1A and Tolono Unity in 3A will join Maroa-Forsyth, which finished in a three-way tie atop the Blue division.

The Trojans feature a balanced offensive attack that is led by quarterback Logan Stelzriede. The sophomore has thrown for 1,522 yards and 15 touchdowns. His favorite target is Wyatt Washburn, who has 66 receptions for 1,044 yards and 12 scores.

Dalton Coventry stands out on both sides of the ball. The senior has a team-best 863 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, and he also leads the team with 139 tackles and 18 sacks from his linebacker position.

Bielema said it would be a bit of contrast in styles offensively, with Morrison opting for a power running game and Maroa-Forsyth running more of a spread offense.

“The key is going to be who gets to play their style of game,” he said.

The Mustangs have been led by a one-two punch of Josh Vos and Kyle Janssen, who have combined to score 49 touchdowns.

With 1,943 yards rushing, Vos (31 total TDs) is closing in on a 2,000-yard season. Janssen (18 TDs) needs just 2 yards on the ground to hit the 1,000-yard plateau.

“I’m very proud of this team,” Bielema said. “They have worked very hard all year, starting in the offseason.”

And even though many of the Mustangs’ victories have been lopsided, Bielema said the team has kept an even keel.

“These guys have great focus and character,” he said. “It’s been a business approach and mentality. They have earned this opportunity.”

And Bielema expects Morrison will be well-represented Friday.

“The community is fantastic and really behind the team,” Bielema said. “It’s kind of been a homecoming atmosphere for the past few weeks. We couldn’t ask for more (support).”